Page 23 of Corrupt Me

Celine purses her lips. “I could wring his neck. The asshole.”

Mia’s brows scrunch up in concern. “We can’t underestimate him. He’s obsessed with you.”

“I got this.” Or at least, that is what I keep telling myself.

“When are you going on a second date?” Mia asks.

“Tomorrow.”

“This shouldn’t be happening like this,” Abi sighs.

I shrug. It is what it is. It helps that I keep telling myself they aren’t dates—it’s just a mission.

“He will want more at some point,” Celine says, voicing what I fear.

I shudder at the thought. I can barely tolerate being in the same room.

“Play coy and ask him to take it easy. If he takes it too far, we’ll torture the answer from him and be done,” Abi suggests.

“And lose our only chance at finding Felix?”

“Your well-being matters more. He will retaliate sooner than later,” Celine says.

I doubt Felix is still in the States. Over the last two months, Cassandra has sent teams to scout every underground spot we could find, and there’s been nothing.

This limbo is nerve-racking, but every challenge has made our group stronger. After this, we can finally start living without looking over our shoulders, stuck in permanent survival mode. But then, Hunter and I wouldn’t have a reason to continue my fighting lessons. Those are the only moments when it’s just the two of us, and the thought saddens me.

“So, are you two just fighting in the gym for hours?” Abi asks. “Hunter looks at you—”

“You mean glares at me?”

Celine turns her head to Mia. “Actually, have you seen him with a girl since we came to Greenville?”

“He was always with one girl or another back in London.”

I swallow the grunt, mumbling, “There are always girls around him.”

“Yeah, but more?” Celine asks.

Maybe he’s just being discreet. He still goes out almost every night, though I know where he is because I track his phone.What? I just want to make sure he’s safe. I can’t believe I’m fighting with myself in my own head. He’s at the training complex at the compound, but he could take a girl there. The thought fists my heart, leaving bruises on the organ.No, we have a pact, and he’s an honorable guy.

“It doesn’t matter,” I say. It’s enough that he’s stuck in my head. I don’t need to talk about him too.

“I think you two like each other but have no idea how to broach that,” Abi says, gauging my reaction. Mia and Celine nod their agreement, and I pause.

“Don’t deny it, Bailey. I know how it is to want to lie to yourself, but the heart wants what it wants,” Abi says.

“He doesn’t like me. Not like that.”

“They’re both too damn stubborn,” says Celine.

“And guarded,” concludes Mia.

“Is this an intervention?” I ask them.

“We love you, and we want you to be happy. We have been facing death for a while now, so when you find something good, enjoy and savor it to the fullest,” says Celine.

“Don’t let Kaden hear your dark thoughts,” I tell her.

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