Lies Beneath the Surface (Buried Secrets #2)

by Silla Webb

  Big John was in and out of Drew’s life from the time he was just a small boy. Drew resented Big John for the difference he made between the girls and himself. Big John just tried to buy him off, but being the greedy son of bitch that Drew is, he wanted more. Hell, he wanted it all. But he knew there was no way in hell Big John was gonna pass the Simon Energy Empire down to him. Drew’s big elaborate plan was to infiltrate the Simon family with me as his pawn. He figured that with Carly out of the picture, Big John would retire and turn the reigns to Simon Energy over to Savannah. I’d coerce her into signing the company over to me since I had the knowledge of coal minin’, then I’d sign it all over to Drew. Sounds easy, right?

  WRONG.

  He didn’t plan on me fallin’ in love with his sister. He didn’t plan on us starting a family together. He hated every second of it and he frequently reminded me to keep my shit in check. He played the perfect best friend, always being sweet and endearing to Savannah. He kept his identity concealed. Fucker had her wrapped so tight around his pinky, she’d jump at even his simplest request. Twins loved him too. Hell, he was Uncle Drew. Literally. Ain’t that some shit?

  Never knew what love was until Savannah captured my heart. She is the epitome of perfection. Absolutely flawless, full of grace. But falling for her, allowing myself to have the slightest chance at happiness was wrong. I was here to do a job, to relinquish Simon Energy from the Simon’s control and pass it to Drew as he so rightfully deserved it. I had to distance myself from Savannah and our children just to keep from foiling our plan.

  My God, I nearly wept the first time I laid a hand on her. Seein’ a purple bruise on her soft cheek, I hated myself in that moment. It seemed like over time the situation continued to deepen. After puttin’ up with all of Drew’s bullshit day in and day out, I had to let go of the pent up aggression some how. Coming home each night, she was always there to take the brunt of my frustration. I’d go for days sittin’ and stewin’ over my bourbon, trying to find a different release for my anger until I would finally snap. I hated hittin’ her, and I hated lovin’ her. She was the enemy in my mind, but in my heart, she was my beautiful wife, the woman who gave me two children and a mountain of happiness. Happiness that I didn’t deserve.

  Eventually, through all of the shit I became one sick bastard. My mind became confused about how I felt for Savannah. I didn’t care anymore that I was hurting her, because deep inside she was killing me slowly by loving me. I began to feed from her fear, began to crave the pain that I inflicted on her. I didn’t care that I was the source of her nightmares because she was the source of my dreams, and my dreams haunted me. I couldn’t love her and give her the happily ever after she deserved…it wasn’t written out for us that way.

  When Carly came home, she stripped Simon Energy from our grasp and sent us up the shit creek without a paddle. Beneath all that shit, we were busy tryin’ to cover our asses with the Black Pike scandal that Big John dumped in our laps. I knew the shit I was getting into with Black Pike, but we were makin’ money hand over fist, with no overhead. That is until the operation was shut down and the company assets were seized. I kept tellin’ Drew we’d get caught, but he assured me our asses were covered. Shouldn’t have trusted that filthy bastard.

  Over the years, Savannah wilted. I hated watching her fade away, but it was all my fault. I should have let her go, move on and live a life she deserved, but my possessively greedy nature refused to set her free. I needed someone to free my frustrations on and she always seemed to be the perfect victim.

  I told Savannah that if she ever tried to leave me, I’d kill her and bury her ass so deep in a heap of coal, back in an old abandoned mine shaft that nobody would ever find her. I nearly made good on my promise when I came home after being arraigned to find her standing in the foyer with a fuckin’ suitcase in her hand, like she was about to leave my sorry ass. Fuck no. That stupid whore of a sister just had to tempt me, pushin’ me over the damn edge. Rage coursed through me and I saw black; blind with fury. I cleaned fuckin’ house, nearly drainin’ the life from both of ‘em. My world was cavin’ in around me, might as well take her out with me, right? At least in death, our souls would be bound together and she couldn’t escape me. At least in death, we might just find our happiness together. Just as I was about to crash the heel of my foot down against Savannah’s face, delivering what surely would have been the final blow, I saw a picture on the bookshelf that stilled me in my actions, pullin’ me back into reality.

  Brailee and Braden.

  I couldn’t bring myself to strip my kids of having a loving life that they so richly deserve. Savannah loves our kids so fiercly and has walked through Hell’s Fire and Brimstone just to protect them. I’d never lay a hand on my kids, they’re my reason for living. But they don’t deserve to be left orphaned because their daddy is a heartless, greedy bastard. They’re innocent to my evil ways and I couldn’t bear to leave my children alone in this world. I won’t be here to protect them, but Savannah will be.

  For once in my life, I committed a selfless act, and spared Savannah of her life so our children could life happily. I drove out to my hunting cabin in the woods and drunk myself into oblivion until the Sherriff finally showed up and hauled my ass off to County.

  I’ve spent the last four weeks in jail waiting for my pre-trial hearing. James tells me there are too many charges against me to get bail, and Savannah’s attorney has been pulling every damn string in her magic box to keep my ass behind bars as long as she can.

  Savannah won’t answer my calls, and I miss hearing my childrens voices. To add to the bullshit that is my life, James showed up with divorce papers today. Fuckin’ hell. I told him to shove the divorce papers up his ass, I wasn’t signing them. I might be locked up and facing twenty years of imprisonment, but like hell I’ll be grantin’ her a divorce. She’s a stupid fuckin’ bitch for even thinkin’ something so ridiculous. ‘Til death do us part.

  Playlist

  Torn to Pieces by Pop Evil

  Let the Bodies Hit the Floor by Drowning Pool

  Redneck Crazy by Tyler Farr

  Love the Way You Lie by Eminem and Rhianna

  Timber by Pitbill featuring Kesha

  Wake Up Lovin’ You by Craig Morgan

  My Faith in You by Brantley Gilbert

  Home by Phillip Phillips

  Like A Wreckin’ Ball by Eric Church

  Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing by Aerosmith

  Happy by Pharell Williams

  Confessions of Hatred by Sevendust

  Some Kind of Monster by Metallica

  Limbo by Daddy Yankee

  Thousand Years by Christina Perri

  Who I Am With You by Chris Young

  Wobble by V.I.C.

  Dance Again by Jennifer Lopez

  Addicted by Saving Abel

  I Melt by Rascal Flatts

  Butterfly Kisses by Bob Carlisle

  About Silla

  Silla Webb is a Kentucky native, raised in the heart of the coal fields. A coal truck driver’s daughter, and a railroader’s wife, the coal fields own a special place in her heart.

  Silla is a work at home, Super Momma to three rowdy boys, who keep her on her feet from daylight to sunset. As a pass time from her everyday life, Silla started a blog-Momma’s Secret Book Obsession, for reviewing romance novels. From there, she realized that not only did she have a natural love for reading and reviewing, but she found that lost love of writing that she once had as a young girl.

  When she isn’t conquering the world as a wife, momma and Super Woman, Silla loves to lay on the front porch swing and read while sipping sweet tea, just passin’ the day away.

  Silla Webb~email

  Silla Webb on Facebook

  Silla Webb~Blog

  Momma's Secret Book Obsession~Facebook

  Momma's Secret Book Obsession~Blog

  Silla Webb ~ Pinterest

  THANK YOU

  First and foremost I have to give thanks to God for bles
sing me with all that I have. Without Him, I’d be nothing.

  Secondly, I want to thank my husband, my best friend, Boss. Without your support and push through each day, I would have failed so many times. Even through the sleepless nights, and the self doubt, you continue to be my anchor, keeping me afloat from sinking in this endless sea. I will always love you through every storm we face.

  My boys~ Dalton, Daden, Dawson~

  Your pride in me is amazing. I’m YOUR Best Selling Author, and that matters more than any other ranking list EVER!! I can only hope that my hard work and dedication will only inspire you to never give up on your dreams and when the going gets tough you will push through with a fierce perserverance.

  To my Momma, Emma Webb-thanks for bein’ there for me.

  Amanda Staton~my childhood friend, my best friend. You keep me sane. You keep my feet firmly planted to the ground, and encourage me to keep going, never looking behind myself where doubt surely follows. I love you. Thank you for being such an amazing Sister.

  Kaylee Lovering~some of my closest friends I’ve never met in; person-you’re one of them. You are very special to my heart, because you honor friendship for all that its worth.

  You ladies have kept me going these last couple of months as I wrote Lies Beneath the Surface. Thank you BOTH for cheering me on, always being there, DAILY when I need you. My day doesn’t feel complete without chattin’ with my SJD girls. Thank you both for Beta reading and helping edit Lies Beneath the Surface. I love you ladies.

  Tiffani Mowery and Michele Mowery-Stevens. #3 and #4 Beta Readers to EVER read Lies Beneath the Surface. You ladies are my best friends…the ones I can physically grope when I want. Your friendship is invaluable to me, you’re family. Thanks for supporting me, and loving Colton and Luke as much as I do.

  Jodie Squelch, THANK YOU for being the ROCK of MSBO and keeping everything steady while I’ve been writing. You are such a great friend. So good to us!

  Kym Sardinas and Megan Smith-TAMPA. ‘Nuff said! I can’t wait to hug you girls!!!

  Maureen Mayer, ya know…you are always there when I need that little nudge, and I always enjoy our chats! You are an amazing Beta reader, and an even better friend! Thank you for all of your advice and honesty! Love you city girl.

  To that special Coal Miner in my life, my baby brother-Nicholas King. I’m so proud of the man you have become. Thank you for being such a great brother, and supporting me in my dreams. Love you, bub.

  To my street team-You ladies are amazing!! Thanks for cheering me on from the sidelines. Thanks for promoting for me, all of the shout outs, the recommendations. If it weren’t for YOU, the Buried Secrets series wouldn’t be in the hands of thousands of readers! Love y’all!

  Thanks to my photographer-Julie Sayre at Classic Black Photography, and to my beautiful cover model-Brittney Rochelle. Thanks to *the hands*-Brandon Eaves, and my husband, Boss. The cover turned out exactly as I envisioned it.

  To my readers-THANK YOU for having faith in me as an author. If you’d asked me a year ago if I’d ever publish a book, I’d laughed in your face. But here I am, publishing my second novel, writing the third and fourth. Because of you, I am a best selling romantic suspense author. Because of you, and your love for my series, I WRITE. Please continue to spread the love about the Buried Secrets Series. I love reading your reviews and messages. Thank you all for the support.

  To the Coal Miners across the country- THANK YOU for crawlin’ through the depths of the earth, breaking your back and riskin’ your lives, so selflessly.

  Mend the Seams (Buried Secrets #3)

  Coming Winter 2014

  Depths of Darkness (Buried Secrets #4)

  Coming Spring 2015

  One in every four women and one out of every seven men have experienced severe physical violence from an intimate partner at some point in their lifetimes.

  See more at: Joyful Heart Foundation

  Don’t suffer in silence.Find your inner strength, and let your voice be heard.

  1.800.799.7233

  National Domestic Violence Hotline