Page 59 of Chaos & Corruption

“Bullshit.”

“It’s true.”

“The girls—”

“It was all for show. I didn’t want anyone to know.” He pauses to clear his throat. “Jennings asked me to go to a party one night. I knew he was bad news, but I didn’t care. I don’t know if I imagined it or what, but I thought he was hitting me. He took me upstairs, said he wanted to introduce me to one of the founders of the society. When we got to the room there was no one there. I figured he just wanted to get me alone, that he was hiding too. So I kissed him and he kissed me back. I felt him get hard against me. He wanted it. I swear to you he fucking wanted it. But then he pushed me away and threatened to kill me if I ever told another soul.”

I’m too shocked to say a word.

He turns to Mila.

“The night he hurt you, he made me watch. He told me he had to prove to me he wasn’t gay. That he only fucked girls. Then when it was over, he told me I needed to spread those rumors around about you. I’m not sure why. I think he thought he’d scare you into keeping silent.”

“Like he scared you?” Mila questions, stepping out from behind me.

Webber nods.

“I’m sorry I hurt you.” He turns to me. “And I’m sorry Victoria got hurt too.”

Still reeling from his confession, I shake my head.

“Why are you coming clean now?”

“Because Jennings is missing and for the first time in a year, I can breathe. I told Coach Riley Jennings was the one who gave me the drugs because I’m done hiding. I don’t care who knows anymore. I won’t let another person get hurt because I’m a coward. Mila, I’ll retract anything I ever said. Help you restore you reputation in any way.”

I glance over at her, wondering what she makes of all this, if she buys what he’s selling.

“I think you should worry about taking care of yourself and leave me to deal with my tarnished reputation. Stay away from me Webber. You may have found your conscience, but you’re still an asshole.”

I don’t think I could’ve said it better myself.

“Let’s go,” I say, tipping my chin toward the staircase.

Robinson and Webber don’t say another word as they clear the path for us to leave. Once we’re in my car, Mila turns to me.

“Do you believe him?”

“I’m not sure,” I admit.

I’m having a trouble wrapping my head around him being gay. Not that there is anything wrong with it. If things were different and he wasn’t on my shit list, I would support him one hundred percent. No one should have to live a lie or be afraid to be who they truly are. Love is love, no matter your sexual orientation. And Jennings—all of that—I just don’t know. It’s a lot to process and if the motherfucker wasn’t already dead, I might be inclined to kill him all over again.

“I don’t know him like you do, but I don’t think he was lying.” She turns to stare out the window. After a moment, she turns back to me. “You know, him and Robinson, might be good to have in our corner.”

“Excuse me?”

“Power in numbers, Alex. We don’t know what’s going to happen with the Scorpio Society now that everyone thinks Jennings is missing. Might be good to get us some allies. If not Robinson and Webber, then someone else.” She shrugs. “It’s just a thought.”

“Nothing is going to happen with the Scorpio Society because we’re all going to mind our fucking business. We won’t need allies if we do that.”

“Just putting it out there, I was minding my business. Victoria is the one who stood in a lecture hall and outed the whole fucking thing. I’m sure there are members that know about that thesis paper and they’re going to want to silence her. We need to be prepared.”

I’m not having this conversation.

“I’m not saying we take them down. You know I’m against that. I just think we need to be able to protect ourselves from any backlash. We’d be stupid to assume this is all going to magically disappear. Our lives are forever compromised from now on.”

Yeah, she keeps saying that and I keep refusing to let it sink in.

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