Page 82 of Untamed

He laughs, a mocking sound that makes me shudder. “You think I’m stupid. Think you two have been discreet? I know all about your little fuck sessions in the loft.” He sneers, his lip curling up in disgust.

My eyes widen, shock and embarrassment coursing through me. I swallow hard, trying to control my emotions. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I hiss, my voice firm despite the anxiety churning in my stomach.

He laughs, the sound harsh. “Really? I think you know exactly what I’m talking about, Mila. The innocent act might work with your father and brother, but I know the truth.” A salacious smirk curls his lips. “Who would’ve thought you could turn into such a little whore while being fucked? The sounds you made when he thrust into you, dressed in nothing but a hat and boots—honestly, I was rock hard.”

Heat floods my cheeks, my whole body prickling with discomfort. Brandon witnessed an intimate moment between Colter and me? I feel sick. I quickly pull Clover to a stop, gasping for air in an attempt to steady myself. Everything feels distorted, like I’m drowning in white noise, but through the haze, I can still hear Brandon’s cruel laughter slicing through my panic. He knows. He knows everything.

Despite my anxiety, I can’t let him see how much this is affecting me. I need to try and convince him he’s wrong. Not for me, but for Colter.

I force myself to regain control of my spiraling thoughts. Shooting him a glare, I try to project strength even thoughmy nerves are unravelling. “I don’t know what kind of twisted cowboy porn you’ve been watching but that’s one hell of a fantasy.”

He smirks, laughing sardonically. “It’s not a fantasy when I saw it happen, Mila. I even recorded it. Jesus, you really are just a… little slut for him, aren’t you? It’s a damn shame. Thought you had more self-respect than this.”

My eyes widen in horror, blood rushing to my head. He has a video. A fucking video of me and Colter. One that could destroy everything. This can’t be happening. Swallowing hard, I murmur, “Are you blackmailing me, Brandon?”

He shrugs, his lips twisting up into a casual smirk. “Not so much blackmail as just telling you how it’s going to play out. After all, you and that asshole are the ones who got yourselves into this mess. You don’t have to do anything Mila. You could let Colter take the fall. But if not, it all comes down to what you’re willing to do to keep that bastard’s job.” He speaks with indifference as if we are discussing the weather, not threatening his best friend’s little sister, someone he’s known his whole life.

As I study his face, I see something I’ve never noticed before, something he’s hidden well. Brandon is completely delusional and unhinged. How I didn’t see it before, I’ll never understand. It’s in the wild look in his eyes, in the tic of his jaw. The boy I’ve known forever, who I considered a friend, has been hiding behind a mask and now his true colors are showing. I hate it. He’s nothing more than a piece of shit.

He doesn’t really want me; he just doesn’t want anyone else to have me. It’s clear now, that to Brandon, I’m nothing more than a possession. A trophy to show off. And now he’s using the leverage he has to get what he wants.

Me.

My blood boils with anger, but I take a slow breath, trying to calm myself before this situation escalates further. “What do you want Brandon?”

His sinister smirk widens. “I’m glad you asked Mila. If you don’t want me taking this little video to your father, then you’ll do this. You’ll break things off with that old asshole and be with me.” I don’t bother to tell him that Colter and I aren’t together and never will be. What’s the point? “I’ve waited long enough. It’s my turn to have a piece of your now used pussy.” His expression darkens. “Sure, I would’ve preferred to break you in myself, smear my cock with your virgin blood, since I did all the groundwork, but I’ll settle for what I can get.”

I stare at him, horrified by his vile, crude words, and the evil look on his face. It’s no longer a case of when or if my father will find out about Colter and me, it’s whether I’m willing to sacrifice myself to save the man I love.

I only have two choices.

I can give the bastard what he wants and keep Colter safe.

Or I destroy everything Colter has worked so hard for, and let my father find out the truth.

After the conversation with Brandon, riding was the last thing I wanted to do—especially not with him. Somehow, I managed to untack Clover and put him away, though I barely registered the motions. My head was a mess, a mix of frustration and uncertainty. Logically, I knew that if Brandon did have a video, he’d also be in serious trouble. The law doesn’t take kindly to distributing what would almost certainly be considered revenge porn. But right now, that was the least of my worries. More thananything I needed to talk to Colter, the one person who would know how to handle this. But first I had to see my father.

I knock on the door of his home office to announce my presence. He glances up, a soft smile on his lips when he sees me and my heart leaps. That same smile would be gone if he found out about my relationship with Colter.

“Come in, Sweetheart,” he mutters.

I sigh, stepping inside and letting the familiarity of this space wash over me. The music, the memories, the quiet contentment, usually it would bring me comfort. But not today. It’s not enough to calm my anxiety. I sink into the soft leather chair in front of his desk, waiting for him to speak. It doesn’t take long. “I’m flying to Texas in a couple days. It’s a qualifying round and I’d like to be there to see it. Would you like to come? Maverick is coming, and I figured Leroy could take charge for a couple days. You can ask Nova if she’d like to join us?”

I stare at him, my heart pounding in my chest. Of all the things I expected him to say, this wasn’t one of them. I’m so out of sorts; my mind struggles to process his words. Texas. To watch Colter. I’ll get to see Colter.

Is this a test? Because after his suspicions, I can’t imagine he’d willingly want me anywhere near Colter.

What the hell is going on today?

“Well?” he prompts, amusement twinkling in his eyes.

I clear my throat, forcing my voice to stay steady. “Yeah. That’ll be nice.”

He nods, shuffling some papers on his desk. “Good. We leave on Friday and will be back on Sunday.”

I rise out of my chair. “I’ll be ready.”

As I leave his office and head to my room, my thoughts are in chaos. My head is a mess, and the one person I need right now is not here.

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