Page 119 of Monstrous Serpent

He huffs. “Would you just—”

“Put. It. On.”

“Atlas—”

“You're not leaving my sight until we know what happened. And if whoever did this comes anywhere near you, I will take them apart piece by piece and make sure no one ever finds what's left.”

Cody glares, but I don’t give a shit. He could be next.

Except whoever shot his teammate will have to go through Hunter and me first. Too bad they have no fucking idea about the monsters we are. Monsters who will do anything to protect what is ours. Even if that means keeping our boyfriend tied up in our room to keep him out of harm’s way.

Because no one is taking Cody Jenkins away from us.

Chapter 29

Cody

Atlas pushes me into the dorm room, then slams the door behind me. Fucking hell. He was going over one hundred twenty miles an hour most of the way here. Surprised we made it in one piece.

I drop my bag onto the couch, then face Atlas. “Will you calm down now?”

He completely ignores me, focused on Hunter, who is leaning against the wall next to his room. Atlas pulls off his jacket and tosses it on the back of the couch. “Well? What'd Rua get out of Reed?”

“No threat to Cody. But Reed wouldn’t say much else.”

My shoulders drop a little. Not because I thought someone was actually coming after me. Not really. But someone connected to our team got shot, and my boyfriend spent the ride here acting like the next bullet had my name on it. So, hearing I’m not next on some mystery psycho’s list is kind of a relief.

“But,” Hunter continues as he straightens to his full height, “they had a bet going on.”

Atlas quirks a brow. “About?”

“Us dating Cody.” Hunter looks my way, the left corner of his mouth ticking up. “Reed called you mini-me.”

That motherfucker.

“I am nothing like Jackson Reed. Nothing.”

Atlas snorts. “Actually—”

I point my finger at him. “Shut the fuck up.”

His warm brown eyes light up, which is never good.

“Don’t say one word. Atlas, I’m warning you.”

He mouths something, but there’s no sound. Then he starts laughing.

I give him the finger, then stomp toward their mini-fridge to get a bottle of water.

Hunter grabs the nape of my neck as I pass, pulls me to him, then presses his lips to mine. “Missed you.”

A flush crawls up my neck. “I missed you too.”

Ugh, I sound pathetic. I saw them two days ago. Two. Apparently, that’s not enough now. Especially with them gone for games the next few days.

Atlas mumbles something as he flops onto the couch, tossing his motorcycle gloves onto the table.

I chuckle, make my way over, straddle his lap, then kiss his cheek. “Thank you for having my back earlier.”