Page 26 of Chaos & Corruption

“I told you what I know,” she hisses, balling her fists against her thighs.

Yeah, crazy fucking good.

“No, you told me you know of the Scorpio Society and I put the pieces together and realized you thought I was one of them. What I can’t figure out is what I did to you that would make you think that.”

She considers my words for a moment.

“It’s not what you did,” she volleys, her eyes darting toward her hands.

“Well, if I didn’t actually do anything to make you think that, the only other explanation is that you heard something,” I conclude.

That fucking angers me in more ways than one. Are there really people who have nothing better to do than run their mouths? And while we’re at it, why do people give life to such rumors? If you don’t see it with your own eyes or hear it from the horse’s mouth, then it didn’t happen.

I look at Victoria from the corner of my eye.

“Didn’t your mom or dad tell you not to believe everything you hear? You know I heard some shit about you too, but unlike you, I decided I’d draw my conclusions. That I’d get to know you for myself and not the rumors.”

Her gaze snaps back to me.

Oh, look, I struck a nerve.

Good.

Maybe she’ll quit judging people based on bullshit.

“What rumors could you have possibly heard about me? No one here even knows who I am.”

“They know your friend, though, and they say you’re just like her.”

If she doesn’t know the shit being spread about her friend, she’s about to find out.

“Let me guess Webber told you that?”

I turn and look at her.

Okay, so she does know.

“Does it matter?”

She pushes her fingers through her hair and lets out an exasperated sigh.

“Webber is the one creating the rumors, Alex. He’s the one spreading all those vicious lies about Mila.” She pauses and narrows her eyes. “How do you not know that? You live with him.”

Wait—what?

“Back up,” I demand, my brows pinching together. “What do you mean Webber’s creating the rumors?”

She smacks her lips together and turns her attention back to the window. I wait for her to elaborate, but all she does is stare blankly at the scenery passing us by.

“Victoria, I asked you a question,” I press. Webber isn’t the type to gossip. He’s an asshole, sure, but a washwoman? Nah, not him.

“I heard you, Alex, but if I were you, I wouldn’t hold my breath waiting for an answer.”

“That’s not how this works,” I argue. If we’re going to figure this shit out, both of us are going to need to be honest with one another. No holding anything back.

“Well, can you tell me how it does? Because I’m pretty sure getting dragged into the men’s locker room and into a shower stall isn’t how this works either.”

Yeah, I’m not sure that helped matters much.

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