Splintered truths splint.., p.1
Splintered Truths: Splintered Promises Duet - Book One, page 1
Splintered Truths
Splintered Promises Duet
Part One
SPLINTERED TRUTHS COPYRIGHT © 2024 BY M. GEORGE
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. NO PART OF THIS BOOK MAY BE USED OR REPRODUCED IN ANY MANNER WHATSOEVER WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION EXCEPT IN THE CASE OF BRIEF QUOTATIONS EMBODIED IN CRITICAL ARTICLES OR REVIEWS.
THIS BOOK IS A WORK OF FICTION. NAMES, CHARACTERS, BUSINESSES, ORGANIZATIONS, PLACES, EVENTS AND INCIDENTS ARE EITHER THE PRODUCT OF THE AUTHOR’S IMAGINATION OR ARE USED FICTITIOUSLY. ANY RESEMBLANCE TO ACTUAL PERSONS, LIVING OR DEAD, EVENTS, OR LOCALES, IS ENTIRELY COINCIDENTAL.
ISBN:
979-8-9898994-4-9 (EBOOK)
979-8-9898994-0-1 (PAPERBACK)
979-8-9898994-1-8 (HARDBACK)
979-8-9898994-2-5 (DISCREET PAPERBACK)
979-8-9898994-3-2 (DISCREET HARDBACK)
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CONTROL NUMBER: 2024901562
COVER DESIGN: M. GEORGE
IMAGES: CANVA PRO/DEPOSIT PHOTOS
FORMATTING: M.GEORGE
FIRST EDITION: JANUARY 2024
Dedication
For all the good girls shining bright in the darkness who just want their morally grey baddies on the cinnamon-roll side. May that hand necklace squeeze you just a little bit tighter and make you come like the good little girl you are.
Important Note
This book contains content that is not suitable for all readers. Before proceeding, please be mindful of the fact that this book contains dark themes.
A full list of trigger warnings can be found on my Facebook Group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/656007759928663/permalink/712340360962069
Please take note of potential content warnings, and be mindful of any personal triggers. Your mental health matters.
Thank you.
Official Playlist
Blow- Ke$ha
Vicious- Sabrina Carpenter
Doomsday- Nero
Face Down- Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
One Call Away- Charlie Puth
The Search- NF
Hate Me- Ellie Goulding, Juice WRLD
My Heart Has Teeth- deadmau5 (feat. Skylar Grey)
Demons- Imagine Dragons (Cover by Jasmine Thompson)
Animal I have Become- Three Days Grace
Vigilante Shit- Taylor Swift
Make Me Wanna Die- The Pretty Reckless
The Kill (Bury Me)- Thirty Seconds To Mars
Illuminated- VINTERSEA
Undisclosed Desires- Muse
Bodies- Drowning Pool
Morally Grey- April Jai
Chapter One
Danica
My body pulses in time with the music as the bass bumps loudly to the rhythm of a classic party song. Kesha’s voice rings out, singing something about glitter on the floor while the drunken party-goers move together in a jumbled mass crowding the dance area. Trying to slide through the revelers without grinding into anyone, I note the group of girls to my left twerking with their drinks held high in the air, liquid splashing out with each swing of their arms, creating a sticky-slick mess on the ground.
Veering further to the right, I attempt to avoid their exuberant celebration while passing through the crowd. The frat house is so packed with jocks and other Greek row inhabitants that it will be a miracle if I can find Brad like we had originally planned. Squinting as I look around, I am relieved when I finally spot a familiar face, and adjust my direction slightly to head that way. Soon, I reach a small group clustered just beyond the back edge of the dancers, all heavily invested in what looks to be a game of beer pong.
“Finn! Bash!”
Pausing mid-throw Sebastian turns, eyes widening as he sees me pushing through the drunk mob. Quickly following where his eyes landed, his twin and my closest friend, Finnley, turns to find me coming upon their game, stepping forward to help me through the last of the crowd on the dance floor and pulling me into his side for a hug.
“Okay hotness, not that I don’t love seeing you but your brother is going to lose his shit when he finds you here, you know that right?” Bash speaks up as I step out of his brother’s embrace.
Hot and sticky from the sweaty dancers and the stench of stale beer in the air, I feel disheveled as I brush my bangs out of my eyes, rolling them as I gaze around the room. “Yeah well, I don’t see him here, do you?” Opening his mouth, I continue before he can respond, “I’m a big girl Bash, I can make my own choices.”
A throat clears behind me. “Want to try that again, Smarty?” Crossing my arms, I turn and glare at my older brother as he and a brooding figure walk towards us, each carrying several bottles of amber liquid. “What the hell are you doing here Danni? You’re way too young to be hanging out at a frat party. And what the fuck are you wearing? Seriously? Mom and Dad are going to kill you if they find out that you went out dressed like that, and then they are going to kill me for letting you come here in the first place.”
Glancing down at my pleated black mini skirt, tight midnight blue sequin tank and high tops, personally, I think I am underdressed compared to most of the girls in the crowd. Seriously, you would think we were at a nightclub and not some frat house celebrating the latest football win. Regardless, I have seen how his “dates” dress so he has no room to talk. I don’t owe him an explanation for how I choose to dress. Tossing my long auburn curls over my shoulder, I flip him the bird before responding.
“You act like I’m twelve, not almost eighteen. God, as if you weren’t sneaking out to party when you were my age!” Ugh. Hypocritical much? He just glares in response. Bash and Finn continue their game of beer pong off to my left, wisely choosing to stay out of it; and Hoodie Guy just stands there watching our verbal tennis match, all dark and forbidding. “Besides, I’m just looking for Brad. He wanted me to come to the game and then meet up with him here after to celebrate his big win.”
A scoff has me glancing from where I was speaking with my brother over to the brooding hoodie just behind him. Raising a brow, I attempt a disdainful glance though a shiver passes through me. Tall and broad shouldered, short dark hair to match his hoodie layered with a worn leather jacket, jeans, and biker boots, he easily seems out of place with all the preppy jocks and rich frat boys making up most of the horde celebrating after the game tonight.
“I’m sorry, who are you?” I ask in annoyance.
All steel, ice blue eyes meet mine with a matched brow cocked back at me, and slight smirk pulling at the corner of his mouth. Not even bothering to hide his amusement at my attempt to appear more confident, his unwavering gaze casts an unsettling sense of awareness across my skin.
“Don’t mind this jackass.” Throwing an arm over Hoodie Guy’s shoulder, Bash interrupts, causing the electric intensity of the moment to fizzle out as my eyes move between the two. “You would think he is just being grumpy because he was dragged along to party with his best friends, but frankly, his brooding manner comes naturally. And much to my dismay, it always seems to have all the girls fainting at his feet.”
Bash glances at his friend before directing his gaze to me, and it’s almost as if he can sense the pulsing energy passing between us. “Theo this is Danni, Caleb’s little sister who is undoubtedly ‘too young’ and ‘should not be at this party’.” Smirking, he squeezes his friend’s shoulder as he continues. “Hotness, this brooding jackass is my best friend and roommate Theodore Giovanni- Captain of the illustrious Hubert-Chapman University’s Thunderbirds. Play nice kitty cat.” With a wink in my direction, Bash removes his arm from his dark and moody friend and goes back to the beer pong table to resume his game with Finn.
Roommate, huh? If he lives with Bash that must mean that he is on the hockey team since Bash lives over at the designated Hockey house on Jock Row; though I’m not sure why I even care. With a mental shrug, I direct my attention back over to Bash.
“Come on, dude. How many times have we been over this? ‘Hotness’ is acceptable, but call me ‘kitty cat’ one more time, and I will show you my damn claws Sebastian. That is just an obnoxious nickname.” With an eye roll directed his way to show my annoyance, he just grins, sending a kiss my way before drinking the beer in the red solo cup that Finn’s ball just landed in. With a groan of annoyance at my brother’s teammate, he just smirks back at me, not even phased by my snippy retort. “God, you are so annoying.”
It’s easy to see that Caleb is getting frustrated with our playful banter, and I have to smile. As his younger sister, I consider it a personal achievement any time I can get under his skin. And with Bash by my side, it’s always an easy achievement. “Dude! Stop fucking flirting with my sister! She’s off limits, you know that. Besides, she is way too young for you and your fuckboy ways.” With a glower, Caleb moves closer to punch Sebastian in the bicep before returning to grab my arm, annoyance radiating off him in waves. “And you,” he turns to glare at me, “are way too innocent to be in a den of filth like this. Come on, I’m taking you home.”
Disgusted with his overbearing protective older brother routine, I yank my arm from his grip as he tries to drag me away from the group. “Caleb! Get off me, geeze! I wasn’t even planning on drinking. I just want to find Brad, maybe hit up the dance floor for a few songs if I’m lucky, and then I’ll have him take me home. Between his football and my gym training we haven’t seen each other in weeks and you know how he gets when we can’t see each other.”
Hoodie guy’s mouth flattens as his eyes narrow at my words. “Besides, you know how it is with our schedules.” With a shrug, I take a step back from the group. “I’m going to go find my boyfriend now.” As I go to turn away from this lovely little gathering, I’m stopped in my tracks as a new voice interrupts.
“That’s a bad idea, kitty cat.” The low gravelly tone draws my attention back to where Theo has been watching this whole ridiculous interaction. Glaring back at him, I respond in kind, my own voice low and moody. “You don’t get to call me that. I don’t even let Bash call me that and I’ve known him for years.” I jerk my chin to where the twins are still playing their game of beer pong.
“Trust me la mia diavoletta, you would be better off just going home. If we see your boy anywhere around here, we’ll tell him to go find you.” I prickle at his use of the word ‘boy.’ “Go home to your cozy warm bed with your pink fuzzy pillows where you can snuggle up safe and sound. This party isn’t the scene for you.”
“Excuse me?!” His pompous attitude fills me with rage, while he just coolly stares back, expression unchanging.
“You heard me. Go. Home.” A slight twitch of his raised eyebrow is the only indication of his annoyance with me, or the situation in general; I’m not sure which. Our strange standoff is interrupted as a drunken body bumps into me from the side of the dance floor, a clumsy apology on their lips as they resume their dancing. With a gasp, I stumble forward, catching myself on Theo’s hard chest as he reaches out, grabbing me gently by the arms. His gentle touch is an odd contrast to his harsh words and I flush, my pulse quickening as I try to regain my balance. I find I’m unable to look away from the obstinate man in front of me as Theo’s icy stare hardens into a scowl.
With a start, I realize I have been standing in his arms, just staring at him, and quickly move to back away. “You are such a jackass. Let me the fuck go.” Yanking my arm out of his grasp, I return Theo’s brooding glare with one of my own. Not giving either one a chance to continue, I turn, hastily pushing my way back into the crowd in search of my boyfriend. Working my way to the back yard where the huge bonfire is in the hopes that I will have better luck there, the heat of the flames warms my face as I begin to scan the crowd. I wander through groups of people milling about drinking, as raucous laughter fills the air, and still there is no sign of Brad.
Chapter Two
Theo
“Aren’t you going to go get her?” I direct the question to Caleb who has resumed his drinking while he continues his earlier conversation with Finn and Seb.
“My sister? Dude, look. I’m pissed she’s here but she has made up her fucking mind and she isn’t going to leave until she is ready. I’ll give her a bit to get through her search and when she comes up empty, I’ll take her home.” Sipping from his beer, he continues “Danni is one of the most stubborn people I know. Even if I dragged her ass out of here, she’d just sneak out and find her way back.” Shaking his head, he mutters under his breath “Hard-headed brat” but I still manage to hear his annoyed comment. And for some goddamn reason, it pisses me off.
Scowling at my friend, I press the conversation further. “Why is she dating that fuckface Brad anyway?”
A look of incredulous disbelief passes over Caleb’s face, before quickly turning into a grimace. “Dude come on; he is star football material. Daddy’s little golden boy. All the chicks had a thing for him back at school.” His blasé attitude about Bradley fucking Oakley Jr. only serves to piss me off further and I can feel my scowl deepen.
“Doesn’t make him any less a fuckface. And damn well doesn’t make it okay he is with your sister. Does she even know about his ‘extracurriculars’?” At this, Caleb scowls in return. He knows exactly which extracurriculars I am talking about. And let’s just say they aren’t ones that affect his GPA.
“Listen, they started dating a few years back. I think it was around the end of her sophomore year maybe? He would have been a junior at the time. He made a big show with how he was all about her; charmed the whole damn school. Like, stereotypical golden-couple shit.”
My chest rumbles in a dissatisfied growl, the mental image pissing me off. Caleb continues, “They’ve had their issues in the past, but they seem to have come a long way since he graduated this last spring. And anyway, my parents love the guy and think he’s going places. Both our parents are hoping for a wedding in the future from what I’ve heard. Personally, I think he’s a prick but it’s a waste of breath trying to tell them that. As for Danni…” he hedges while searching for how to phrase his next thought.
“Come on, Brad is a total jackass that can’t keep his dick in his pants, and you know it. If you are so overprotective of your sister, that you don’t even want her at a party like this, then why haven’t you told her what a fucking man-whore her boyfriend is?” I inquire, quickly losing my cool.
A look I can’t quite place passes over Caleb’s face, but it’s gone before I can attempt to process it. He shrugs as he responds, “I’ve tried, but I told you she is hard-headed when her mind is made up. She wouldn’t listen unless I threw it in her face that her boyfriend of over two years is a fucking cheater. And while I hate the jerk, I don’t want to hurt my sister like that.” He gives me a shrewd once-over. “Why the fuck do you care anyway?” Glaring at me, I can see the suspicion written all over his face.
Finally pulling his attention from the game to glance over at his two bickering best friends, Finn interrupts. “Guys, chill.” Examining me as he throws his next shot, it lands without him even trying. Seb huffs before picking up the red solo cup.
Ignoring his sibling, Finn continues. “Theo, I’ve known Danni since Caleb and I were roomies as freshmen. Truthfully, I’m surprised you haven’t met her before now with how often she comes around to see Caleb. I swear, between my place and Caleb’s, the girl practically lives on campus. She’s here way more than she ever is at her own home. But anyway, that is beside the point. Regardless, if you had met her before now you would know she absolutely will not listen once she has made up her mind.”
Chiming in where his brother left off, Seb interrupts. “Unless she sees it for herself, I don’t think our Kitty Cat will listen to reason.” Seb, glancing briefly back to the table as he takes aim, and huffs in annoyance when his shot misses.
Finn smirks as the shot goes wide. “Most of the guys here, especially those of you from HCU Thunderbirds and anyone else on campus who’s a fan really, know she is Caleb’s little sister and is wholly off limits. She should be safe enough to hang out for a bit and chill, even if she doesn’t find Brad.”
“And if she does?” There is a bite to my gravely tone that even gives me the chills.
“And if she does, then she will either see what a tool that guy is and how shitty of a boyfriend he is, or she won’t and she will end up hooking up with him or whatever. I mean,” glancing between Caleb’s stony expression and my own stormy one Seb immediately backpedals as he continues speaking to the group, “not hook up or whatever. Your super-hot athletic almost-eighteen-year-old sister doesn’t ‘hook up’ with guys. She is still too young and innocent for any of that.”
The crowd of onlookers that have gathered around to watch the heated beer pong match between the twins groan loudly as Seb’s next shot misses once again, momentarily grabbing my attention. “Dude, I don’t understand how you can be such a god on the ice and have such terrible aim playing this game.” a voice from the audience taunts. Bash looks like he is about ready to throw down.
“Man, just stop while you’re ahead. If you’re not careful you’re going to wind up with Caleb’s fist in your face.” Finn mutters distractedly to the heckler as he takes aim, once more landing his shot.
Turning away from his losing streak with disgust, Seb interrupts the conversation before it can head further into dangerous territory. “Fine, I guess Theo is right. This scene isn’t the place for someone as young and hot looking as your sister- sorry Caleb- no use denying her hotness here. I know she can handle her own and all, but even giving her time to search for Brad seems like a bad idea in this crowd. Plus, if you don’t find her before she finds Brad, then you’ll be the one picking up the pieces, because you know your parents sure as hell won’t.”
