Playing in SECRET (Corrigan & Co. Book 9) by Crystal Perkins Read Free Book Online Page B

do.”
    “I like you, too,
Mija.”
    “I didn’t expect
you. Any of you.”
    That’s a weird
statement, so I press her a little. “Expect us?”
    “I mean, I never
thought I would meet cool, smart, and beautiful girls.”
    “You’re cool,
smart, and beautiful.”
    “My dad’s the only
one who has ever said that before.”
    “He has his good
moments.”
    “Are you going to be
his girlfriend for real?”
    “I don’t know. How
would you feel about that?”
    “I don’t know,”
she says, and we both laugh.
    “Seriously, though,
if it bothers you, you need to tell me. Your feelings are important
to me.”
    She bursts into tears,
and I put down the nail polish to gather her into my arms. “Why
doesn’t my mom feel this way? Why doesn’t she care?”
    “I’m sure she
cares, just in her own way.” Actually, I’m sure her mother is a
self-centered bitch, but she doesn’t need to hear that right now.
    “Hey, what’s going
on over here? It usually takes Audrey at least a week to make someone
cry. Usually it’s because we can’t read her handwriting—or
understand all the chemistry notes mixed in with the words—and not
while she’s painting our nails. Did she mess up that badly?”
Stella asks with a laugh.
    “No. They’re
perfect. Audrey’s perfect.”
    “I wouldn’t go that
far,” I say, as I swat my hand at Stella.
    “I would,” Reina
tells me, as she comes up and gives me a hug from behind. “I
wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing without your help, Aud, and we
both know it.”
    I turn slightly from
Jeanne to hug Reina back. We’ve been together since the beginning
of the Society, and she’s more important to me than almost anyone
else on Earth. My family—I won’t say my “real” family,
because Reina and the other women are real to me, too—are the only
ones I would possibly put before her. Possibly, but not likely. I do
need to go see them while I’m here.
    “Are you okay,
Audrey? You looked sad?” Jeanne asks, wiping her eyes.
    “Not sad, just
thinking about visiting my family while I’m here. It’s been too
long, and I should try and see them.”
    “I’ll go with you,”
Reina says, squeezing my hand.
    “You should get
back.”
    “I’m the boss, and
you need me. We both know you shouldn’t go alone.”
    I do know that. My family loves me, but I’m a disappointment to them. I
was supposed to marry a nice boy—or even a not so nice boy—who
could provide for me. It doesn’t matter that I can provide for
myself. Or even that I could provide for my parents without making a
dent in my bank accounts. All that matters is that I’m almost 40
and not married. So basically, I’m a failure.
    “I’ll go too,”
Jeanne says.
    “Thank you, Mija, but
I’m not sure it’s safe for you to go anywhere but school until we
find out who’s after you.”
    “You’ll take care
of her, Reina?”
    “Always, Jeanne.”
    “Okay, enough of this
seriousness. We have some junk food to eat, and some movies to
watch.”
    We spend the rest of
the night eating too much, while laughing and crying over the movies.
Jeanne ends up snuggled against me as she falls asleep, and I can’t
help but wish she was my daughter. I have to remind myself that she
has a mother. Maybe not the one she needs, but that’s not exactly
my business. Even if I got involved with Blake, Misha would still be
a part of both of their lives. Like it or not, that’s the reality
of the situation.

Chapter 6
    Blake
    Zack had the awesome
idea that we should make breakfast for the girls. Well, all of us
except for Brayden, that is. Apparently there was an incident in Las
Vegas, and he’s not allowed near a stove. The rest of us are making
eggs, bacon, potatoes, and toast while he arranges some fruit on a
plate. We’re almost done when Jesse walks in.
    “Hey man, you had a
party and didn’t invite me?”
    “Nah. You know I’d
invite you if something was going on. They’re just hanging out
while their women protect