by Beck, J. L.
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J.L. Beck and C. Hallman are an international bestselling author duo who write contemporary and dark romance.
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Also by the Authors
CONTEMPORAY ROMANCE
The Bet
The Dare
The Secret
The Vow
Kiss Me Never
Bayshore Rivals
(Reverse Harem Bully Romance)
When Rivals Fall
When Rivals Lose
When Rivals Love
***
DARK ROMANCE
The Rossi Crime Family
(Dark Mafia Romance)
Convict Me
Protect Me
Keep Me
Guard Me
Tame Me
Remember Me
Hating You
(Bully Romance)
***
EROTIC STANDALONES
Runaway Bride
FREE NOVELLA
There Captive
(A Dark Reverse Harem)
Chapter One
(Unedited and subject to change)
Willow
“I didn’t do it. I didn’t fucking do it.” Every night I have the same dream, and every morning I wake up the same way. Drenched from head to toe in sweat, my heart racing inside my chest, beating against my rib cage like it might break free and fly away. Sitting up in my bed I shove the covers off my clammy body and force air into my lungs, reminding myself that I did the right thing.
You’re a good person, Willow. I tell myself as I drag myself into the shower and get ready for the day. There is a small brunch event for all the freshmen and their families and if I’m late… Shivers ripple down my back at the thought. After all the things my father did to get me into this school I don’t want to think of what might happen to me if I mess this up.
“You’ll do right by our family name. You won’t make a mockery out of me like your sister did, will you?” My father’s stern voice rings out through my ears as a reminder of what’s to come. Even after everything my sister had gone through he still blamed her, still disowned her. Now she has nothing and I’m forced to live up to my father’s incredibly high standards. Then again, it’s this or allow my sister to be homeless.
The only plus side to being here is that it’s a two hours drive from my fathers estate to Blackthorn and I doubt he will attend any of the family events, nor does he expect me to come home for the weekends. Thank god for that.
Alice, my roommate groans into her pillow then, her silky blonde hair nothing more than a knotted mess on her head. “It’s morning already? It feels like I hardly slept,” she groans.
“You literally drank like three Starbucks Espressos last night. I’m shocked you went to bed at all,” I snort.
“It’s not my fault your definition of water and mine are two different things,” She yawns, as she slowly pushes from the bed. “I need coffee to function, okay? Don’t hate.”
My lips turn up into a tiny smile and I laugh softly. Alice is everything I’m not; lighthearted, funny, comes from a loving family. She doesn’t have a care in the world while I carry so many burdens, my back hurts.
She is the-glass-is half-full kind of person, while I’m the glass-is-always-half-empty kind. Maybe we are a case of opposites attracted, because since the moment I walked into the dorms we hit it off. Alice introduced herself a bright smile on her face, and like two magnets we were drawn to each other. She’s only been my roommate for a week, but we’ve already grown closer than I thought possible.
When I arrived at Blackthorn, I had very low expectations when it came to making friends. Back home I had a plethora of friends, girls and guys. I was the popular girl, just like my sister had been. But all of that changed one night two years ago.
After everyone found out about what happened to my sister, everything fell apart. People stopped talking to me, and turned their backs on us. They passed me in the school hallway like I was nothing more than a stranger, whispering to their friends. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t hurt by it, but honestly, I got over it. I don’t need people to pretend to be my friends. If they are not real friends then they are not worthy of being my friend at all.
“Is your dad coming to the freshman welcome brunch?” Tensing of the mentioning of my father I shake my head.
“No, he’s got to work, and it’s too long of a drive for him to make out here.”
“Oh, sorry. I thought I might get to meet your family,” she chimes, blissfully unaware of what an ass my dad is. I didn’t tell her any of my family drama yet and I don’t think I will, not anytime soon at least. I would like to keep at least one person as a friend.
Pushing myself to get up, I go shower, washing my hair and body on autopilot. Rinsing off completely I step out and grab a fluffy towel off the rack. Thank God these dorms have bathrooms attached to each room. I guess that's to be expected in one of the most elite universities in the country.
Getting dressed quickly, I tug on a pair of black skinny jeans and a pink blouse, then I look at myself in the mirror. With my long black hair still wet and clinging to my shoulders I look like a drowned cat.
Getting out the blow dryer I start drying the mangled strands, using the brush to straighten them out as I go. When I’m finished doing that, I switch with Alice, letting her into the bathroom while I put on some light makeup in our room.
Like the beauty queen she is she comes out of the bathroom fully dressed and ready, twenty minutes later. I slip into my ankle boots and finish myself off with a spritz of my favorite perfume.
“Ready?” Alice turns to me and smiles.
“Ready,” I confirm, and we both head out together.
The walk to the Lincoln Hall is short and we make it there in under ten minutes. The building itself looks older than dirt but inside it’s beautiful, with high ceilings, and huge windows that let lots of light in. Entering the place I discover it’s already filling up with people. There is an entrance table with one of the helpers handing out name tags and explaining the seating chart. Great, I won’t be able to sit with Alice like I had hoped. A nervous knot forms in my stomach. That’s just the way the cookie crumbles Willow. Sighing I walk up to the table.
“Willow Bradford,” I tell the lady at the table.
“Good morning Miss Bradford, you will be sitting at table 8, and your father is already here,” she smiles, and I almost choke on the air in my lungs.
“What?” I don’t understand. He’s not supposed to be here. Why is he here? Suddenly any appetite I might have had is gone and all I want to do is go back to the dorm and crawl in my bed. But I can’t definitely not now. Scanning the room slowly half praying this woman might be wrong I spot him. Damnit. My insides burn, and my muscles tighten. There he is sitting at our assigned table, wearing a gray tailored suit looking every bit out of his element. His dark gaze moves about the room, watching as students pass by with their parents. Parents that care, that love them. As I stare one single question remains. What the hell is he doing here?
“Oh cool, your dad came after all,” Alice exclaims excitedly. “My family is at table 3, but we can get together later, okay?” She’s bubbling at the seams with excitement over seeing her parents while I would rather stick forks in my eyes. I swallow thickly, the saliva in my mouth suddenly turning to glue. Not wanting to have to explain to her the shitshow that is my family, I just nod instead.
We part ways, and it takes everything inside me to continue walking towards that table. I’m angry, sad, and disappointed, because this was supposed to be my break. My chance at freedom, instead it feels more like a gilded cage. All over again I’m trapped, just
like I was at home.
“There you are,” my father greets me with a forced smile as I walk up to the table. He gets up, presses a kiss to my cheek and pulls my chair out for me. Once we’re both seated, he leans in so no one else can hear and says, “Would it kill you to have put on a dress for an event like this?”
What the hell?
He straightens back up and I stare at him dumbfounded. What has gotten into him? Why is this stupid brunch so important to him, and what is wrong with the clothes I’m wearing? This isn’t a charity ball, or some fundraiser. Everyone else is dressed in a similar fashion to me.
Biting back a shitty remark I ignore his comment about my attire and decide to change the topic, “Why are you here?”
His thick eyebrows shoot up his forehead.“What kind of question is that? Why wouldn't I be here? All the other freshman parents are here.” As he is talking, his eyes scope out the room, almost like he is looking for something… no...someone.
Suspicion creeps up my spine and starts to fester deep inside my gut as I continue watching my dad. Even though he’s supposedly here for me, his attention is everywhere but on me. Matter of fact, he almost seems distracted. I’m not really shocked though. Crossing my arms over chest I just stare at him, wishing he would disappear.
“Have you made a lot of friends yet?” My father asks out of the blue.
“I really haven’t had much time. I spent the last few days getting oriented with the campus and unpacking. My roommate is nice though. She wants to meet you later, but you don’t have to.”
“Nice?” He asks like he doesn’t know what the word means. “What’s her name?”
“Alice,” I answer briskly, before taking a sip of my water.
He looks at me like I’m dumb. “What’s her last name, Willow.”
I’m so close to rolling my eyes it’s not even funny. Of course he’s only interested in her last name. Because last names signify everything about you. Forget what kind of person you are. Without the right last name you’re a nobody.
I shrug. “I don’t know. Burton, I think.”
“Burton?” My father rubs at his chin as if he’s deep in thought, “Hmmm doesn’t ring a bell, which means she doesn’t matter. You need to make some more friends. More important friends. Remember, it isn’t what you know, it’s who you know, that will get you places. This is the perfect school for you to make those kinds of friends, so don’t waste this opportunity. You aren’t here to make lifelong friends. You’re here to make connections, Willow.”
Curling my fingers into my hand I sink my nails into the tender flesh of my palm. Of course he is here for his own gain. Disappointment sinks like a heavy stone to the bottom of my stomach.
“You didn’t drive two hours one way just to tell me that, did you? Because if you did you’re going to be gravely disappointed. I’m not here to make connections or friends. I’m just here because it was this or home with you and anything is better than being stuck in that mansion with you.” I’m talking out of line, instigating him, but I don’t care. All I want is for him to feel even a sliver of the same pain I or my sister feel.
Raging fire flickers in my father’s dark eyes, his jaw tenses, “You promised you wouldn’t make a mockery out of me, Willow. And part of that is you needing to represent me and our family name in an elegant manner. So rather you like it or not, you will befriend people of importance, you will wear clothes that are appropriate, and you will do all of those things with a smile on your face, or do I need to remind you of what happens if you don’t?”
I open my mouth to speak, to reply with anything, but am interrupted before I can.
“Welcome, dear students and families,” a female voice filters through the speakers. “We are so happy to have you all here today…” she continues her speech, but I drown the rest of it out. All I can think of is my father's threats, his demands, and what happens to my poor sister if I don't compline. I hate him, truly I do.
Gritting my teeth I sit through the rest of the brunch which thankfully goes by in a blur. After we are done eating, everyone gets up to mingle, which is exactly what my father came here for. I consider leaving right then and there, just to spite my father but I won’t pay for it. My sister will, and I can’t let an innocent pay the price for my wrong doings.
Alice finds us first, her parents greet us with smiles, and friendliness, while my father looks them up and down like they are wearing dirty rags. Great, he’s going to cost me my only friend.
“Burten, is it?” My father tisks and I already know where this is going to go. “I don’t think I’ve heard that name before.”
“Yes, Burten,” Alice’s father replies while shaking my father’s hand. Like most men he doesn’t seem even a little intimidated by my father. “I try to keep my name out of the spotlight as much as I can. I’m more of the silent partner.”
My father smiles, but it looks more like if a shark smiled at you. His eyes light up and excitement overtakes his features. Of course that peaks his interest. It doesn’t matter where we are or what we’re doing. Business is the only thing that matters to him. My father’s conversation carries on while Alice and her mom excuse themselves to go and talk to someone else they know. Pretending I don’t care I smile and cross my arms over my chest. It’s almost too hard to watch as all the happy families laugh and hug. I won’t ever have this, a happy family, someone that is excited to see me. Ugh, pity party for one I guess. Distracting myself my gaze wanders around the room until I find a person in the far corner of the room…
He’s half cloaked in darkness, the shadows covering his face. Even without seeing his features I feel like I know him. The way he holds his body, there is something so familiar about it. I rack my brain trying to recall meeting someone such as him, but nothing comes. Right then the small hairs on the back of my neck rise up, goosebumps spread across my arms, and my heart starts to beat in an irregular rhythm. Dread fills my gut and even though I have no reason to feel the way that I do right now I can’t shut the feelings off. It’s like deep down I know something bad is going to happen.
What is going on?
Like a hand gripping onto your leg in an old horror movie, fear claws at me, threatening to pull me under. I can’t even see his face, only the contours of his broad shoulders, muscular chest, and the way his large hand wrapped around the delicate glass he’s holding. It’s almost as if with the simplest of pressure he could break the thing.
He could break me. I shake the thought away, unsure where it came from to begin with. I don’t know him, whoever he is.
I’m about to turn to let my father know that I’m leaving when someone, no not someone, a man comes to stand in front of me. My eyes lift to his face, he can’t be but a little older than me. He’s handsome in a my-father-is-rich-as-sin kind of way. Perfectly tailored clothes, matriculate styled hair, and a sharp jawline.
Up close I can see his dimples, the color of his eyes. He smiles at me, showing off a set of straight and brilliant white teeth.
“I’m pretty sure I’d remember meeting a pretty face like yours. You must be one of the freshmen?”
I smile as well because his smile is infectious, “Well, this is the freshman brunch, isn’t it?” I cringe at the words after they’ve already come out.
Mystery man gives me a low chuckle, it’s deep and I can feel it in my bones, “I mean yeah, but I’m not a freshman, and I’m here too, so …” His eyes glitter with amusement
“Sorry, that was rude of me,” I apologize halfheartedly.
He nods, taken a sip of his drink, and for a split second I let my gaze roam over him. Muscular chest, broad shoulders, big hands. He’s tall, much taller than me, towering over me by a good four inches. He’s got the body of an athlete but somehow I doubt he plays sports.
“Like what you see?” he says coyly.
My cheeks burn. “I wasn’t checking you out. I was just...” Shit, what was I doing?
“It’s okay, if you were. I was checking you ou
t too, and incase you were wondering…” He leans into my face, and as I suck a panicked breath into my lungs I catch a whiff of his collagen. Sandalwood, and patchouli. Warm, rich, and inviting. “I like what I’ve seen thus far.” he winks, and while his demeanor is playful I can’t help but feel like there is a deeper meaning to what he is saying. I like what I’ve seen thus far. Like he’ll have the chance to see more?
“Willow…” My father’s deep baritone voice catches my ears and I blink, pulling myself from my thoughts. Twisting around I meet his hard gaze.
“Yes,” I answer even though I don’t want to.
“I’ll let you get back to spending some time with your family. I’ll see you around, Willow is it?”
“Yes, Willow,” I force my lips into a smile and extend my hand out to him. He takes it, his warm hand encompassing mine, as he gives it a gentle squeeze.
“Warren,” he introduces himself, a boyish grin on his lips. Warren. The name seems to fit him. Prim, and proper. “I’m sure I’ll see your beautiful face around.”
I nod, caught up in his words. Lifting my hand he presses a kiss to the top before releasing it. It falls back down to my side, and like a ghost he turns and disappears into the crowded room. Weird.
My father looks to where I had been looking, a moment ago. For a few seconds he looks pleased with me, and we all know I can’t have him being happy with me.
“Did you ask for his last name?”
I snort, “No father, I did not.” I grind my teeth together so hard my jaw aches.
“Quit being difficult and just do what I’ve asked of you. I need at least one of my daughters to live up to the family name. Your sister has already disappointed me, don’t do the same. I can only handle one family fuck up at a time.”
