Page 61 of Kings & Corruption

Neo shook his head. “Nah. It’s only been two days since Game Night. Even if the other teams have figured out who has the keys — and I don’t think they have — they’re going to be pussies about breaking in to someone’s house to get them.”

“Pussies are strong and resilient,” I said.

Neo looked at me like I had two heads. “What the fuck are you talking about?”

“You said they would be pussies, implying they’re weak, but pussies are strong and resilient,” I said.

“She’s right,” Rock said, taking his first bite of food.

The way Neo glared made me second-guess giving him a lesson in feminism, which was why I was pretty fucking shocked when he nodded.

“Point taken.” He stared at me for a beat longer than was comfortable, and my panties dampened between my thighs before he pulled his eyes away from mine and looked at Rock and Oscar. “So we need to plan a stakeout, figure out which member of the crew has the keys.”

I finished chewing the bite in my mouth and looked at Rock. “This is amazing.”

The pasta was perfectly cooked, with a tiny bit of chew and a creamy sauce that contrasted with the bite of the sun-dried tomatoes and minced olives in the dish.

He grinned. “Glad you like it. Gotta keep our girl properly fueled.” The innuendo was clear in his voice.

I rolled my eyes. "Do you think Dean Giordana has an extra set of keys?” I asked. “Maybe that will be an easier way to get in.”

Neo looked at me, his eyes cold. “Would you rather break into the dean’s house or the house of some exhausted off-campus custodian?”

I sighed and stabbed another bite of pasta with my fork. “Fine.”

I spent the rest of the meal listening to them plot the stakeout of the cleaning crew, grateful for a second helping of Rock’s pasta, which gave me an excuse not to participate.

Maybe I was still in denial about the fact that I’d have to participate in the game, but I’d had enough talk about it for one day. I was groaning by the time I was done, but it was worth it for both the amazing food and the pleasure on Rock’s face when I finished the second plate.

“Finally!” he said. “Someone who appreciates my cooking.”

“I’m going to appreciate my way out of my jeans,” I said, standing.

He took my plate, then unabashedly squeezed my ass. “Fine with me.”

I had a weird feeling he meant it. That he…likedme? And Oscar too.

My world really had turned upside down.

“I have homework,” I said, starting for the back stairs. The other guys in the house were playing video games in the living room, and another string of insults from Enzo was the last thing I needed.

On my way out of the room, I noticed a black duffel bag on the floor next to the garage door. I tried not to make a big deal of it even though it was unusual — the guys worked out at the house in the fully equipped gym on the second floor — but when I got upstairs I stripped out of the shorts and T-shirt I’d put on after school.

I dug through my drawers in a hurry, searching for something practical, and came up with artfully ripped jeans and a cropped black T-shirt. I grabbed my chunky black ankle boots and set them by the door, then pulled my hair out of the messy bun I’d thrown it into after school, opting instead for a high ponytail that wouldn’t get in the way.

I had no idea what the guys were up to at night, but I intended to find out.

I listened by the door and felt victorious when I heard the Kings’ voices in the hall outside my room. I’d guessed they weren’t leaving right after dinner. Neo had been wearing sweats, and it didn’t seem like his style to leave the house in them.

The stick up his ass wouldn’t have allowed it.

Their voices disappeared as they went into their individual rooms. I waited another minute. Once I was pretty sure they weren’t going to burst back into the hall, I picked up my boots and slipped out of my room, feeling like a thief as I hurried down the back stairs.

Chapter28

Willa

I’d never been more grateful for video games in my life. The guys were still playing, some kind of shooter game, and the noise gave me all the cover I needed to slip into the garage in my socks.

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