Page 64 of Beast

“That’s not all… I’m dating Thiago and Kali is seeing Matias,” Luna says.

I can’t believe what I’m hearing. Kali and Luna are dating Matias and Thiago? The very same men who tormented us during our captivity? My stomach churns at the thought.

“How can you be with them?” I ask, my voice laced with disbelief. “After everything they did?”

Kali shifts uncomfortably on the couch. “I know, it’s... complicated.”

“Complicated?” I scoff. “Kali, those guys are psychopaths! They get off on hurting people.”

Luna places a hand on my arm, her eyes pleading. “Blake, please try to understand. Thiago, he’s not like his brother. He’s been good to me.”

I shake my head vehemently. “Good to you? Luna, he’s the one who—” I stop myself, the memory of Thaigo forcing himself on Luna that day seared into my mind.

Kali bites her lip. “Matias... he’s been different, since we got out. He’s trying to make amends.”

“Make amends?” I practically shout. “How could he possibly make up for what he did to us?” The memory of that man dragging me into a cell at night will forever haunt me.

The room falls silent, the tension palpable. I can feel Taren’s eyes on me from the kitchen, but I refuse to look in his direction.

Finally, Kali speaks again, her voice barely above a whisper. “He protected me. And looked after me.”

My heart sinks as the implication of her words hits me. “Kali, what did he do to you?”

She shakes her head quickly. “No, it’s not like that. He kept me safe, in his own way.”

I want to scream, to shake some sense into her. Because I know he took her to that cell at night too. How can she possibly defend him after what he’s done? But one look at her face tells me she’s already struggling with this herself.

“I’m sorry,” I say, my voice softening. “I just can’t understand how you can be with him, after everything.”

Kali reaches over and takes my hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “I know. Believe me, I’m still trying to figure it out myself.”

I want to argue, to tell her she’s being naive. But the pain and conflict in her eyes stops me. This can’t be easy for her, and I can’t talk when I’m confused over Gaston.

“I just want you to be safe,” I murmur. “All of you.”

Kali nods, a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. “We are. I promise.”

I wish I could believe her. But the memories of Matias’ cruel hands on my body, the way he took pleasure in my pain, they haunt me. How can I ever trust him to treat my friend right?

26

BLAKE

Itake a deep breath, approaching the dean’s office. Since I missed the first few weeks of my senior year of college, I’ve been summoned to explain myself.

My hand shakes slightly as I stop in front of the door. I’ve got no idea what I’m going to say or how I’m going to explain my absence, but I don’t have a choice If I want any chance of staying in school.

Knocking on the door, I await the reply of the dean.

“Come in,” He calls.

I open the door and freeze. Sitting across from Dean Richardson with a glass of fucking whiskey, is Gaston. The reason I missed the first few weeks of school. His gray eyes meet mine and there’s a flash of dark triumph in them that makes my blood boil.

“Ah, Ms. Carter. Just in time,” the dean says, smiling, oblivious to the undercurrent of tension coursing between me and the man opposite him. “Please come and sit. I believe you know Mr. Marques?”

I nod mutely, wondering what kind of story Gaston has spun about how we know each other. Sinking into the chair next to Gaston, I wait for the dean to speak.

What the hell is he playing at.

---