by WB Amore
Copyright © WB Amore 2015
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of WB Amore, except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976.
This is a work of fiction. All characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
1st Edition Publish: March 2015
Published by: WB Amore
Edited by: Corset Book Services
Proofread by: Michelle L., Dawn L., and Jamie S.
Photo License: DollarPhotoClub.com
Cover Design by: IndieVention Designs
Formatting by: IndieVention Designs
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Published By WB Amore at Smashwords.
Dedication
To my boys, I love you!
I want to dedicate this book to all of you who had faith in me.
You all had more faith in me than I had in myself.
For that I will always be thankful.
This wouldn’t be possible without the help of three beautiful heartwarming women.
Jamie for pushing me when I wanted to stop.
Dawn for well just for being you and all the help you gave me through this.
MJ I want you to know that because of you I took this leap of faith and wrote this.
I didn’t think I could do it and now that it’s done I’m so very glad that I did.
This goes to the three of you.
Through Lies and Heartache
What once started as a trio of friends has turned into heartache and secrets.
Gracie is stuck in a world that she is not sure where she belongs. Ryan and Liam have always been by her side, but all that has changed. Ryan keeps warning her of Liam for reasons he has yet to share. Liam is finally coming back around but is holding secrets she is unsure of.
Gracie is trying to coexist with two men that mean the most to her. One she loves, one she misses. Will she feel that way when secrets start to unravel?
What will Gracie do when she finally learns that her whole life has been surrounded by lies. Will she face the truth or will she run......will she even have the chance?
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty One
Chapter Twenty Two
Acknowledgments
Prologue
Gracie
As I sit here rubbing ointment on my newest tattoo I find myself thinking of all the times Ryan and Liam would come over and hang out, most times we would find ourselves building forts in the middle of my living room watching movies and eating all the goodies our moms made that day.
I feel like I’m being torn the more distant Liam gets and the more time Ry and I spend together. We were best friends that we’re supposed to enjoy our senior year together but we’re not. I feel like I’m drifting at sea, I want to feel anchored; I don’t want to feel the sea all around me with no shoreline in sight. Even a little wind in the sails to give me a nudge towards the right direction would be better than how I feel right now.
Mom and Dad never got married after mom found out she was pregnant with me. Dad insist on sending money to help take care of me. Personally, I don’t think she should take a dime from him, mom has a killer job working at a law firm. She’s not home a lot but now that I’m 18 I can get a job to help out, maybe she wouldn’t have to work so much.
I wonder if dad sends money instead of being here because this way can be off running around doing god knows what, I mean sure he comes to see me about twice a month and we do lunch or dinner. Like that would make things all better, pfft, you’re not putting a Band-Aid on a boo boo here. Honestly, all I want is for him to be here for dinner every night, my prom, graduation, birthdays, sometimes I have a bad day and just want to hug my dad.
I’ve known Ryan DeLuca and Liam Abbatelli most of my life. When we were sixteen, something happened between them and Ryan hasn’t let me see Liam since. I’ve tried to ask what happened but mom pretends like she doesn’t know what I’m talking about. Ryan just tells me that he’s not who we thought he was and that he’s dangerous.
I never believed it. I started to pull myself away from both of them causing me to struggle with all my classes and keeping my grades up. When the year was over they made me repeat my freshman year. That summer I started running, I got really good at it. I felt at home running so I decided to try out for the track team, it wound up being the push I needed to keep my grades up. If my grades fell I didn’t run at meets and there was no way I was missing them. My sweet little love affair with running made re-doing my freshman year easier. It’s been my savior.
Chapter One
Gracie
After two years, Ryan finally put an end to me putting distance between us, he needed help with his cardio and asked if I would train him. So over the summer we started running together and we’ve become closer, I wasn’t chasing him if anything he was chasing me.
Ryan’s been training for MMA for as long as I can remember a month ago was his first fight, he was only supposed to be gone two weeks but I haven’t heard him sense the day before he left for his fight.
Tomorrow is the first day of our senior year and I’m wondering if he’s even going to be there. Looking over at the clock I see it’s eleven. With a sigh I lean over, seeing I’ve read the same sentence a few times I set my book down, set my alarm and turn my lamp off.
I lay here and try to count sheep but it’s not really helping. I’m not sure sleep will come anytime soon. I pick up my cell phone to play a game but got a text at the same time. Unlocking it, I see that it’s from Ryan causing my stomach is lit up with butterflies. Taking a deep breath I open it.
Ryan – You awake?
Gracie – Yeah…
Ryan – Did I wake you?
That makes me smile.
Gracie – No you didn’t, can’t sleep?
Ryan – No. You?
Gracie – I tried with no luck.
Ryan – What’s wrong?
Gracie – I’m not sure what’s wrong, I just know I can’t sleep.
Ryan – Maybe I can help.
Gracie – Yeah? How’s that Ryan?
Ryan – Look out your window.
I shoot out of my bed as I read it and sure enough there he is leaning against the side of his truck. I slide my window open and lean out so that I can get a better look at him.
“It’s no wonder you can’t sleep Ryan.” I say with a smile.
/>
I can see his smirk from up here “Well you know me.”
“I’m beginning to think I do.” I smirk back.
“So you coming down here or am I coming up there?”
“Meet me at the front door and you can come up.”
Running down the stairs I can’t help but smile, swinging open the door it only gets bigger. The second Ryan sets eyes on me his smiles as big as mine.
“Come on, let’s go back to my room so we don’t wake mom. She’s been working a lot lately. Some new case.” I say grabbing his hand and leading him up the stairs to my room. We’ve been having sleep overs most of our lives. I get a tingly feeling that chases further up my arm the longer we hold hands.
“So what brings you here at eleven thirty at night when tomorrow is the first day of school?”
“I couldn’t sleep and I’ve missed you.”
“Awe the all mighty bad ass Ryan DeLuca has a heart after all!”
“Ha, Ha my heart’s there, just very small only holds room for a few people, and lucky for you, you’re one of them.”
“Your secrets safe with me I promise not to tell… Unless you’re not nice to me…”
“Blackmail... Awe Piccolina thinks she’s so smart...” Ryan has a smile that says nothing but trouble.
“You staying? If so I’m tired and we have class tomorrow.”
“Ok, let’s go to bed.”
“Dirty boy, we are not doing anything but sleeping!”
I say as I climb into my bed I pull the blankets up over me and pull his side down and pat the bed. I almost have to wipe the drool off my face as he pulls his shirt over his head. He’s built like a tank his muscles are so prominent and defined, I doubt my fingers would touch if I wrapped my arms around his shoulders, he also has an eight pack that is outlined by a very nice v that point’s to his groin. I’m a little nervous about sleeping in the same bed as him it’s been a while, but at the same time I can’t wait for him to lay next to me.
Chapter Two
Ryan
I give her a wicked smile. I can’t help all the dirty thoughts I’m having. I honestly never thought I’d have those kinds of thoughts about her but the closer we get and the more I get to know her. I can’t keep myself from wanting her. With her being five foot two a little on the curvy side, brown hair with blond high lights and her blue eyes that seem green on some days she’s not my normal type but Gracie, well she’s in her own class and not many can compare to her.
Allowing her to know how I feel about her is probably the worst thing I could ever do to her, considering who her dad is. I also think he would kill me forever laying one finger on her, god I think he would kill me for my thoughts alone.
I catch her staring as I take off my shirt, I’m starting to think this is a very bad idea.
I can’t touch her. I won’t touch her. At least not yet.
“Gracie, you sure about this?”
“Oh come on Ry. I won’t bite though I should be more worried about you biting me. That I’m sure of.”
Letting out a groan, “Gracie… You can’t say things like that.”
She looks down at her hands trying to keep me from seeing her cheeks turn pink. I’m getting hard at shyness. She’s so sweet and beautiful, yet she doesn’t even know it.
I’ve toed my shoes off by her desk I take my socks off and put them in my shoes. As I’m walking over to her she asks “You want to take your pants off? They won’t be very comfortable to sleep in.”
She’s getting redder by the second, that’s when it clicks. She doesn’t want me in my pants!
Smirking at her, putting my hand on my belt, slowly undoing it, “Oh Piccolina,” Slowly moving to the button on my jeans, unzipping them, “If you wanted in my pants all you had to do was ask.” I say as I let them fall to the floor leaving me in nothing but my briefs.
“Gah! Ryan! That’s not what I meant and you know it! Can you just come to bed? It’s already close to midnight and its only getting later.”
“Ok Piccolina, let’s go to bed.” I tell her as I climb into her bed.
I’m lying on my back staring at the celling, trying not to have these dirty thoughts. When I feel the bed adjust I turn my head to look at her. This is when I notice how close we really are. God, she has the most beautiful eyes I’ve ever seen, today they’re blue with yellow that wraps around her irises. They’re very captivating and I can’t seem to do anything but be dragged into their depth.
“Yes?” I ask her because all we seem to be doing is staring.
She lets out a big sigh as I see the tear streak her cheek. I roll over and look at her she seems so broken hearted and I don’t even know why.
“What’s wrong Gracie?”
“Nothing sorry.”
“Bullshit. What’s wrong? Talk to me please.” I try to keep the plea out of my voice but it doesn’t seem to work.
“I guess I just miss my dad…”
“Come here Piccolina.” I say as I wrap my arms around her and pull her to me in a hug. “I know you miss him but not much to do other than to call him.” I tell her holding her closer…
“I know. I just wish he would realize that I would rather have him here at home then all this...” She says waving her hand around the room. If only she knew what her dad was really giving up. There are things she deserves to know. Maybe if she knew everything it won’t hurt as bad and she might understand why he keeps his distance. I can’t tell her like this maybe I’ll writer her a letter.
“Now close your eyes and go to sleep, tomorrow is going to be a long day.”
She sigh and I feel her snuggle a little closer to me wrapping her arm around my waist.
“Thanks Ry.” She whispers.
“You’re welcome Piccolina. Now go to sleep.” I tell her.
I’m running my fingers through her hair like I’ve been dreaming of doing this for months now. I feel her start to slip in to the darkness that is sleep. Her breaths are deep and even as she starts to relax. Running my fingers through her hair has me relaxing, so I continue until I fall asleep.
~*~
I wake up when I feel her clutch at my arm digging her nails in, just before I hear the whimper leave her lips. Looking at her I see she’s still in the same position she fell asleep in, only now she doesn’t look peaceful, she has a look of sheer horror on her face.
I start to shake her as she lets out a small scream.
“Gracie, come on wake up. Let me see those pretty blues.”
She whimpers some more. I shake her a little harder,
“Come on Gracie wake up.”
I see her eyes flutter as she lets out another whimper, holding on a little tighter and squeezing her eyes shut.
“Come on Piccolina, talk to me what’s going on? What happened?”
“You… You were shot, they made me watch while they shot you, and they took you from me before I knew if you were ok. I… I thought you were dead. You weren’t moving when they dragged you away.”
“shh. It’s ok Piccolina. I’m right here and I’m not going anywhere.”
I feel her shudder and somehow she manages to hold on tighter.
“Shh. It’s ok. I’ve got you.”
Looking over her head at the clock I see that it’s 5 am. I feel like I’ve only been asleep for an hour instead of five. We have to be up for school in an hour and Gracie needs more sleep. So again I tell her.
“It’s ok. I’m right here, holding you, I’m safe. You’re in my arms. Right?” She nods her head, “So go back to sleep.”
I feel her start to relax again. I start running my hand up and down her arm and back, I happen to slip my hand into her hair which causes her to relax more. I continue to run my hand through her hair and I feel her slowly slip back to sleep. I lay and hold her closer to me. My heart is still beating fast but I’m not sure if it’s from her dream or just having her in my arms. Having her so close to me, arm across my chest and her leg across my waist is making it very hard to keep myself
from getting hard.
I’ve got to think of something, anything else. My mind wanders to her dream, which I’m not sure where it came from. I’ve never given her any indication of my life outside of school or how I started fighting. I have no clue where she would even get the idea that I could get shot, or even held captive. I can’t sleep, not now with those images in my head, and there’s no way I could get up and leave while she’s sleeping either.
So I lay here and watch the sun start to peak over the mountains with the sky clear they sky is turning a mix of pink, purple, and dark blue, it’s beautiful and peaceful. I look back down at Gracie and sigh, I wish I could have her the way I want her. Laying here gives me some time to think of all the things I want to tell her. Now just to figure out how to tell her and when to tell her. Looking back out the window at the sun rise the sky has gone from the pinks and blues to more or a red, it makes me think of that old saying, ‘Red sky and night sailor’s delight. Red sky in the morning sailor’s warning.’
She may never look at me again but I can’t continue to keep her in the dark.
I feel like it’s the calm before the storm.
I’m not sure who will kill me first, her or her dad.
Chapter Three
Gracie
I start to stir and I almost panic when I feel someone holding me. Then I remember its Ryan, my panic seems to get worse as my dream comes crashing back and I can’t breathe but he pulls me closer like he can feel my panic attack.
