Masked Truth: Harrington Hills Academy: Book One

by Mae Reese

  “Excuse me” Jillian says from behind Sky.

  Slowly, Skylar turns and I can’t see the look in her eye but I would imagine she has her mask firmly in place. “Yes?” She says in a bored tone.

  “We were having a conversation” she says, flicking her fingers in a way you would shoo a fly away.

  I feel Skylar’s chuckle against my back before she turns her head back to me, her eyebrow raising with barely contained humor. “Baby, did you want me to leave so you can finish your oh-so-important conversation?” She asks me.

  Tanner and Bash are not helping the awkward situation with their own barely held in laughter. Leaning forward I speak directly to Jillian, hoping this time she gets the message “Jill, have you met my girlfriend Skylar?” I ask, cocking my head to the side. I can see her anger brewing in her eyes, her nostrils flaring like they usually do when she’s annoyed. I’m not sure if its the fact that I am definitely done with her, or the fact that I always told her I didn’t do the girlfriend thing that has her so riled.

  Without another word I pull Sky around and down into my lap. She gives Jillian a little finger wave, a small smirk on her lips. Jillian doesn’t respond, instead standing and walking off towards the other side of the bonfire.

  “Was it something I said?” She says, her hand on her chest and her eyes large and innocent.

  “What? You don’t share?” I ask with mock indignation.

  “No, been there done that and would rather not be in a one sided relationship again” she says, rolling her eyes and taking a sip out of my cup she has plucked from my hand.

  “You know I only want one girl” I whisper against her neck before planting a small kiss there.

  “Apparently some people didn’t get the memo” she says, chuckling.

  “Fuck her” I murmur, sucking on the sensitive spot under her ear. She groans slightly before pulling away to look down at me.

  “Behave” she says, placing a soft kiss on my lips “at least until we get back to your house” she whispers.

  “I’m ready to go” I say, putting my cup down and hurrying to stand with her in my arms. She laughs, pushing against my chest until I drop her on her feet.

  “Ugh you’re such a guy” she rolls her eyes playfully.

  “I haven’t heard one complaint from you about being a guy” I say suggestively.

  “Your sister is still having fun, give her another hour and then we can head back to your place” she says, pulling me down for another kiss. I toy with her lips before releasing her and returning to my seat, pulling her back to my lap.

  ∞∞∞

  “Shhhh, you’re going to get in trouble” Skylar whisper yells to Breanne who is drunk. And not just drunk, but wasted.

  “My dad doesn’t care… Besides he does more illegal shit than you could imagine so my underage drinking wouldn’t even register” Breanne replies, throwing her head back and laughing at nothing.

  “Breanne…” I warn her, telling her to shut up without words. I still haven’t been with Skylar long enough to even attempt to talk about our family situation.

  Sky looks at me puzzled but luckily in her haze of drunkenness she quickly loses the train of thought before she can ask me about it, laughing when Breanne starts shedding her clothes in the kitchen.

  “Jesus Little B, take that shit to your room” I hiss, even though I am pretty sure Dad is on another ‘business trip’.

  “No, I want ice cream!” She says, shimmying out of her shorts. She opens the freezer, standing in the doorway in nothing but her bikini. I shake my head as Skylar does the same, her clothes landing in a pile with Breanne’s.

  I have two bikini clad drunk girls in my kitchen, trying to get ice cream.

  For fucks sake I shouldn’t have told them they could drink so much.

  I grab two spoons and a tub of mint chocolate chip out of the freezer, grabbing both of the giggling girls by their shoulders and guiding them to the stairs “You two, go to my room and turn on Netflix and eat ice cream. For the love of god stay there. Don’t do anything stupid” I mumble, watching them stumble up the steps, still giggling for whatever reason.

  I make my way back to the kitchen, grabbing their discarded clothes and a going into the fridge for a couple of bottles of water. Groaning when I see that we are out I make my way down the hall to the storage room where I know there are a few more cases.

  “Son I need to see you for a few minutes please” my dad calls when he hears me passing his office. The door is slightly cracked, the light streaming into the darkened hallway.

  I guess he isn’t out of town…

  “Yes sir” I say, pushing the door open and standing in the doorway. He gestures to the chair across from him and I walk over and take a seat. He is sitting at his large dark mahogany desk, folders scattered across the table and a glass of what I can only assume is scotch sitting in front of him.

  “I wanted to let you know I got a phone call today from a buddy of mine at the sheriff’s office. They said that I should be expecting a visit from someone from their precinct tomorrow to ask about the runaway teen I have living in my house…” he trails off and dread fills my stomach. Because of my dads ‘work’ he does not like any involvement with he police, with the exception of those he keeps on the payroll.

  “Dad, I’m sorry…” I start but he holds his hand up, silencing me.

  “Barron I need Skylar to leave, immediately. When you first asked if she could stay one of my only requests was that there was no drama involved. I had reservations letting a Santora come stay here…” this time it’s me cutting him off.

  “What does that mean?” I ask, trying to keep my face neutral even though my heart is pounding. My dad has never been a violent or mean man… to us. It doesn’t mean that I do not know what he is fully capable of and just that thought alone is enough to make any of our talks tense. He can’t be serious about me kicking Sky out, sending her back to that house.

  “It’s nothing. Skylar needs to leave…” I cut him off.

  “You have been dancing around the Santora name for the last few weeks and now you’re asking me to essentially send Skylar back to a house with a violent woman. I think you owe it to me to tell me what the hell is going on.”

  He sighs, brushing back his hair as he swirls the amber liquid in the crystal glass in front of him. “I guess now would be as good a time as any to talk to you about this but first and foremost I want you to know I kept this from you and your sister to protect you both” he starts.

  “Kept what from us?” I ask, my mind racing with all of the possibilities that could possibly be about to come from his mouth.

  “Son, your mother did not die in a car accident. She was killed by someone in the Santora family.”

  To BE CONTINUED…

  I am so very sorry for leaving you with this OH MY GOD moment, but have no fear… Book 2 is nearly done and will be out soon!