Page 27 of Corrupt Me

Kolsen’s behavior should sound terrifying. Instead, I find it endearing that someone would go to such lengths to protect another person. Then it clicks. “My father. Kolsen isn’t going to talk to my father, is he?” I’ve given my new mates no reason to believe that my father is anything other than a piece of shit. What kind of parent kicks their kid out at night?

“Not unless you tell him that your father nearly hit you. Don’t, Camila. Please don’t lie to me. I know that you’re not telling us what really happened before you left your house but just don’t lie to me. I’m not going to say shit to Kolsen because he doesn’t need to know and you don’t need to deal with that but believe me when I tell you that if Teo tries some shit-”

“Then I’ll be glad to make a little popcorn and watch,” I say, cutting Sasha off. “Teo has been nothing but an asshole the last few weeks.” I refrain from saying that I was nearly assaulted twice because while Kolsen might tear Teo apart limb by limb, I’m sure Sasha would find some way to do damage himself.

The car pulls to a stop and I look at the window, sighing as I realize that I have to return to reality. Last night and this morning thrust me into a world of what-ifs that I can only hope will come true at some point. My mates have offered me a place to stay and an invitation into a world I’ve been dreaming about. It’s perfect. I just know that it won’t stay that way, though. My luck isn’t that great.

I grab my bag and my phone—the one I’ve been neglecting to turn back on after last night’s fiasco. It’s in bad taste that I didn’t at least reach back out to Reid or Violet and Sofie but that’s neither here nor there at this point.

“Not even a goodbye kiss? You brushed your teeth now. I’m allowed kisses.” Sasha’s bottom lip juts out in the most adorable pout that reminds me that he truly is an Omega. I lean forward and press a quick one to his cheek before my gaze drops down to the collar still around his neck. His scent blooms as his grin widens across his face. “You’re curious, aren’t you? Fuck, we’re going to have so much fun. We need to discuss limits. We were supposed to do that at breakfast. Dinner. How’s dinner?”

Sasha’s excitement in exploring my body and my limits is a breath of fresh air. “Dinner sounds fantastic.”

“Great. I’ll pick you up at four. Well, the driver will be here and I will be in the car.” Another stupid grin but I’m really beginning to love those.

I grant him another small kiss and then slip out of his reach before he lays me out across the back seat and decides to eat me out as a second meal. As intriguing as that sounds, I need this job. I also really enjoy it.

Unfortunately, two steps into the gallery, Violet mouths ‘Sorry’ and then points to the guest benches. It’s just my luck that Zana and Reid are sitting there. Zana is leaning back against the cream wall, her legs crossed. She’s dressed in a pale orange pantsuit, complete with an abstract bandana around her neck. Reid looks like he stepped out of a prep boy magazine with the sweater and khaki pants but he’s sitting forward, his hands clasped over his knees.

I know that look.

I scurry over there as I suck my bottom lip into my mouth. “Hey…”

“Don’t hey me, Mila,” Zana growls. “What the fuck happened last night? Reid came over saying that you left early and then you went out for a drive. You don’t go out for drives, Mila.” She isn’t wrong and it would be her to figure that out. I’m just glad Ethan isn’t here to worry over me because he would cause a scene.

“Can we do this later?”

Zana chuckles, the look in her eyes darkening. “No. We can’t. Reid’s been off since you called, which means Ethan has. He asked why you didn’t at least text him goodnight. Spill.”

I had completely forgotten about my real life the moment my mates showed up. This conversation is going to be extremely awkward. Reid’s eyes dart to the entrance and then back at me. “Does it have anything to do with the car that dropped you off? Who’s is that?” Both of their nostrils flare and I’m sure they can smell Sasha all over me.

“I’m going to give you the abridged version but know that I’m okay and I’m safe. We can talk more at lunch or something.” I wait for their nods and then launch into an explanation. “Teo is an ass and wait, no. I met my mates. The ones at the fair that I kissed? Them. And well, they own Temple. Teo tried to corner me. Sasha saved me and then I went home. Dad got mad I throat-punched Teo and then I left. My car got a flat and my mates found me and took me home.” That’s a half-truth but I’m running with it.

Neither Reid nor Zana moves for several seconds. I hold my breath, wringing my hands in front of me, waiting for their reprimand but it never comes. Instead, I found myself surrounded by the biggest hug. Zana is on the verge of laughing, the sound rumbling through her chest. Reid is a lot more composed. “Mila, you deal with way too fucking much. You should have called.”

“My phone died.”

“That excuse is getting old, Mila. Need to get you one of those devices that never die,” Reid jokes. “However, this mate thing? The owners of the sex club? That’s not something I saw coming.”

“Mila,” Zana begins, pulling away to look me in the eyes. “You have the world’s strangest luck. I’m glad that you’re okay because I know you wouldn’t lie about that. However, I hope that one of your mates will deal with your father or I will. This is the second child he’s ostracized and the only thing that’s ever kept me from marching into that house is you. Without you there-”

I shake my head quickly, throwing my hands up in defeat. God, Zana and Kolsen? My father wouldn’t survive. “No, there’s no need. All covered. We can continue this over lunch, right? I have to work.”

Zana presses a kiss to my forehead, Reid squeezing another hug out of me before he gestures to the front desk. “I think you have someone else to deal with before you’re going to get any work done. We only got preference because we’re family. I’ll reserve a place for lunch, Mila.” Then they both pat me on the shoulder and exit the building, leaving me to the gossip whore that is Violet.

By the time I make it back to the front desk, she’s basically salivating. “I. Want. Details.”

Chapter eighteen

CAMILA

My cheeks are on fire. If explaining things to Zana and Reid was awkward, doing the same with Violet is just short of embarrassing. I’m fiddling with my fingers in my lap as I twirl around in the chair beside my best friend, unable to escape the situation and start on my job of organizing the back rooms for the newest gallery showing this weekend.

“Mila, you’re so red. God, it’s fucking amazing. I can smell them all over you. Oh, no. You don’t get to get all embarrassed now! Sofie might have been too drunk but I saw that guy steal you away, saw his fingers up your-”

I slap a hand across her face and glare at her. Our boss might be a little lax when it comes to our work ethics but not that lax.

She nods before tearing my hand off her mouth. “Look, I thought he was a Beta at first but that’s Sasha. That was him, wasn’t it? And then you disappeared.” Her wild grin turns sour when I explain why.

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