Hey loves!
This story took more than just words to deliver safely into your hands. It took more than guts to write; it just took more and because of that, this book is more. So, this is the part where I give you the TRIGGER WARNING.
Cruel Kisses is a dark bully romance. Although it’s set in high school this book is not suitable for readers under the age of 18 due to the mature, explicit and graphic content in the book. There are scenes in this book that might trigger some readers. Please don’t take this warning lightly as this isn’t a light read.
If you’re looking for a sweet, pliant heroine, Mia Montague isn’t it. If you’re looking for a kind, also sweet, hero, Julian Fitzgerald is definitely NOT it. Please don’t continue if that’s the kind of story you’d looking for.
This book CANNOT be read as a standalone as this is part of a series. Please make sure you’ve read Devious Kisses, It’s Just High School #1 first before you continue with this book.
As I always say, by all means, continue if you dare…
You have been warned.
Prologue
4 years old
“No! Leave her alone!”
The scream is as vicious as it is chilling.
Cold shivers race down my back as I clutch my pajama bottoms with both hands.
Tears sting my eyes from the pain radiating up and down my arm making me bite down on my bottom lip, trying my best not to whimper or move.
He told me if I move, or scream, or try to fight him off, he’d do it.
I didn’t know what he meant by that, but I knew I didn’t want him to do anything to me. He was wearing dark clothing when he broke into my room, unsteady on his feet and out of breath. His breath smelled like the stuff my aunt sometimes drinks when she wants to forget whatever it is mom says I help her forget.
His eyes were dark and narrowed like the men I’d seen on TV shows that my aunt lets me watch when mom isn’t home; the kind of shows with bad men who do bad things to good people, beating them up.
And right now, the man holding my arm in a painful grip has that same manner about him which told me that when he hugged me tightly to his chest, almost suffocating me to death, whispering in my ear that ‘Daddy is here’, I knew immediately that he was dangerous and I needed to get away from him no matter what he said.
That’s when I tried to run and that’s when he attacked, grabbing me and smothering my screams for help with his large palm and whispered, “Now, let’s go teach your mother and aunt a lesson, shall we?”
“Jesus, let my daughter alone!” Mom shouts, as she and my aunt race down the stairs, both their eyes wide with so much terror that I’ve never seen in their eyes before. “Let her go right now!”
They both attempt to come closer, but he stops them. “Don’t you dare come any closer or I’ll do it.” He presses the sharp butcher knife at the side of my neck. “As we all know, kids bleed out fast. So, let’s not lose out heads and do something rash, ladies.”
“You have some nerve, harming my daughter like that,” Mom cries. “How the hell did you find us?”
“It’s good to see you too, my love,” the man says with a mocking chuckle. “Now, stop crying. You’re frightening Amy with your nervousness. She doesn’t know what’s going on.”
“You sick son of a bitch,” my aunt says angrily when they both reach the foyer of our small house, close to the kitchen entrance when the man holds me in front of him.
“Watch your language when you’re around my daughter!” he shouts, pointing something at my aunt that he was pressing to my side. It’s cold, hard and big, like a steel bar or something. “Don’t make me come over there and wash that tongue with soap.”
“Mommy,” I whimper, making him tighten the hold he has on my arm. “Mommy, please…”
“Come now, Princess,” the man says, looking down at me. “I already told you not to move. I don’t want to hurt you.”
“Amy, sweetheart, look at me,” Mom calls, her voice shaky, tears streaming down her face. “Just stand still. Don’t move. This will all be over soon.”
“Listen to your whore of a mother, Amy. This will all be over soon.”
“Okay, we’re here, now put it down. You don’t have to