Page 61 of Chaos & Corruption
Epilogue
Victoria Bianci
I take it back—silenceis the devil. I mean you try being laid up in a hospital bed for weeks unable to talk. It might not have been so bad if it were just me and Alex, but add my parents, brother and my uncle to the mix—wait, I’m forgetting my grandparents and Mila too. And get a load of this…they were allfriends.
I had so many questions.
There wasn’t a white board big enough.
But before I could ask a single one, Mila and Alex filled me in on a few things, like the lies they told my father and what actually happened to Jennings. Nothing could’ve prepared me for that revelation, and it took me a couple of days to process. I mean never in a million years would I think Alex is capable of such a thing, or that he and Mila would join forces to cover it all up with my father, but I’m learning to expect the unexpected when it comes to life. God spits on the best laid plans.
Once the shock of it all wore off, I was grateful Mila had convinced Alex to keep the Scorpio Society from my dad. If he knew there was a secret cult wrecking havoc on innocent students, he wouldn’t rest until every last bastard was dead and I couldn’t live with that.
I’d never forgive myself for bringing my father into this mess.
Bad enough Alex was suffering from my choices. Even now, he’ll never admit it, but I know he’s haunted by Jennings. Sometimes I’ll find him staring at his hands, his head a million miles elsewhere. When he finally comes around, his eyes are void of any emotion, his face expressionless. It’s a look I’m familiar with being Anthony Bianci’s daughter. Lucky for me, I’ve paid attention to my mom over the years. I’ve watched her love my dad through the dark times and my only hope is that I’m half the woman she is.
That I’m Alex’s safe place just like she’s my dad’s safe place.
A knock sounds on my door and Mila pokes her head inside my bedroom. After I was released from the hospital, I came back to mine and Mila’s apartment to find out that Alex was living in my bedroom. Something that my father put the kabosh on right away.
That’s about the time I also discovered Webber had overdosed and was being blackmailed by Jennings. All those lies he spread about Mila—Jennings made him do it and that’s because Webber was gay and apparently made a pass at Jennings.
I’m telling you it was one mindfuck after another.
“Can you please tell your boyfriend to put the seat down? I fell in the toilet again.”
I bite back a chuckle.
“Sorry, Mila,” Alex calls. I turn to look at him just as he swivels around in my desk chair.
“Yeah, yeah,” she says, rolling her eyes.
That was another surprise, one of the more pleasant ones if I’m being honest. Having your best friend and boyfriend on neutral ground is always a plus. Hearing them joke around and tease one another—the best.
“By the way I ran into Webber and Robinson this morning. They asked me if they should start looking for a third roommate.”
It’s still a little odd hearing Mila speak of Webber.
“Did you answer them?” I ask.
“Sure did. I told him Jack Tripper was officially ours.”
“Who’s Jack Tripper?”
“Oh my God, do you not watch Nick At Night? Jack Tripper is the guy from Three’s Company. He’s got two girl roommates, Janet and Chrissy.”
I shrug my shoulders.
“Never heard of it.”
“We’re watching reruns tonight,” she says, then points a finger at Alex. “It’s your turn to cook homeboy. And none of that healthy shit please.”
With that she leaves. Alex stands from the chair and crosses the room, wrapping his arms around my waist. He pulls my back against his chest and presses a kiss to my shoulder.
“Are you sick of grilled chicken too?”
I am, but I won’t tell him that. Coach Riley recently paid him a visit and tried to convince Alex to take the suspension. He didn’t give him a definitive answer, but the next day he started training again and we’ve been eating grilled chicken ever since. I think professional football is still on the table for Alex and I’m trying to be supportive—even if I start clucking soon from consuming all the bland chicken.
“Nope,” I say, turning in his arms. “I’ll just drown it in marinara sauce.”
He chuckles, bending his head to press as kiss to my lips.
“Gangster.”
“What can I say, it’s in my blood.”
THE END
