Thank you for joining us as we celebrate the release of
B. Truly's Urban YA Romance,
SCORN OF SECRETS!
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Synopsis:
I must keep it locked away—the memory of my darkest secret….
When the rising tides of my life peak, I’m left struggling with the currents of the storm. The first dilemma is my dad’s gambling debt. Mama bounces back quickly from the ramifications it causes. She proves this by getting a new man. Her Rico Suave is just the tip of the iceberg—she moves us across state to live with him and his two sons. My outgoing, older sister fits right in—she’s the total opposite of me. I am Madison Guillory, the shy, quiet type. Taught to make the best of even the worst situations, I contemplate giving my new family a chance. Living with my future stepbrothers is interesting, to say the least. They’re like night and day. I have more in common with the laid-back brother, and we become instant friends. I’m adjusting to Taylor High, and the arrogant brother is even starting to grow on me. Maybe everything will work out after all. My life finally seems to be falling into place until a dreadful night shatters my dreams. My world is flipped upside down because of the consequences I must now bear. The memories of that night lurk in the shadows to torment me. If I think of what happened, I’ll succumb to my fear. His face has scorned me. No one will believe me if I confess, not even my own sister. I hold the key to my darkest secret, desperate to keep it locked away.
Chapter 3 (Excerpt #3)
After our trip to the grocery store, the sun is starting to set. We pull up into the driveway to haul the groceries inside. Grabbing bags, I head toward the back door first, noticing it looks ajar. I take a step backward, almost bumping into Tanya.
“I think someone’s in there,” I hiss. “The door is open.”
Tanya’s honey-brown irises grow wide. We put our grocery bags down on the patio table as Mama comes around the corner.
“What’s going on?” Mama’s brow knits.
“Someone might have broken in. The door is open,” Tanya explains.
“Could dad be home?” I ask. I didn’t see his car when we arrived. Thinking so is a sense of false comfort.
“I doubt it,” Mama replies.
She places her bag down on the table with ours. Going toward the door, she eases it open “Should we go inside by ourselves?” I wonder. The glare she gives me lets me know to shut up. My heart is jackhammering against my ribcage. Mama and Tanya head toward the family room. I enter the kitchen, noticing the refrigerator is ajar. The freezer side is bare. It’s a good thing we just came from the grocery store. “All the meat is gone.”
Mama rushes over, gasping. Nothing else seems out of order in the kitchen—other than the robbers getting their groceries here. The family room is another story. Pillows are tossed on the floor and the table decor is smashed. Stuffing from the ripped-open sofas and pillows is splayed over the floor like confetti. The icing on the cake is the 60-inch flat screen is nowhere to be found—along with the DVD player.
Tanya inhales loudly. “They took the TV!”
Mama places her hand against her temple. “This is unbelievable. Who did this?”
I swallow hard, having an idea. How upset will she be if I tell her my suspicions?
“My room,” Tanya drawls, rushing to her bedroom.
“Tanya, wait! What if someone is still here?” I call after her.
She doesn’t stop, continuing up the stairs. Mama heads that direction also. I follow behind her—my chest constricting with each step. She doesn’t go to Tanya’s room, continuing to hers. I peek my head inside Tanya’s bedroom, which is ransacked. Her lips quiver as she looks around. Cautiously, I check the closet, not finding anyone. No one seems to be hiding in here, so I head to Mama’s bedroom.
When I enter, I can already tell her room is worse than Tanya’s. The first thing I notice is her TV is missing, too. There are clothes thrown around the room. All the dresser drawers are hanging open or lying sideways on the floor. Her mirrored dresser is a mess with perfume bottles knocked over and items scattered about. Mama is fumbling through her jewelry boxes.
“Those bastards took my good jewelry!” She rushes into the closet.
The bathroom connected to their room door is open. Something red on the mirror catches my attention. Stepping into the doorway, my eyes grow large. The red is writing on the mirror in lip stick. I cover my hand over my mouth. This is turning worse by the second.
I hear Tanya whine, coming into the bedroom. “They took my flat screen and some of my jewelry is gone.”
It’s horrible these goons have stolen from us and destroyed our things. I’ll have to face my bedroom later. I don’t own much jewelry and not one diamond, but they could have torn my room to shreds. The message on the mirror is the most disturbing. It must be those men I’d seen.
Returning to the bedroom, I say, “They left a message.”
“What?” Wrinkles line Mama’s forehead.
She hurries into the bathroom with Tanya on her heels. Mama inhales loudly when she sees the message.
We know where you live now & next time, we won’t be so nice. We’ll visit when your family’s home. Pay us what’s owned. You have 48 hours.
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