Page 221 of Bliss & Her Idols

Well, that explains his hostility from the beginning.

In his own way, Rory was looking out for his brother, as well as his Idols.

To be fair, I did turn up to the concert as an undercover reporter. I have always intended to write a piece exploding the truth of the camps.

It’s just that I’ve realized that the story is so much more important than making a name for myself.

I don’t see why I have to sacrifice proving that Omegas can do journalism as well.

In the same way, I’ve learned that falling in love and bonding isn’t a betrayal of my parents.

I meet Rory’s gaze, challengingly. “Especially if you give me access to as much physical and primary evidence as possible. For example, Una’s books, records of forced bonds, any punishment logs of Idols and their rule books.”

“I’ll do my best.”

“Can you get a Sheriff here and a lawyer?” Jin asks. “Also, a letter of emancipation?”

I nod.

Rory blinks. “Wait, aren’t you just a journalist who helps to run a coffee shop? Who are you really?”

“Just someone with powerful friends,” I say smugly, knowing that it makes me sound like part of the mafia but not caring.

After what Rory did to Jin, even if it was when undercover, I’m still enjoying freaking him out.

I’ll contact Chase and have him rally the resistance tomorrow, including Sheriff Dante and Senator Knight. We’ve used them on other cases.

“I haven’t met many security or cameras systems that I couldn’t hack,” Cricket says with a geeky confidence that I love. “If the abuses were in rooms with cameras, then we’ll have filmed evidence to use. If we want to keep security out, while we work on things, then that’ll be easy now that we’re not having to pretend to play nice.”

Now comes the tricky part.

“Are you prepared to testify against your brothers and sisters, Rory? An Alpha’s word in the fucked up court system holds much more weight than every Beta in the camp. This will only work if you do because your siblings have too much power. Their high paid lawyers may help them to walk otherwise,” I warn. “But it’ll ruin your reputation. It’ll be social suicide. The courts may even choose to charge you as well, since you wereemployed as a manager and your help to the Idols was in secret. Are you psychologically prepared for a spell in the Alpha Center?”

I have to be fair to Rory and be honest about the risks.

I can’t sugarcoat it.

Immortal struggles off the bed to stand in front of Rory, as if to defend him from my words.

Torin’s anguished gaze and burned tea scent makes me stagger.

Yet it’s Jin who says with quiet strength, “It’s fucked up, yeah? If we do this, however, and you don’t back up the Idols who have been brave enough to finally speak up, then they’ll suffer. You may as well have ended their lives yourself.You’ll be killing all of us in this room.”

“I’ll testify and I won’t back out, I swear.” Rory is trembling but he tilts up his chin. “Even if I’m punished as harshly as Mena is.”

“You’re a good man,” Torin says, “I wish that I’d seen it sooner.”

“I didn’t want you to. I just wanted you to be safe.”

“It seems that by trying to keep each other safe, wearing masks and keeping secrets, we’ve actually done the opposite.”

I’m surprised, when a sudden burst of excitement surges through the bond.

I turn to see that Immortal has prowled back to the bed, and Jin has kneeled up on the end of it. They’re whispering to each other, eagerly.

“Care to share with the room?” Torin adjusts his cuff links.

“You always used to tell me not to make a performance out of things.” Immortal rests his hand on Jin’s shoulder with a shrug. “Why don’t we do just that?”

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