I cut the call, my heart beating out of rhythm as I tucked my phone back into my pocket. What new regulations?
I breathed heavily, making a new plan to walk as far as I could from this place. I’d hitchhike as soon as I could and head to my dad’s property in Elmwood Forest a few hours from here. I had a key, so even if he wasn’t there I could hole up in the house until I figured out what to do. And with the precautions Dad had taken about purchasing it as a doomsday safe house, I knew no one would be able to locate it but us.
I reached the gate, but Monroe stepped into my way before I could open it. There was a padlock and chain holding it closed and I frowned as I lifted my gaze to meet his.
His brows pulled together at my expression then he folded his arms. “And where do you think you’re going, princess?”
“I’m leaving. Open this gate,” I asked curtly.
“Leaving?” he scoffed. “Don’t you rich kids read the news?”
I ground my teeth, not in the mood for his attitude. “I saw the article about my dad and it’s bullshit.”
“Well, whether that’s true or not, I really don’t give a shit. But if you’d taken your head out of your bleached asshole long enough to read the rest of the news, you would know that Sequoia State is now on lockdown and everyone is required to shelter in place until further notice.”
“What?” I gasped, my heart ramming against my ribcage like it was trying to bust through it and make a break for freedom without me.
“I don’t like repeating myself,” he drawled, running a hand over his dark blonde locks. “Listen closely…boarding school students are required to stay in their schools by state law until their parents come to collect them in person. Anyone who isn’t collected will remain here at Everlake until the lockdown is lifted.”
My lungs crushed in my chest as I attempted to draw in air.
“Are you kidding me?” I snarled, trying to step past him, but he placed a hand on my arm.
I jerked away from him, not wanting anyone touching me right now, let alone the guy who was telling me I had to stay in this hell hole.
“I wish it was a fucking joke because I’m stuck here too,” he said dryly. “So go on, head on back to class, princess.”
“And what if I refuse?” I hissed.
“Then the guards are authorised to catch you and put you back in your gilded cage,” he said, pointing at the meatheads in their black uniforms beyond the gates. Two of them even had dogs on chains. They were supposed to be there to protect the rich kids, but now they were being used against them. Against me.
My heart shattered as I stared out at the long driveway that wound out of sight beyond the gates. Freedom was so close and yet so impossible to reach. As far as I knew, it was the only way in or out of campus. An eight foot wall ringed the perimeter with metal spikes on top of it sharp enough to skewer a wildebeest. If they didn’t let me through this gate willingly, I was never getting out.
No. Never say never, Tatum. Remember what Dad taught you.
I turned to Monroe again as I swallowed my pride and let him see just how much I was breaking inside. Just for a second. Just in case he might be swayed to my cause.
“Please,” I breathed, my voice cracking. “I can’t stay here.”
He eyed my expression with a taut frown then shook his head. “Those are the rules, Miss Rivers. We all have to follow them.”
My mask slammed back into place as I snarled at him.
“This is bullshit,” I snapped, turning my back on him and pulling my suitcase back towards the school.
My heart drummed in my ears as the world closed in around me, feeling smaller and smaller by the second.
There was only one glimmer of hope I had to hold onto. Boys like Blake, Kyan and Saint weren’t going to stay here during lockdown. Their parents would surely come running to collect their precious princes. I just hoped they came sooner rather than later, because if I had to spend another second in their company, I was going to scream.
The bell rang to mark the start of class and I headed into our English classroom in Aspen Halls with Blake at my side.
He was unusually quiet, his attention on his Rolex which he’d taken off and kept twisting between his fingers.
We made it to the back of the room and I took my usual seat in the centre of the row as Blake dropped down to my right. Kyan’s spot on my left remained empty and I pursed my lips as I looked at it. There was something up with Kyan Roscoe. Some new darkness in him which he’d been trying to hide. But ever since Blake had woken us up last night to tell us all about our new girl’s real identity, that darkness had only seemed to grow.
When we left breakfast, he’d turned away without a word, heading back down the path towards The Temple. No doubt he’d forgotten his books or something equally disorganised, but I was willing to bet there was something else going on there too. Something I intended to get to the bottom of.
The class filled up before us and Miss Pontus shuffled papers around on her desk. No one took the seats on either end of our row. They knew better than that. Like everything else in life, this school had a ranking system which was upheld religiously. Top dogs at the back of the classrooms, runts at the front.
Miss Pontus started taking attendance, but she was interrupted by Headmaster Brown’s voice coming over the tannoy.
“Good morning students. As some of you may be aware, the Hades Virus has taken a turn for the worse overnight. The total number of live cases in the continental US has now reached over eighteen thousand and the number of dead has climbed to eleven thousand. The President has just now released a new statement on the current guidelines as for how this global pandemic is to be dealt with.”
A ripple of unease ran through the class as people whispered to their neighbours, shifted in their seats and generally looked uncomfortable as fuck.
“As such, the following is now in force in the state of Sequoia: one; there is to be a statewide lockdown. No one is allowed to leave their homes or place of residence unless it is in the pursuit of essential supplies or work. For the school itself, we have decided that means we must close ourselves off from the outside world entirely. The gates are locked and will remain so until further notice. We are in the uniquely fortunate position of already being an isolated community so we believe that for now, you can all continue to attend classes. However, you are allowed to leave if a parent or guardian comes to the school to collect you in person. In that case, you will be escorted to the gate and meet them out on the drive. Once you leave, you will not be permitted back into the school until this virus is eradicated.”
More mutters spilled through the room at that and I cut Blake a glance. He didn’t even seem to be listening to the announcement, twisting that damn Rolex in his hand like it was the only thing that mattered in the world.
“Two,” Headmaster Brown continued. “Social distancing is now in place. There are to be no more parties, no hang outs, no Netflix and chill with your bros-” Who did this asshole think he was? And he was seriously misunderstanding what Netflix and chill meant. “As of tomorrow, you will receive new timetables and some of you will find you now have classes in the evenings and at weekends and free time during the day as we split the classes down to make social distancing easier to maintain.”
“There’s no way in hell I’ll be changing my routine,” I murmured, pulling my cellphone from my pocket with the intention of sending him an email to remind him not to fuck with my system. And he could forget about changing up what Blake or Kyan were doing too. In fact, he could also make sure that our new pet project remained in our classes as well. I wanted eyes on Tatum Rivers as often as possible for more reasons than one. And with her dad on the run, it didn’t sound like she’d be getting out of here any time soon.
I was sure a lot of assholes would run home to Mommy, but that wasn’t on my agenda. Even if Father decided he wanted me home, my answer would be no. I liked being here. Living in my Temple. Ruling this little corner of th
e world with my best friends at my side. I wouldn’t be vacating the throne for some fucking illness.
“The third government guideline pertains to the hoarding of food and other essential items such as toilet paper. Though as you have these things provided for you, there is no need for you to concern yourselves with that. I just wanted to reassure you that we have no shortages here and have heard nothing to suggest that our upcoming deliveries will be short either.”
Note to self: lay claim to food and toilet paper before these face-stuffing, ass-wiping fuckwits get it into their heads to do it first.
“Lastly, I just want to reassure you that although times are tough in the outside world, we here at Everlake Preparatory School still have your futures at heart and will ensure to provide you with the very best of educations through these dark times.”
The announcement came to an end and Miss Pontus embarrassed herself by clapping. I mean, honest to fuck, it was like that woman tried to fail at passing the social bar. She fell silent quick enough, but you could practically taste her shame on the air.
I switched my cellphone on to send that email and paused as a bunch of texts and missed calls flooded in. I didn’t like to leave the thing on at all times. I didn’t like to be too available to anyone. But when my dad tried to contact me like that, it was generally worth me taking note. I guessed as Governor of the State, he’d been offering me a heads up about that little announcement. Oh well. Hearing it with the common folk hadn’t made much difference to me.
I scanned the messages, taking in the information that Headmaster Brown had just relayed and then some. Turned out toilet paper was practically as rare as a dragon fart these days with panic buyers doubling down on their purchases of the stuff like they expected the world to end if they didn’t. That was a weird one. The Hades Virus didn’t give you the shits. Hell, as far as I could tell, with the damn thing making you feel nauseous enough to lose your appetite you’d probably need less of the stuff, not more. But I’d be getting my hands on a stockpile all the same. Rich men stayed rich because they saw the needs of the masses and made sure they were the ones providing them, after all.
He also advised me that the mortality rates for this thing were rising rapidly. The official numbers were higher than those released to the public and rising fast. Quarantining myself was the safest option right now. And to further that message, he informed me that he believed it was in my best interest to stay isolated at school rather than risk moving back to our house in the city. He was still having to attend official meetings and he didn’t want me put at risk by his contact with the outside world. My empty heart might have been touched if I hadn’t known that was about maintaining his legacy just as much as it was about keeping me alive personally. He really should have had more children to ensure that, but Mother had claimed that carrying a child was an unnecessary burden on her womb which didn’t need repeating, so no siblings for me.
I considered what that meant. Riding out the pandemic here. No doubt Kyan would stay too. He only visited his family when we absolutely had to and he sure as fuck wouldn’t want to end up quarantined with them. Which meant I just needed to ensure Blake stayed as well. The Night Keepers stuck together. Everyone knew that.
I cut one of my best friends a look and sighed at what I saw.
Blake was still twisting his watch between his fingers with that distracted look on his face.
The class had broken into conversation about the announcement and Miss Pontus raised her hand for attention like a fucking fifth grader. Strangely enough, no one paid her any notice. Fucking lemon.
My jaw tightened as Blake flipped the watch over again.
“Either wear it or don’t,” I growled and he fell still.
“Life’s a really fucked up thing, isn’t it?” he said without looking at me.
“How so?”
“Choices.”
“Either speak or don’t, I have no patience for riddles,” I said.
Blake released a breath which said he had no patience for my shit, but that was fine by me. “I just mean that any choice we make could be the last one. My mom booking that fucking cruise to Hawaii. My dad having to bail at the last minute because there was a problem with the team… She could have chosen to re-book when he could go too. Or he could have insisted she stay home with him.”
“There’s no point of thinking about it like that,” I said, frowning as he flipped the watch over again and I caught a look at the inscription on the back of it.
Time waits for no man, my love.
I was gonna guess his mom bought that. Blake sighed as he toyed with the watch again and I reached out suddenly, snatching it from him.
“Hey!” he snarled, leaping out of his seat with his hand curling into a fist.
But I beat him to it. I’d already dropped the Rolex onto the ground and my heel pressed down on it just enough to warn him off.
“Feel that, Blake?” I growled in a low voice. Most of the class were so caught up in their own discussions that they didn’t notice our altercation.
“What?” he snarled.
“You feel that anger? That need to hurt me because I’m threatening this piece of flashy metal?”
His muscles tensed through his school uniform until the buttons on his shirt looked like they were damn close to bursting off.
“This right here is nothing,” I went on, meeting his dark green eyes and making sure he didn’t dare look away from me. Blake was a weapon in need of a hand to guide it. He was nothing without it, but deadly if aimed with precision. “It’s a piece of crap with words scrawled on the bottom. That quote wasn’t even hers, it’s a fucking cliché etched on there by some asshole who couldn’t even afford to buy one of these things.”
“Give it back, Saint, I’m warning you,” Blake snarled, but I wasn’t done with him. He was looking too fucking close to exploding and that wasn’t going to work for me. That wasn’t how we did things. He needed reining in. Reminding of what was important and who was in charge.
“This watch is nothing,” I repeated. “And yet you feel grief at the idea of losing it. What do you feel about the girl whose father caused your mother’s death?”
He bared his teeth at me, but his gaze slid to the watch. He still wasn’t getting it.
“What do you want to do to Tatum Rivers in payment for your mother’s life?” I hissed, keeping my words for him alone as the assholes in the room pointedly looked elsewhere, though I was sure a few of them were straining so hard to listen in that they were giving themselves haemorrhoids.
“I want her crying and begging at my feet,” he hissed. “I want her beaten and broken beyond repair and to serve up her battered remains to her father on a silver platter.”
“And do you think you’ve achieved that yet?” I asked quietly, leaning forward to speak to him alone. “Do you think a bath in fish soup and bit of sex audio being leaked has broken her beyond repair? Or do you think that she’s already washed the fish off and is reminding herself about just how many times you made her come to make her scream like that for the tape?”
Blake’s jaw clenched and I smirked as I watched the rage flare in his eyes again. Grief could wait. Misery, hopelessness, sorrow, all of them could take a running jump off the nearest fucking cliff. Blake was bleeding inside. The wound he’d gained when his mom was killed was bloody and raw. It didn’t need patching up with kind words and tearful moments. It didn’t need nursing with understanding and sympathy. No. He needed to stop that fucker from bleeding. He needed to cauterise it and cut the pain off with one all consuming flame. And nothing burned so hot as rage nor as sweetly as revenge.
“It’s a damn shame you didn’t get any video to go with that recording,” I said slowly, watching as his eyes flashed with the lie he’d told. I’d known he had more than audio, but I hadn’t pushed him to use it. “No girl wants a video of her being fucked shown to everyone she knows, even one who wears her sexuality like a shield.”
“You want me to
post that video?” he asked, his lip curling in distaste. He knew I knew and I smiled darkly as we acknowledged each other’s bullshit.
“No,” I replied. “We can do better than that.” And I wasn’t going to admit the fact that a small part of my reasoning for that was selfish. Because Tatum Rivers might have been the spawn of that virus-toting assbiter Donovan Rivers. But she was also the most exquisite creature I’d laid my eyes on in a long damn time. And someone of her caliber wasn’t destined to have the bottom dwelling masses jerking off over her naked flesh. If her body was going to be on show for anyone, it would be us. And us alone.
“How?” Blake demanded, desperation lacing his tone.
“Is your head in the game?” I snarled, because I had a new plan. A real fucking diamond of a plan for our fallen angel, but I wasn’t sharing it with him until he was ready. Until he was in the right head space. Which meant I wanted his rage, his anger, his thirst for vengeance and nothing else.
Blake’s gaze slid to the fucking Rolex beneath my heel and I damn near growled with frustration.
I pushed myself to my feet, driving my heel down with all my strength and the sound of breaking glass cut through the air like a gunshot.
Blake roared at me as the demon in him finally rose its head again and he tackled me with the force of a charging bull.
I laughed as his knuckles slammed into my stomach, my ribs, my chest and the pain of the blows poured through me like rain.
I didn’t even try to fight back for once, letting him have this, letting him unleash a drop of the endless ocean of rage which writhed inside him now.
As his eighth punch landed, he was suddenly hoisted off of me and I barked a laugh as Coach Monroe wheeled Blake around and threw him back down in his chair.
“Do we have a problem here?!” Monroe bellowed and for half a second Blake looked like he was considering punching him in his frowning face.
“No, sir,” I said loudly, as I got to my feet and straightened my blazer. “I just fell down and Blake was trying to help me back up like a good friend.”
Kings of Quarantine: A Dark High School Bully Romance (Brutal Boys of Everlake Prep Book 1) Page 15