Corrupt by Penelope Douglas

Corrupt

by Penelope Douglas

Published by Berkley

Book 1 in the Devil's Night Series

Erika Fane’s boyfriend's older brother is handsome, strong, and completely terrifying.

The star of his college's basketball team gone pro, he's more concerned with the dirt on his shoe than he is with her. But she saw him. She heard him. The things that he did, and the deeds that he hid...

For years, Erika bit her nails, unable to look away. Now, she’s in college, but she hasn’t stopped watching him. He’s bad and the things she’s seen aren’t content to stay in her head anymore.

Because he's finally noticed her.

But Michael Crist knows the hold he has on Rika, how much she fears him. She looks down when he enters the room and stills when he’s close. He knows she thinks only of him. When Michael’s brother leaves for the military, leaving Rika alone and unprotected, he knows the opportunity is too good to be true.

Three years ago she put Michael’s friends in prison, and now they’re free.

Every last one of her nightmares is about to come true.

Genre

#DarkRomance

#BullyRomance

#InterconnectedRomance

Triggers

From authors website

Hazing, Revenge Fantasy, Abusive Behavior, Toxic Relationships, Violent Behavior, Physical Assault, Misogynistic Behavior, Predatory Behavior, Mention of underage sexual relations, Mention of date-rape drugs, attempted sexual assault, dubious consent, bondage, kidnapping, group sex, reference to incest.

My own additions

Stalking, Attempted Murder

I should have known I was in for a wild ride when Penelope Douglas was the author, but ... whew.

That was a wild ride.

I judge myself for enjoying it, frankly.

This series has been on my TBR for years, but I don't actively seek out a Penelope Douglas book. I like her work, I don't love it.

But fucking #booktok got me.

A million and one videos on my FYP of "needing a guy that would dance on a cafeteria table to My Prerogative just to make me smile" and I just had to know.

Who is this guy?

What is this much beloved scene?

Fun fact - that specific scene is in the fourth book in the series. So if I wanted to be in the know, I had to start reading.

I have to say, this was definitely on the darker side of dark romance.

Like, there were times I was very uncomfortable with what I was reading. Like, Penelope Douglas was really blurring that line between non-consent and dubious consent. There was straight up sexual assault.

No, I'm not kidding.

Whereas she might have liked being scared with Michael, she didn't consent to the other guys, and what they did to her. Doesn't matter that they didn't have sex with her. They touched her. They tormented her.

I guess I can understand the plot device of the guys wanting revenge for their imprisonment, but if Penelope was trying to get me to feel bad for these guys, I didn't.

First of all, they did do the crimes. I understand they all had their reasons, and some of them were good reasons.

But they literally assumed Rika was the one who turned them in, with no proof, than decided to commit more crimes to terrorize her - for so called revenge?

I know it sounds like I'm shitting on this book, but I actually did enjoy it, despite everything. It's just SO MUCH darker than I expected.

I didn't read it for the romance.

I enjoyed the spice. I usually do when it comes to Penelope Douglas's work.

While cringing through some parts, I was entertained. I was interested.

The story hooked it's claws in me.

While I will recommend Corrupt, and the rest of the series, I definitely am putting a big warning out there that this series not for everyone.

Everything was so polished, and when I looked around at all the adults and families I grew up with, their money and designer clothes, I often saw a coat of paint that you apply when you’re trying to cover up rotting wood. There were dark deeds and bad seeds, but who cared if the house was falling apart as long as it was pretty, right?

Michael: “Sex is an unnecessary need, Rika.”

Michael spoke low next to me.

Michael: “Do you know what that means?”

I shook my head, too weary to do anything more.

Michael: “We don’t need sex to survive, but we need it to live,”

Michael: “I’m hungry, Rika,”

he said, pressing his hard body into my back, his lips hovering over mine.

Michael: “I want everything they tell me I can’t have, and I see that hunger in you, too.”

Michael: “Own who you are,”

he commanded.

Michael: “And don’t apologize. Do you understand? Own it or it will own you.”

Damon: “You guys could’ve come up,”

Damon suggested.

Damon: “You like pussy, Rika?”

Anger heated my skin. I pulled my seat belt back on, not looking at him as I answered.

Rika: “I’d take one to bed before your dick.”

Kai: “When you want to make an impression and you think you’ve gone far enough, go a little further. Always leave them wondering if you’re just a little bit crazy, and people will never fuck with you again.”

Michael: “They’re just matches, Rika.”

I cocked my head, my eyes narrowing with ire.

Rika: “They’re just matches?”

I sneered.

Rika: “What do you treasure? Is anything precious to you?”

His expression turned impassive, and he remained silent.

Rika: “Yeah, they’re just matches,”

I continued, my voice growing thick with tears.

Rika: “And memories and smells and sounds and butterflies in my stomach every time I heard the car door slam outside, telling me that he was home. A thousand dreams of all the places I’d have adventures someday.”

I took a deep breath, placing my hand on top of the box.

Rika: “They’re hopes and wishes and reminders and all the times I smiled, knowing he’d remembered me while he was gone.”

And then I looked at him pointedly.

Rika: “You have money and girls, cars and clothes, but I still have more than you in this little box.”

“Dirty Diana” by Shaman’s Harvest began playing, and I smirked.

Diana: “Well . . .”

Diana spoke up, touching Michael’s shoulder,

Diana: “I’m so glad I ran into you. You barely make it home anymore.”

But Michael ignored her, still holding my eyes. He cleared his throat, squinting at me.

Michael: “Interesting song.”

I fought not to laugh.

Rika: “Yes, I thought Diana would like it,”

I replied cheerfully and then looked to her.

Rika: “It’s about a woman who jumps into bed with men that aren’t hers?”

Michael dropped his eyes, laughing under his breath.

I dived into his neck, breathing against his skin as I grazed my lips back and forth, whispering,

Rika: “They all thought I was a good girl, Michael.”

I dragged his lobe through my teeth.

Rika: “But there’s so many bad things I want to do. Do dirty things to me.”

Redefine normal. None of us know the full measure of our power until we start pushing our boundaries and pressing our luck, and the more we do, the less we care what others think. The freedom feels too good.

Michael: “What do you want?”

I asked, my voice turning hard.

Michael: “Huh?”

Her expression suddenly turned sad, and she dropped her eyes.

Rika: “I want you,”

she choked out.

Rika: “Forever I’ve wanted you, and now I feel . . .”

She looked up, her eyes glistening.

Michael: “What?”

I bit out.

Rika: “Dirty,”

she finally answered.

Rika: “I felt like your friend tonight. You saw me, you liked me, you respected me . . . And now I feel like a simple, stupid girl—a dirty secret that needs to sit quiet in a corner and wait for your word to speak or move. I don’t feel like your equal anymore.”

Rika: “Someday I’m going to own a building like Delcour and drive a hot car like you, and I will have gotten it all on my own. And I’ll do it while flipping the middle finger at everyone—including him—that looked down on me.”

Michael: “You’re threatening us?”

Michael’s menacing tone made my stomach flip.

Rika: “No. That’s what you did to me. I’m simply playing your game.”

Rika: “You want to know what I’ve learned? I don’t win by playing your games. I win by making you play mine.”

Rika: “Well, it’s like you’re saving your energy for something. Holding back,”

she says, nestling into me and getting comfortable.

Rika: “But it doesn’t make any sense. Life is one-way, and there is no return trip. What are you waiting for?”