Secrets in Battle: Secrets of Savannah Series Book 3

by S. M. Donaldson

  Chase looks over at me and smiles, he has a gorgeous smile. “Well, I’ll make it up to you guys, next round is on me, so what are you ladies drinking I know Rich’s drinking beer?”

  Before I could say no thanks, Katie speaks up, “I’m having Parrot Bay and Pineapple Juice and Sam’s having Crown and Coke.”

  “Nice choice Sam, not many girls drink hard liquor they all drink that fucking fruity shit.” I smile, and nod my head in appreciation, trying not to blush.

  Katie glares at Chase “Thanks jackass.”

  Rich laughs “Well there went my idea that you’d found religion!” We laugh and carry on for hours playing pool and drinking. I’ve forgotten how much fun it is to be young and stupid, which if I’m being honest with myself I’ve never really had the opportunity to be young and stupid.

  I’m going to kill that alarm clock! I roll over smacking and hitting, we didn’t get in until 3am and my alarm is set for 6am. I forgot how it feels to be hung over; I’ve got to get a shower, if I can just talk myself into getting out of bed.

  I stand up and touch Katie’s shoulder, “Katie,” she rolls over; make up smeared everywhere not quite the southern belle this morning.

  “What Sam?”

  “I need you to take me to work later; we left my car at Logan’s.”

  “Oh, shit yeah I forgot. I’m supposed to go with Rich today to his parents, why don’t you just drive my car and we’ll pick it up when we come back?”

  “Ok, that works, well I’m getting in the shower; I feel like a Semi parked on my fucking head.”

  An hour later as I’m driving to work the sun is killing me. I park Katie’s brand new cherry red Toyota Celica in what we refer to as the uninsured motorist section of the parking lot; it is much nicer than my old ’93 Accord, it would be my luck some jackass would hit it. Last night seems like such a dream in my hung over fog, once I get inside and get some coffee I’ll be better. I do have to say this is most fun I’ve had in a few years. They say laughter is good for the soul, I’m just hoping it lightens mine…Time to open the doors, oh God I hope Mr. Logan can’t tell how hung over I am… I look around I don’t see Mr. Logan’s car, Thank you Jesus, his son Ryan is opening with me today.

  I walk in the back door, “Hey Ryan, I’m here.” “Great let’s get the outside set up real quick.”

  He jokingly looks at me and with a knowing grin says, “Sunday mornings get busy around ten o’clock or so, it’s our endless supply of caffeine, all of the college kids coming in to study, use the internet and get over last night.” Oh my God he knows.

  I try to play coy, “OH really, do they now?”

  He laughs, “When I saw your car here this morning, I put it all together.”

  “Really, just from seeing my car huh?”

  “Well that and I saw you at Roman’s last night.” Oh shit I don’t remember seeing him last night...

  He winks, “I was going to walk over and say hey but, you looked busy schooling some college guys on how to play pool.” He’s flirting with me, it’s been awhile since someone did and I noticed it but he is totally flirting with me.

  “Well you should have came on over.” “I thought it might make you uncomfortable since I’m the boss’s son.”

  “No, never, I know what that feels like and I would never do that to someone.” “Oh was your dad the mean boss?”

  “No he was the cop who locked my friends and their parents up or called their parents for them drinking underage on the weekends.”

  Ryan laughing & choking on his coffee says “alrighty then, remind me not to cross your family.”

  I laugh and walk on outside to set up the patio tables. I’m steady thinking, Holy crap when I tell Katie about this she is going to die, she kept telling me that Chase was hitting on me last night, I just didn’t see it, maybe I’m just blind.

  I hear the door chime and see Katie, “Hey Sam, we finished early at Rich’s parents, thank God, I feel like crap and I have a paper due tomorrow.”

  “Thanks Katie, here are your keys. You’ll have to move the seat back up.”

  “I know I’m vertically challenged.”

  “Well, I almost took my kneecaps off.” We share a laugh.

  “I’ll be in around five today and I’ll help you with your paper.”

  “Oh Sam, that would be great!”

  Katie’s strong subjects are anything to do with math and science, good since she’s going pre-med, bad because she’ll never spell any of the meds she writes correctly.

  “See you in a little while Sam?”

  “Sure, oh and I have to fill you in on my interesting morning.”

  “Oh, I can hardly wait.” She grins walking out the door.

  I don’t think I’ve been so glad to see 5 pm in my life, either I’m gonna have to quit drinking or build up a tolerance, not sure which one.

  “Hey girl, glad to see you survived your day at work.”

  “Thanks Katie, uh I can’t do that again when I have to work the early shift.”

  “We will see about that, now please tell me your gossip and then we have to get my paper finished up.”

  “Did you see Ryan Logan at Roman’s last night?”

  “No, not that I can remember. Why?”

  “Well this morning he knew I was hung over from Roman’s, and said he saw me and was going to speak but, I was playing pool and he didn’t want to make me feel uncomfortable since he was my boss’s son.”

  “Well, that was mighty sweet of him.”

  “Yeah, but isn’t it weird that he saw us but, we never saw him, and he was kind of flirting with me about it.”

  “Holy crap, Chase flirting with you last night and the little boss flirting today, damn Sam.”

  “It still makes me feel weird, that someone was watching me and I didn’t even realize it and Once again, I don’t think Chase was flirting with me, we just have a lot in common.”

  “Whatever you say Sam I saw what I saw. The smiles the small touches. But don’t over think the Ryan thing, you came here to leave paranoia behind from what little bit you’ve told me. He really was probably just shy about approaching you outside of work.”

  I look over at her, “Maybe you’re right.” She smiles, “I’m telling you Sam I really think you’d like Chase.”

  I give her a half laugh, “Katie I’m not even close to ready for that and I really don’t think he sees me like that.”

  “Whatever Sam, let’s just do this paper. We’ll be busy with this week with rush anyway.”

  Here is a little excerpt from my friend Kasey Millstead. I hope you enjoy and go grab up some of her awesome books.

  Fighting

  to

  Stay

  Kasey Millstead

  Fighting to Stay

  All rights reserved. This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased or publicly performed or used in any form without prior written permission of the publisher.

  Thank you for respecting the work of this Author.

  Fighting to Stay is a work of fiction. All names, characters, places and events portrayed in this book are either from the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, with exception to Artists named, and their song lyrics, and direct quotes from movies whose titles have been named. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, or events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

  Copyright © 2013, Kasey Millstead

  Cover design © Arijana Karčić, Cover It! Designs

  DEDICATION

  To Jovi

  You taught me the hard way that life is too short.

  Five and a half years with you wasn’t long enough; but for a parent, forever isn’t long enough. I love you with my whole heart. I miss you even more. xx

  “You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you.”

  Ray Bradbury

  Other titles by Kasey Millstead />
  Steele Investigations

  Sapphire

  Emerald

  Down Under Cowboy Series

  Cowboy Town (Eden & Jackson)

  Sky Cowboy (Ava & Jeremy)

  Cowboy Dreams (Jules & Clay)

  Stand Alone Novels

  Fighting to Stay

  COMING SOON

  Cowboy Christmas (A Henley Christmas Novella)

  Cowboy Endings (Edie & Jackson, Ava & Jeremy, Jules & Clay)

  ADD THEM TO YOUR WANT-TO-READ SHELF ON GOODREADS.COM

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  Troy – God blessed the broken road that led me straight to you...

  To my four beautiful babies – I love you beyond measure.

  To Mel and Wurry, I think “I II III IV III II” says it all. Mwah.

  Thanks to Meri for listening to me rant and rave and for letting me bounce ideas of you.

  Thanks to my mum and dad, the best parents, ever. And an extra special thanks to my mum who implanted a deep love of reading in me at a young age by reading The Adventures of Blinky Bill & Nutsy to me every night when I was a little girl.

  “If you don't have time to read, you don't have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.”

  Stephen King

  Thank you to Emily, again, you’ve gone above and beyond for me. Never underestimate the depth of my appreciation for you and everything you do for me. I’ll never be able to thank you enough!

  Kylie at Give Me Books blog – You. Are. Amazing! You’ve become a great friend and I can’t wait to work with you more. Your dedication, hard work, professionalism and honesty is an inspiration. You are one of the most devoted and enthusiastic bloggers I’ve ever met and I’m so glad I found you.

  Lisa Watmough at Rock Wat Designs – you are unbelievably talented and creative. Thanks for keeping me stocked with unique swag.

  Thank you to the super talented Ari at Cover It! Designs for creating such a beautiful cover.

  Suzanne Donaldson – my beautiful friend. One day we will meet in person! Thank you for your help with all things Southern in this novel! I’m so blessed to have you in my life.

  To each and every blogger that participates in my cover reveals, blog tours and book blitzes – THANK YOU!!! I wish I could list you all individually, but that would be a novel on its own! Thank you for everything you do. Your hard work never goes unnoticed and it’s appreciated from the bottom of my heart.

  To the girls in WFD and 101 – Wow! You ladies are such knowledgeable, friendly, helpful people. I’ve learnt so much since I found y’all, and I’m so very grateful. <3

  Lastly, thank you to each and every one of you that reads this book. You are making my dreams come true.

  Www.authorkaseymillstead.com

  www.facebook.com/authorkaseymillstead

  www.twitter.com/kaseymillstead

  Goodreads.com – Kasey Millstead

  If you liked Fighting to Stay, please consider leaving a review on Amazon and Goodreads.

  Chapter 1

  I stand behind the half closed door. I don’t want them to know I’m there. I just want to listen. Really listen. I want to hear what he’s like with her. This is it. After four long years, he’s back and I’m still as broken as the day he broke me.

  “Once upon a time, there was a beautiful princess,” he starts.

  “That’s mommy,” she points out, referring to me.

  “She moved to a small town one day, and there she met a handsome prince.”

  “That’s you,” she says excitedly. I hear him chuckle.

  “The prince was tall with dark hair and a short beard. He rode a big motorbike and wore a leather jacket. The princess loved the prince’s blue eyes; they twinkled when he was happy. The princess fell in love with the handsome prince. She loved him so much that she had a baby. The most beautiful baby the world has ever seen-,”

  “That’s me!” She claps, interrupting him.

  I hear him chuckle again, before he continues. “The princess looked down at her baby and named her Lola. She looked just like her daddy, with her dark hair and bright blue eyes. The prince and the princess were so happy with their new baby. They couldn’t wait to take her home so she could meet her older brother. The prince had a son, whose name was Jasper. Jasper looked just like his dad as well, except he had blonde hair. He lived in another town, but he visited often.”

  I hold my breath as he nears the end of the bedtime story I know by heart - I’ve read it to her every night for the past four years; every night since the night we left him. But that’s not the only reason I know it so well, I know it because I wrote it. The words are our story.

  “One day, the princess got a sore heart. She was very sad, so she took the beautiful baby and moved them away so she would be happy again. The princess never stopped loving the prince, though. For every time she sees her daughters twinkling blue eyes, she is reminded of him and it makes her smile. The End.”

  I hear him saying goodnight to her, so I tiptoe away. He’ll come and find me when he’s ready to talk. I know he wants to; it’s why he’s here. Well, that and to see his daughter. He wants answers. He’s mad, and he’s got every right to be. I’m not mad anymore. I’ve forgiven him, but just because you forgive, doesn’t mean you can forget.

  I pour myself a cup of milk and wait for him. I hear his heavy boots lightly thumping as he makes his way down the floorboards of my hall. I sense him stop when he reaches the doorway of the kitchen, where I am. So I turn to face him. Gone are the tender eyes he gave to our daughter. In their place are hard, cold, livid eyes.

  “Roam,” I whisper. I don’t know what else to say. I don’t know what else to do. He’s not scaring me, as such; I know he’d never hurt me. But, I don’t like being on the receiving end of the look he’s giving me and I don’t like knowing that it is my actions that caused that look to appear on his face. The silence is deafeningly uncomfortable. I want to run again, but I know I won’t, because I made a promise to myself. For the sake of my daughter, I would never run again. I would face my problems head on. I would not run.

  Chapter 2

  Six years earlier.

  When things get bad, I run. I always have. It didn’t matter whether I was running into a field to escape my home life when I was a kid, or whether I was crossing state lines to escape a relationship gone wrong. When things get bad, I run.

  Stability…what’s that? I’ve never had it – ever. It’s funny how so many people assume that if you live in a house surrounded by a white picket fence, with a mother who stays home and a father who works long hours that you have a happy, stable life. Well, I’m here to tell you, don’t ever assume. I grew up in that exact situation, and my life was a far cry from solid.

  My mother and father were high school sweethearts. My mom was shy, easily led and naïve. My father was highly strung, domineering and controlling. She followed him to college, never once stopping to even contemplate following her own dreams. She lived her life for him. They married right after graduation and a year later, I came along. Mom stayed at home with me, while my father worked as a highly successful businessman. To the outside world he was charismatic and charming, my mom was supportive and proud of her husband and I was their perfectly mannered princess. To the outside world. Behind closed door it was the screaming opposite.

  Every time my father took to her with his fists or his acid tongue, I’d run as far away as could. I would hide until I was sure he had left, and then I would sneak home and curl up in a ball in my bed until my mom came and laid beside me. She would pull me into her arms and make me look into her tear filled eyes. “Never stay, Lacey. Promise me. Promise right now, that whenever things go bad in life, you will run. Never, ever stay.”

  “I promise, Momma,” I would swear. Then, I’d rub her tummy and comfort her as best I could, until we both fell asleep.

  When nights like that happened, my father never returned home until early the next morning. He’d shower and dress, and then leave fo
r work without so much as sparring us a glance. As I got older, it didn’t take much to figure that he’d been out with other women.

  My dad…he was smart about the way he abused my mom. He never left marks in places that would be visible to others – he couldn’t risk the questions that would surely arise from such bruises. He also never laid a hand on me when I was little. Don’t worry, he wanted to. He just couldn’t risk it. That’s what he’d tell me when he got in a rage. “You’re lucky you’re a risk, Lacey. If I knew for sure you would keep your trap shut, I’d knock you into next week. I’d wring your fucking neck if I could get away with it.” He did slap me once, hard, fair between the shoulder blades, when I was around fifteen. It left a hand print shaped bruise, which resulted in a call from the school after a teacher had noticed it when I was changing after gym class. I don’t know how it explained it, but it was never spoken of again, and he never touched me again.

  A week after my eighteenth birthday, my mother made sure he’d never hurt either of us again when she shot him three times in the chest. Then, she turned the gun on herself and took her own life. Later, when I had to finalize details, I realized she’d planned the whole thing well in advance. Everything was in order – life insurance policies, their last will and testament, the house, the cars. No end was left loose. Along with all the papers and bank account details that she had left in my room, was her suicide note. She ended it with the same words that she would say to me as she curled me in her arms.

  “Never stay, Lacey. Promise me. Promise right now, that whenever things go bad in life, you will run. Never, ever stay.”

  “I promise, Mom,” I had whispered to thin air. And I meant it. No man would ever control me. No man would ever make me feel weak or inferior. And no man would ever hit me more than once. I was not my mother.