Kings of Anarchy (Brutal Boys of Everlake Prep #3) - Caroline Peckham Page 0,260

the eyes of my nightmare, that flaming arrow raised, pointing directly at my face.

I bared my teeth in a snarl before turning on my heel as I raced away from him. His footsteps pounded behind me as I’d hoped, but that didn't save me from the cloying fear as a flaming arrow whistled past my ear. Fuck!

I tore back down the path, my breaths coming unevenly as I weaved left and right to evade any arrows that came my way.

“We’re coming, Cinders,” Blake promised.

“Keep going, princess,” Monroe growled, anxiety filling his voice as he raced to meet us.

My running shoes pounded across the path as I fled, my pulse jack-hammering as I pushed myself as fast as possible. I sprinted past the dorms, toward the track that led to the trap I’d laid before I veered off the path and up into the trees to my left.

“We’re coming, sweetheart,” Blake growled in my ear as the Justice Ninja’s footsteps chased after me into the trees. I darted between the boughs as another arrow flew through the air, the arc of fire in my periphery making my heart jerk out of rhythm.

“Holy shit,” I cursed.

“Just keep going. Don’t stop,” Saint growled in my earpiece. “I’ve got eyes on the fucker," he added and relief swept through me as I fought the urge to look over my shoulder.

Keep running. Never stop. Don’t look back.

My father’s words ran through my head. I’d played this game with him before, pretending to be hunted in the woods. He’d always been so fast and I’d had to learn how to lose him in the dark. But this time, I needed my pursuer to see me, needed him to follow me to my own trap. Because he hadn’t realised that he wasn’t the hunter in this situation, I was.

“We’re right on his heels,” Blake growled, determination lacing his face.

“Herd that fucker to the snare,” Kyan encouraged.

“Hurry up,” Monroe urged.

“I’m coming at him from the left at a forty five degree angle, but Blake will likely reach him first,” Saint said, ever fucking accurate. Like it mattered what specific angle he was arriving at.

I crested the hill, my arms pumping back and forth either side of me as I led my enemy towards my trap. It wasn't far now.

"Run motherfucker!" Blake roared and a yelp of fear sounded somewhere behind me as the Justice Ninja increased his pace. That yelp told me it was a guy for sure and a dark and twisted smile pulled at my lips as I pictured ripping that mask off in the next few moments.

Another arrow sailed past me, this one so close it ruffled my hair.

"Stay back or I'll kill her!" the Ninja cried to Saint and Blake.

"You have to aim straight first, asshole!" I shouted back with a manic laugh, tearing on as I drew him closer and closer to his downfall.

Another arrow whipped past my ear and I stifled a scream, trying to stay in control. Flames blurred in the corner of my vision and the arrow embedded in a trunk just as I zig-zagged past it.

"I'm gonna make him bleed, baby," Kyan purred.

My smile grew wider at his words and adrenaline coursed into my veins. "We'll make him bleed together."

I charged through the trees with Kyan at my side, the two of us making zero effort to hide our approach as we raced to meet the others and take down this stalking ninja motherfucker once and for all.

I was so beyond done with worrying about Tatum every time she wasn't with me, afraid of what this obsessed maniac might try and pull next and I was more than ready to make them pay for every moment of fear and pain they'd caused her. Hell, I’d happily beat the shit out of him for the photos he’d taken of her in her most private moments alone.

Fuck the fact that my job was to look after the little shits who occupied this school. I was meant to protect them first and foremost and removing a predator from their midst was a damn good way to do that in my books. Besides, ever since Tatum Rivers had wound her way into my heart, I'd been filled with the overwhelming urge to protect her from all of the shit in this world. And if there was one piece of shit I wanted to stamp beneath my heel more than any other right now, it was the motherfucker who had been stalking her in