Kings of Anarchy (Brutal Boys of Everlake Prep #3) - Caroline Peckham Page 0,240

have crossed Tatum’s path.”

“Well maybe it’s someone who isn’t in the club officially but still likes to use the equipment?” I suggested. “We could ask if they’ve seen anyone lurking around down there or if anyone has asked to borrow anything recently?”

“I believe they’re a pretty skilled archer,” Saint mused. “So it would make sense for them to be keeping their skills sharp by practicing regularly…”

“They seem like a pretty shit archer to me,” Kyan contradicted. “They always miss.”

“They miss on purpose,” Saint growled, rolling his eyes like that was the most obvious thing in the world. “They clearly either don’t want a murder investigation taking place on campus or are not ready to elevate their attacks to that level yet. The note that was delivered made it clear that they see our girl as rightfully belonging to them. What they really want is to separate us from her. Tonight they had her at their mercy, they clearly found a way to dose her with something, likely rohypnol or ketamine-”

“Date rape?” I interrupted him, my fists locking tight as the fury in me rose to the surface once more. “You think he was going to-”

“No. That’s the point. If he had wanted to, he had his opportunity. I don’t believe she could have escaped him without him allowing it which either means he gets off on her fear or this was just a trial run,” Saint said and lucky for him I’d figured out how to read his rage in his eyes because the emotionless way he delivered that statement would have had me punching him a few weeks ago.

“No Justice Ninja or stalker or anyone else is going to get close enough to her to ever attempt it again,” Kyan snarled fiercely. “From now on, she goes nowhere alone. There are four of us and we can easily take shifts.”

Toby was listening to all of this with rapt interest and Saint tsked as he remembered we had an audience.

“Come on,” he growled, heading for the door. “Let’s start by interrogating some archery assholes and then we can move the hunt on from there. I won’t rest until we’ve gotten some fucking answers. Someone in this school knows something that will lead us to this fucking Ninja and when we find him, his life really won’t be worth living.”

I woke in a sea of soft sheets, the scent of apple reaching to me and making me sigh contentedly. My brain was still foggy and my mouth was too dry as I ran my tongue across the roof of it.

"Mmm," I groaned as I pushed myself up, my eyes immediately locking with Saint's who was sitting in the chair across the room in a grey button down, the sleeves rolled up and his elbows rested on his knees. He looked exhausted, like he hadn't slept a single wink, but his face brightened as he saw me awake.

He stood, wordlessly moving to my nightstand and handing me a full glass of water and two Advil. I thanked him, washing them down and draining the whole glass, feeling a little better as I sated my thirst.

"What time is it?" I murmured.

"Eleven thirty three," Saint answered without even glancing at the clock. How the hell did he do that? It was like he had an inbuilt, finely tuned pocket watch in his brain. "An offensive time, but not quite as disconcerting as eleven thirty seven."

I broke a smile and he surprised me by smiling back. He sat down on the edge of the bed, pushing a lock of hair behind my ear and it didn't feel like he was fixing me for once. It felt like he was consoling me. And coming from Saint Memphis that was akin to him turning into a cartoon character and bounding off on a fun-filled adventure to save the world. It didn't freaking happen.

"Any news on the Justice Ninja?" I asked hopefully. Had they found them? Strung them up by the hair from one of the pine trees with two broken legs and the word monster carved into their forehead?

Saint shook his head minimally like the gesture hurt him to admit. "Whoever they are, they're covering their tracks well. Kyan, Monroe and I were out all night hunting them but we still haven’t managed to find anything concrete to lead us to them. But I want you to know I am taking this deadly seriously and if they think they can outwit me any longer, they are wrong."