Venom's Alliance: Loyalty's Fracture

Chapter 22

Kalia's POV

I sat on the couch, totally into the ebook I was reading. It had this classic scene with a dance in the rain, ending in a passionate kiss, all while the characters were covered in blood after dealing with the girl's stalker. It was weirdly romantic in its own way. The book soon got to a spicier part, and I was so into it that I didn't realize I was smiling until Jake's voice snapped me out of it, asking why I was grinning.

In the room, Jake was with the girls, and Easton was playing cards with them. They'd been at it for a while now. Both Jay and James had left the room, probably for important phone calls. I wished I had an excuse to do the same, but I didn't. Part of me wanted to stay close, hoping Easton might feel some regret, but as I watched them play, it was clear he didn't. Easton looked happy and totally guilt-free as he kept ignoring me.

But if I were honest with myself, I wasn't upset about him ignoring me. What I really wanted was for him not to betray his close friends. I knew I deserved my current situation. I couldn't give Easton what any other wife would. To me, our relationship was just an obligation. My heart didn't belong to him, and I had lied and betrayed him. I didn't deserve to be his wife or the woman he'd fall in love with. This was the result of my own actions and choices.

However, it was James, Arch, and Jake who didn't deserve to be caught up in this mess. My mistakes affected not just me, but also his good friends who had always been there for him.

"Nothing," I replied to Jake, forcing a smile, but he clearly wasn't buying it. He left the card game and asked the others to continue without him, then followed me as I clutched my phone to my chest. I had no intention of revealing my book list to anyone. My book husbands were my secrets, nestled next to the other secrets I held close.

"What are you hiding?" Jake asked, clearly amused. I took a few steps away, heading for the door to escape the situation.

"Nothing, just cat videos," I said again, quickening my pace. Jake kept up, his tall stature and long legs closing the gap between us in seconds. He tried to grab my phone.

"Let me see, I love cats," he pleaded. In my panic, I realized I hadn't closed my apps—one had a steamy romance novel, and the other a manga featuring a character who looked suspiciously like a certain attractive individual I knew (Jay). Desperation took over as I raced out the door to close the incriminating apps before he could see.

As I sprinted away, Jake pursued me with long strides, nearly catching up. In my haste, I didn't notice the obstacle right in front of me. I collided with a wall, a very familiar one. It carried a scent that both calmed and flustered me at the same time. Strong arms enveloped me protectively, making me feel safe. We both laughed as I playfully scolded Jake to stop.

"What's happening?" the familiar voice asked, looking confused but smiling, the first I'd seen since Hawaii.

"She's watching porn," Jake exclaimed threw laughter.

"I am not!" I protested, feeling the need to clarify that it wasn't the kind of "porn" they were thinking of.

"Is she?" Jay inquired, grinning at me.

"Nothing," I replied to Jake, forcing a smile, but he clearly wasn't buying it. I squatted down, hovered over my phone, quickly opened it, and closed the app to remove any evidence. Then, I stood back up and smiled at both of them. While I could have shown them what I was really reading, I wasn't ready to share something that felt so personal and vulnerable, especially my craving for sexual experiences.

"What type of porn?" Jake teased, amused by my behavior.

"I don't watch it," I insisted, trying to keep my cool. "I just don't want to show you my phone."