Page 17 of Boys Who Taint

“I know,” his dad, Milo, says, and he throws an arm over Max’s shoulders. “C’mon, guys, let’s go.”

He ushers everyone out the door slowly, pulling Lana and Nathan and all the kids with them until finally only Kai and Levi are left. Levi hasn’t stopped staring at the photo of Mavis on the table, while I desperately try to make eye contact. But no matter how hard I try, he won’t …

Look at me.

For a brief second, our eyes finally connect, and it feels like my world has shifted on its axis.

“Don’t ever think of setting foot in my house,” Mom growls. “And don’t ever talk to my family again.”

Kai glares at them for a moment even though Ares blocks his access. And he grabs Levi’s arm and drags him out of the house, slamming the door shut behind them so harshly it reverberates in my entire body and mind.

I’m stunned. Shaken to my core.

Because the one guy I once considered my best friend just got excommunicated by my family.

Just like that.

Erased from my life.

CHAPTER 4

Apollo

Weekslater

“Hey,killer, mind if I sit with you?” I sit down before I even have an answer.

“Don’t fucking call me that,” Levi growls back.

I don’t actually care if Levi wants me to join him or not. I just want somewhere quiet to sit in this overcrowded cafeteria, and if I sit anywhere else, I’ll be swarmed by the drooling girls who watch my thirst-trap reels online. No one ever wants to sit near Levi, though, so that’s perfect for me.

He’s become infamous.

Like the criminal overlord on the campus, and not in a good way.

An actual killer walks amid the students.

Word travels faster than lightning here at Spine Ridge University, and once people caught wind of what happened between the Torres family and the Caruso family, the split caused a huge rift in every friendship formed at this college. It’s not just two families feuding, but two entire frat houses that have slowly become each other’s mortal enemies. Skull and Serpent Society members no longer even look at Phantoms without them sending death threats.

Dad says it always used to be like this back in the day when he was at this university and founded the Tartarus House fraternity, but I can’t even fathom this place ever being as bad as it is now.

Not that it has any effect on me. Levi’s dad may be my uncle, but that doesn’t mean I’m involved in this shit. Our family has no beef, so I can just sit wherever I want. Besides, he clearly needs a friend like me who doesn’t take sides.

The table nearly bends under my weight as I settle down my arms and take a huge bite out of my hamburger. He’s hiding in his hoodie while he stirs his untouched macaroni like it’s going to talk back to him any moment now.

“What the fuck is up with you?” I ask.

“Nothing,” Levi replies, leaning on the palm of his hand.

“Sounds to me like a whole lotta nothing,” I say, snorting.

He glares up at me. “Exactly.”

I pause to stare back. Like I give a shit. “Listen, bro, I couldn’t even give zero fucks if you keep staring at me. I’m used to it.”

He rolls his eyes.

“You can shun your friends. You can shun everyone for all I care. But we’re family. Whether you like it or not.” I give him a little air kiss. “Love ya.”