Uncovering You: The Complete Series (Mega Box Set) (78 page)

“So, don’t you see, Lilly? You were targeted by Jeremy Stonehart.”

“Think! What would a man with his power, his wealth, want from a fresh-faced twenty-three-year-old still in college? Did he pluck you out of the crowd because of your looks? I’m not saying this to hurt you, Lilly. But you’re not exactly model-material, you know. Sex? He could get that from anybody. It did not have to be you.

“But revenge… vengeance… for his mother’s death? Oh, yes.

“He’d already gotten to Paul. I’m sure of it. But maybe when he found him, and saw his mental state, it was not enough. So, Jeremy went after his daughter. He went after
you
.

“You have to get out, Lilly. I’m warning you.” Fey’s absolutely frantic at this point. “Get out of California. Get away from the man. You’re only there as a pawn. Your life might even be in danger. Don’t you see? Don’t you see, Lilly? This is a revenge plot. You’re in the center of it! You have to get out. You have to—”

“He’s coming,” I cut her off. “I’ve got to go, Fey. Thank you.”

“Be careful,” she warns. “I’ve looked up flights. Robin and I can be there to take you away tomorr—”

“No!” I break in. “No! Don’t do that. I need time, Fey. Time to think. Time to—”

I don’t get to finish. The phone slips through my fingers and falls to the floor. The line cuts off.

I’ve gone numb all over. I look at Jeremy. I feel cold.

“Is it true?” I whisper.

Slowly, he stands. The fluidity of his motion reminds me of a rising lion. I feel like I should run, like I should get away. But, my feet are rooted to the spot.

He does not approach.

“If I say it is…” He pauses. His eyes cross the space between us. “will you hate me for it?”

I hesitate, grappling with the new information. Is this the answer I’ve been looking for? Is this the reason
why
?

And, knowing it now, knowing that it could be…

Does it really change anything between us?

“No,” I breathe.

“In that case…” Jeremy’s dark eyes focus on me.

“Yes.”

The End,

Uncovering You 6

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Secret teaser for UY07: Resurrections

Prologue

Summer. 1978.

“M-mama?”

The young boy brought one trembling hand to the door. He pushed.

It did not budge.

Beyond the heavy oak, he could hear the woman’s sobs. His mother’s sobs. They tore at him, because of what he could not do. He could not go to her. He could not comfort her.

He could not protect her.

Footsteps. From down the hall. The young boy’s head whipped around. His heart caught in his throat.

He was not supposed to be here. That, he knew. It was forbidden, for many different reasons, but only one was pertinent.

Because his father had said so.

Frantic, his eyes searched for an escape. They scanned the empty corridor-there was only one way out. Down the stairs away from the attic.

Where the footsteps were coming from.

He looked for a hiding place. An open fire roared on the other side of the room. It was a grand room, and rarely used, but the servants always ensured that no room in the large, soulless mansion lay neglected.

The footsteps were getting louder. He could still hear his mother’s crying on the other side of the door. He gave one last, futile push-even thought he knew it was useless-and scampered to hide behind the large armchair by the fire.

He peaked from behind the back at the entrance to the room. He could see the shadow cast by the person climbing the steps growing larger and larger. Fear constricted his throat. He clutched the book he was holding in front of his chest like a shield of armor.

But he knew, deep inside, that nothing could protect him.

“Je…remy…” His brother’s singsong voice came to his ears. “Je…remy…. Little Jeremy, where did you get to?”

The young boy winced. He hated being called that. He hated what it represented, what it meant. He hated what it reminded him of. That he would never be the match of either of his brothers.

He saw his brother’s shape emerge from the flight of stairs. If the boy was scared before, one look at his brother was enough to make him terrified.

Robert, at 17, was already a full-grown man. Wide shoulders gave prominence to a bulky frame that suited him perfectly for rugby. A few days of not shaving already had a thick beard on his cheeks. His hair wild, disheveled-betrayed what he’d been doing earlier with on of the housekeepers, before fancy struck him to seek out a victim for the night.

The boy did not know why his father tolerated Robert’s nocturnal activities. They were cruel, sadistic. More than once in the past year, he had woken up to find the family dog beaten within an inch of its life. Each time, he had nursed it back to health-only to have it happen again a few weeks later.

Eventually, the poor beast just disappeared. Nobody spoke of why. In fact, Jeremy seemed the only one to even notice.

There were other incidents. One month ago, Jeremy discovered a shoebox wrapped in gifting paper waiting for him at the breakfast table. He had woken late, and missed the rest of the family. He was alone when he opened it. Inside, he found-as his stomach recoiled at the memory-six little parakeets. Their necks horribly twisted, lying in a bed of straw.

He’d brought the box to his father. Jeremy knew the man knew who was responsible. He’d expected some sort of punishment for Robert, maybe of the kind he’d received so often-but all he got was an angry scolding for interrupting him when his father was working.

“They’re birds, Jeremy,” his father had said. “Dead ones, at that. They can’t harm you.” Jeremy remembered the leer his father cast at him then. “Don’t tell me you’re frightened of the dead?”

Jeremy closed the box and threw it out, but the image of those six helpless parakeets haunted his dreams for the next two weeks.

....

Uncovering You 7:

Resurrection

by Scarlett Edwards

December 27
th
, 2014

Edwards Publishing

Reader Warning:

Uncovering You
contains scenes of intense emotional and physical abuse. Readers with sensitivity to such subjects are advised to proceed with caution.

Book Description:

I know why I was taken.

How much does that change things? I cannot say. I still have a weakness for Jeremy—when he is Jeremy. But when he's Stonehart? Well, that's when all of my hatred comes out.

I have to make myself detached, indifferent, and emotionally removed to make the proper decision on what to do next. Jeremy makes detachment hard. Stonehart makes it easy.

What side of him will I get? I don't know. Only one thing's for sure: right now, I'm in the poker game of my life... against the best player in the world.

We'll see who blinks first.

This book is a work of fiction. All names, characters, locations, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination, or have been use fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, locales, or events is entirely coincidental.

UNCOVERING YOU #7: RESURRECTION

Copyright © 2014 Edwards Publishing, Ltd.

All rights reserved.

Edited by Gail Lennon.

Cover design by Scarlett Edwards.

Interior design by Scarlett Edwards.

Published by Edwards Publishing, Ltd.

Edwards Publishing

477 Peace Portal Drive

Suite 107-154

Blaine, WA 98230

The uploading, scanning, and distribution of this book in any form or by any means---including but not limited to electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise---without the permission of the copyright holder is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized editions of this work, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s work is appreciated.

Prologue

Summer. 1978.

“M-mama?”

The young boy brought one trembling hand to the door. He pushed.

It did not budge.

Beyond the heavy oak, he could hear the woman’s sobs. His
mother’s
sobs. They tore at him, because of what he could not do. He could not go to her. He could not comfort her.

He could not protect her.

Footsteps. From down the hall. The young boy’s head whipped around. His heart caught in his throat.

He was not supposed to be here. It was forbidden, for many different reasons, but only one was pertinent:

Because his father had said so.

Frantic, he searched for an escape. His eyes scanned the empty corridor. There was only one way out: Down the stairs, away from the attic.

Where the footsteps were coming from.

He looked for a hiding place. An open fire roared on the other side of the room. It was a grand room, and rarely used. However, the servants always ensured that no room in the large, soulless mansion lay neglected.

The footsteps were getting louder. The boy could still hear his mother’s crying on the other side of the door. He gave one last, futile push—even though he knew it was useless—and scampered to hide behind the large armchair by the fire.

He peaked from behind the chair back at the entrance to the room. He could see the shadow cast by the person climbing the steps. It grew larger and larger. Fear constricted the boy’s throat. He clutched the book he was holding to his chest like a shield of armor.

But he knew, deep inside, that nothing could protect him.

“Je…remy…” His brother’s singsong voice came to his ears. “Je…remy…. Little Jeremy, where did you get to?”

The boy winced. He hated that name. He hated what it represented, what it meant. He hated what it reminded him of. He would never be the match of either of his brothers.

He saw his brother’s large shape emerge from the flight of stairs. If Jeremy was scared before, one look at his brother was enough to make him terrified.

Robert, at nineteen, was already a full-grown man. He’d be turning twenty in a week. Wide shoulders gave prominence to a bulky frame that suited him perfectly for rugby. A few days of neglecting the razor had left a thick beard on his cheeks. His hair, wild and disheveled, betrayed what he’d been doing earlier with one of the housemaids.

Before fancy struck him to seek out a victim for the night.

The boy did not know why his father tolerated Robert’s nocturnal activities. They were cruel, sadistic. More than once in the past year, Jeremy had woken up to find the family dog beaten within an inch of its life. Each time, he had nursed it back to health—only to have it happen again a few weeks later.

Eventually, the poor beast disappeared. Nobody spoke of it. In fact, Jeremy seemed to be the only one who took notice.

There were other incidents. One month ago, Jeremy discovered a shoebox wrapped in gift paper waiting for him at the breakfast table. He had woken late, and missed the rest of the family. He was alone when he opened it. Inside, he found—his stomach recoiled at the memory—six little parakeets, with their necks horribly twisted, lying in a bed of straw.

He’d brought the box to his father. He’d expected some sort of punishment for Robert, hopefully of the kind he’d received so often…but all he got was an angry scolding for interrupting his father when he was working.

“They’re birds, Jeremy,” his father had said. “Dead ones, at that. They can’t harm you.” Jeremy remembered his father’s sneer. “Don’t tell me you’re frightened of the dead?”

Jeremy closed the box and threw it out. But the image of those six helpless parakeets haunted his dreams for weeks.

“Jeremy!” His name was barked out like a command. “I know you’re here. Show yourself. Father’s angry that you’ve disobeyed his command.”

The young boy closed his eyes and pushed his back into the chair, wishing desperately to meld into the fabric. Robert’s heavy footsteps echoed like artillery shells as he crossed the room. He stopped before the only door and tried the handle. It didn’t move. Robert pressed one ear to the wood. Hearing exactly the same sounds that had lured Jeremy up here, he gave a derisive scoff.

Jeremy pressed his small body tight to the floor. He crawled beneath the chair that he hoped would be his salvation.

Even in his young mind, however, he knew it would not help. He knew that he was only delaying the inevitable. He knew that he was not the master of his own fate. His whole life had been decided for him when he had arrived last, and unwanted, into this powerful family.

“No?” Jeremy could see his brother’s booted feet. They moved around once in a slow circle, and then stopped. The toes pointed directly at the chair. “Then it looks like I’ll have to find you. I warn you, you’re only making it worse.”

Jeremy ducked his head down, pressing his forehead to the floor, and closed his eyes. His whole body shook with fear.

The impact of Robert’s boots against the hardwood floor told Jeremy exactly how close his brother was. Twenty feet. Ten. And then…

A hand reached down and clasped Jeremy’s ankles. “Gotcha, you little fuck,” Robert grunted.

The next thing Jeremy knew, he was being dragged out from his worthless hiding spot.

He kicked against his brother. Robert caught his other foot in that impossibly strong grip. Jeremy struggled, trying to break free, trying to get away. It did him no good. He was small. His brother was big. He was weak. His brother was strong. He was just a kid, while his brother…well, his brother was a man.