The Elite Kings Club

really his little sister,” I deadpan. “I don’t know why, but he’s taken it upon himself to torment me at his every turn.”
She giggles, dropping gears, and my head slams against the headrest from the force. “Honey, if Nate took it upon himself to torment me, I’d welcome it. He’s the biggest manwhore of Riverside Prep though. He’s even slept with Sasha Van Halen.”
“I’m not even surprised,” I mutter under my breath as we pull into our private driveway.
Sasha Van Halen is the daughter of the biggest tycoon in the United States. She’s splashed all over the tabloids—hot mess and all that.
“One last thing,” she says, pulling up the emergency brake. “I want to talk to you about them.” She gestures toward Nate’s window and my eyes follow. “You gained Bishop’s attention today at lunch.”
“Hardly,” I scoff, shaking my head.
“I need to educate you on Bishop Vincent Hayes,” she begins, and I tilt my head toward her. “He’s only ever been seen with one other girl more than once, that I know of. One, and she meant a lot to him. They were together for years. Everyone would say it was fate, Bishop and Khales; they were this match made in heaven. She moved, he moved. They knew each other since they were little, because Khales’s mom was a junkie and would leave Khales in the house on her own for hours on end. Khales went to Hampton Beach High School, which is on the rough side of town. Anyway, Bishop tried to save her. He tried so hard, but eventually, Khales followed her mother’s footsteps and picked up the needle.” She took a breath.
“She died?” I ask, my heart sinking. I know what it’s like losing someone you love.
“No, we don’t know where she is. About two years ago, she sort of just disappeared. No one whispers her name. The week she went missing, all the boys weren’t at school, and then suddenly they’re all walking back into the cafeteria like they own the place, as if she didn’t exist. Someone tried to ask Bishop about her, but he almost snapped the guy’s neck, so everyone took that as a sensitive subject and never asked questions again.”
She pauses again, her bright blue eyes twinkling on mine. “I’m only telling you because so many girls have tried to fill the spot that Khales left. As far as I know, Bishop hasn’t had another girlfriend since. That’s two years. Anyway, that brings me to the next subject.” My mind is still swimming with the mass of information she just unloaded on me. Two years ago? People don’t just disappear into thin air. There’s always a reason why people go missing. She clears her throat. “The Elite Kings Club—”
“I asked Nate about it, and he said it’s all based on legend and false assumptions.”
She shakes her head, her blonde waves falling over her slender shoulders. “They won’t tell you. It may sound like gossip, but it’s very true. I’ve seen the mark.”
“Mark?” My brain is about to explode from the information that is being shoved inside it.
“Yeah, they’re branded when they’re babies. It’s a ritual all the parents perform.”
“That’s crazy.” My shoulders go slack. “I’ve heard enough. Anything else?”
“Yes! Be careful. I only know so much about them because I’ve studied them for as long as I’ve known them. I’ve never shared my thoughts with anyone else, because no one else has become close to them, but I can see that’s going to be changing with you. You need to be careful, Madi.”
I clutch the door handle and push it open, taking my bags out of the backseat. “Okay, I’ll be careful, but I think you’re being paranoid.”
She offers a small smile before I close the passenger door, and then she skids out of my driveway.
This kind of stuff just doesn’t happen, not in this world.

SLAMMING THE FRONT DOOR CLOSED, I walk into the kitchen with all the information Tatum just fed me brewing in my brain. Pulling a Coke from the fridge, I close the door when my heart leaps at the sight of Hunter leaning against the entryway.
“Shit!” My hand flies up to my chest.
“Sorry.” He smirks. “Nate has training, so he has me on babysitting duties.”
“Babysitting duties?” I ask, offended. “I don’t need a babysitter.”
He shrugs. “Brantley is here. You need someone near you when he’s around.”
I cock my head, running my eyes over him. Standing at around six-foot-two, he towers over my five-foot-three.
“Why?” I ask, my eyes diverting to the wall. “What did I do to him?”
Hunter pauses, his finger running across his upper lip. “That’s not something you need to worry about yet.”
“I’m sure I could just get the full lowdown if I ask Tatum,” I mumble from the rim of my Coke.
“Tatum?” He barks out a laugh. “Tatum lives for drama and bullshit. Nothing she says holds any substance.” His eyes narrow on me briefly.
“And your words do?” I cock my head. “I don’t need a sitter,” I mutter bitterly, as I head toward the stairs—only for a wall of muscle to slam into my face yet again. “Jesus!” I cuss, getting annoyed at how my house has been taken over by mysterious boys who can never give me any answers. My eyes travel up a broad chest and land on Brantley’s dark, beady eyes. He has a bit of scruff around his jaw—not much, just enough it’ll scratch you lightly—and his eyes are as dark as a bottomless pit leading to the gates of hell. And when he opens his mouth, I find his words are much like his eyes.
“You’d do good to stay the fuck outta my way.”
Having about enough of all this bullshit, I cross my arms in front of myself. ‘Cause I’m a badass. “What the fuck did I ever do to you?”
I can feel Hunter’s presence behind me, silently watching.
Brantley’s eyes snap to mine, burning into me like a hot knife through cold butter. “How about