These Dead Promises: A Darling Hill Duet: Book Two Read online

  THESE DEAD PROMISES

  A DARLING HILL DUET: BOOK TWO

  L A COTTON

  Published by Delesty Books

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  THESE DEAD PROMISES

  Copyright © L. A. Cotton 2022

  All rights reserved.

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  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and events are the product of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons or events is purely coincidental.

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  No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner without the written permission of the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages for review purposes only.

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  Edited by Andrea M. Long

  Proofread by Sisters Get Lit.erary Author Services

  Cover Designed by The Pretty Little Design Co.

  CONTENTS

  Darling Hill

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Epilogue

  Playlist

  Afterword

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  You come to love not by finding the perfect person, but by seeing an imperfect person perfectly.

  SAM KEEN

  DARLING HILL

  These Dark Hearts

  A Darling Hill Prequel

  * * *

  These Dirty Lies

  A Darling Hill Duet: Book One

  * * *

  These Dead Promises

  A Darling Hill Duet: Book Two

  Harleigh

  “So, girls,” Michael said across the table. “What did you both get up to yesterday?”

  Celeste shot me a startled look, clearing her throat and grabbing her glass of water.

  “Uh, we… Miles… and—”

  “Didn’t you say you were hanging out with Mulligan and Miller?” A smug smirk played on Max’s face, and I tightened my grip on my fork a little, wishing I could stab it in his hand.

  “Uh, yes. Yeah. We uh… we stayed over at Miles’s.”

  “You did, huh?” Michael frowned. “Well I hope you slept in one of the guest rooms, Celeste.”

  “Daddy!” Her cheeks flamed as she dipped her eyes and focused on her plate.

  “I always did like Miles,” Sabrina said, helping herself to another glass of wine. “But he’s a little bit… what’s the word… dimwitted.”

  “Mom.” Celeste balked, her eyes snapping to her mom. “Miles isn’t dimwitted. He’s… nice.”

  “Nice, yes. But his parents are concerned he won’t get the grades required for Columbia.”

  “I’ve already told you, I’m not sure I want to even apply to Columbia.”

  “Now, sweetheart, don’t be so hasty.” Michael sat back in his chair, surveying the three of us. His children. Two he wanted. One he didn’t.

  When Celeste had woken me earlier, informing me they were back from their trip and wanted us to eat together, I’d almost laughed in her face. We rarely ate together. Not after those early days, when I’d first arrived and they’d tried to coax me out of my room for dinner.

  Since I’d returned from Albany Hills, I could count on one hand how many times we’d eaten as a family. So color me suspicious that they chose today of all days.

  Besides, the last thing I wanted to do was sit around and play happy family knowing Michael had made sure to drive a wedge so deep between me and Nix that there was no coming back from it.

  My eyes flickered to Max and his smirk grew, only fueling the fire in my chest. “You and Miller are getting close, huh?”

  I narrowed my eyes, wondering where the hell he was going with this. It was a game, that much I knew. But what was his end goal?

  And why hadn’t he told his parents yet of his suspicions about me and Nix?

  “Harleigh,” Michael said, and I blinked over at him. “Is that true?”

  “I… we’re friends.” My brows crinkled, anger pulsing inside me, making it difficult to concentrate.

  “After our conversation, I got the distinct impression you weren’t.”

  “It probably isn’t a good idea for the two of you to—”

  “Sabrina.” My father shook his head, patting her hand.

  “At least she’s hooking up with Miller and not that kid from across the reservoir. What’s his name again? Wild? Wiler? Wilder.” Max grinned triumphantly. “That’s the one, Phoenix Wilder.” He sat back as if he’d pulled the pin on a grenade and intended on watching it detonate.

  A ripple went through the room as Celeste stared wide-eyed at me and I glared at Max. I didn’t think I’d ever hated anyone more than I hated him in that moment. And for someone who harbored a lot of hatred in her heart, that was saying something.

  Michael cleared his throat, muttering, “Max, that’s enough”

  “Sorry, Dad. I know you don’t like talking about—”

  He slammed his hand down, making the glassware clatter. “I said, that’s enough.”

  “Harleigh knows better, don’t you?” Sabrina said, concern and something akin to disgust glittering in her eyes. “She understands that she left that life behind when she came here.”

  My heart sank.

  They would never accept Nix.

  They would never accept me hanging around in The Row and clinging onto my past.

  Michael watched me, his eyes boring into mine. He didn’t say anything, but that only made it worse. The tension crackling around us.

  Harleigh?” Sabrina repeated, and I blinked over at her.

  “Y-yes.”

  It wasn’t an answer to her question, but she read it as one, and I didn’t correct her.

  “Good.” She gave me a curt, dismissive nod, as if that was that. As if it wasn’t worth talking about because it wasn’t even possible that I would ever try to rebuild bridges with Nix or anyone from my past now that I lived here. I had this nice shiny life in Old Darling Hill. What more could I possibly need?

  My skin felt too tight, the air too thin as I shifted uncomfortably in my chair. I knew dinner with them was a bad idea.

  Anger bubbled inside me: hot, fiery anger. I was burning up, sweat trickling down my spine as I sat there and tried to rein in my emotions.

  Celeste tried to catch my attention, but I ignored her, my gaze wholly fixed on Michael.

  My father.

  The man who had cast me and Mom aside like we were nothing more than dirt on his shoe. I still didn’t understand his true motivation for coming for me that day. Did he think it would place him as my savior? Or was it years of guilt that had brought him to the police station that morning?

  Time might have smoothed the cracks, eased some of that betrayal. But now I knew the truth—now I knew he was responsible for keeping Nix
away from me—there would be no forgiveness. It had only reaffirmed what in my heart I knew to be true. Michael Rowe was a cold, selfish, heartless man.

  And one day, I would find a way to ruin his perfect life, the way he’d ruined mine.

  “Oh my God,” Celeste whispered as we reached the roof terrace. “That was…”

  “Yeah.” A heavy sigh left my lips as I flopped down into the rattan egg chair. Celeste sat on the small cube and gave me a weak smile.

  “What are you going to do? About… you know.”

  “I don’t know.” I clutched my cell phone, staring at the blank screen. Nix had already texted me. Twice to be exact. He wanted to see me tonight. But Max knew.

  Somehow Max knew.

  And I didn’t doubt he was going to lord it over me and use it to his own ends.

  My cell vibrated, startling me, and sending my heart into a downward spiral.

  “Is it…?” My eyes collided with Celeste’s and I nodded. “Well,” she urged. “What does it say?”

  I read Nix’s text, blood roaring between my ears. “Can I see you tonight?”

  “Yes. Say yes.”

  “I-I can’t.”

  “What?” She frowned. “Of course you can.”

  “It’s too risky. I need to think…” I needed to catch my breath.

  Last night had been like all my dreams come true. Being with Nix, feeling his weight on top of me, him moving inside me… I would never forget how amazing it felt. But if Max knew, if he had proof and told Michael, I couldn’t risk it. Not yet.

  “Harleigh, it’ll be okay.”

  “Will it?” My heart cracked. “He… he threatened Nix, Celeste. He lied to both of us. Do you have any idea what that did to me?”

  Thinking Nix had abandoned me had ruined me. Wrecked me in a way even I hadn’t expected. Losing my mom didn’t come close to what it felt like to lose Nix. In a world where I’d never quite fit in, he was my anchor. My North Star. Losing that had been like losing a part of myself. A vital piece of my heart. Without it, I’d felt lost. Drowning in darkness.

  “Harleigh?”

  Jerking out of the maudlin thoughts, I forced a weak smile. “Sorry.”

  “You could say you’re going out with me, Miles, and Nate.”

  “I don’t want to use Nate like that, it isn’t fair.”

  “Yeah, it’s a bit awkward.”

  “What?”

  “Well…” She bit her lip. “I’m pretty sure he likes you.”

  My heart sank. “No he doesn’t.” But the words were like ash on my tongue because I had sensed something earlier when he’d given me a ride home.

  “Don’t worry. He knows you belong to Nix.”

  Nix.

  Just the sound of his name made my heart swell. But it frayed around the edges, straining with all the pain we’d endured.

  All because of him.

  My father.

  Anger rose inside of me, an unrelenting tsunami, gathering speed and strength. My fingers curled into a fist.

  “Harleigh…” Celeste said softly. “You’re growling.”

  “I’m…” She was right. A low keening sound rumbled in my chest.

  “You’re angry.”

  “Angry doesn’t even begin to cover what I feel toward him.” My body vibrated with restless energy.

  “We should get out of here. Come on.” She held out her hand and I stared at it like it was contagious. “You need a distraction. Sitting here stewing on things isn’t going to help anything.”

  “Where will we go?”

  “Does it matter?” Her brow quirked up.

  “Fine.” I stood. “But we should probably avoid your dad and Max.”

  Because I felt… wrong.

  I felt like I might explode at any second and do something stupid.

  Concern flashed in Celeste’s eyes but she schooled her expression. “I have an idea. Do you trust me?”

  “You know I do.” She was one of the few people I trusted.

  “Then let’s get out of here.”

  The second Celeste headed toward The Row, I knew I’d made a huge mistake.

  “What the hell are you doing?” I snapped.

  “I figured since it isn’t probably a good idea for Nix to come to our side of town, we could go to his.”

  “Have you lost your goddamn mind?” I glared at her, but she kept her eyes on the road.

  “You should call him, let him know we’re on our way.”

  “Turn around. Turn around right now,” I said, panic swelling like a riptide inside me.

  “I can’t turn around, Harleigh.” Strained laughter escaped her lips. “It’s a solid plan.”

  “Stupid. It’s a stupid plan.”

  “You’ll have to direct me to his trailer. I’m not—”

  “His trailer?” I balked. “We can’t turn up at his trailer, Celeste.”

  “What? Why?”

  “Because… because we wouldn’t be welcome.”

  “I don’t understand.” She shot me a confused look.

  “Nix’s dad isn’t a nice guy.”

  “What? Does he beat on Nix or something?”

  “Or something,” I murmured, years of memories bubbling to the surface.

  “God, I didn’t know.”

  “Joe Wilder isn’t a good man. But his stepmom Jessa is nice.”

  “I guess I didn’t really think this through. I just thought—”

  “It’s okay,” I said. “I’ll text Nix and see what the guys are up to.”

  “Yeah?” There was a definite pep in her voice.

  “Did you tell Miles where we were going?” My brow arched.

  “I told him we needed some girly time.” Her eyes slid to mine, swirling with shame. “I didn’t want him to worry.”

  “Worry that you’re headed to The Row, or worry that a certain brooding bad boy—”

  “Don’t say it,” she rushed out. “Just… don’t.”

  I lifted my hands in defeat. “You got it. But, so you know, I think this is a bad idea.”

  “Nothing is going to happen with me and Zane. I’m with Miles.”

  “Good. I’m pretty sure you’re not Zane’s type anyway.”

  Her brows furrowed. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  I shook my head gently. “Nothing.”

  My cell vibrated and I opened Nix’s reply.

  * * *

  Hot Tub Guy: Seriously? You’re in The Row?

  * * *

  Me: Yeah. It’s all part of Celeste’s grand plan.

  * * *

  My cell phone started ringing.

  “Hello?” I answered.

  “Grand plan, huh? Do I even want to know?” Humor laced his words.

  “It’s probably better you don’t. What are you up to?”

  “We’re at Kye’s. Come over.”

  “I’m not sure it’s a good idea for us to hang around. But we could go somewhere.”

  “I’ll go anywhere with you, B. You know that, right?” My heart pounded in my chest. He had such a way with words. A way of making me feel like I was the only girl in the world.

  It was astonishing, and a little intimidating at how easily we’d fallen back into this routine. Of me hanging on his every word. Eager for whatever he might say next.

  But it had been innocent back then. An unrequited crush. At least, that’s what I’d thought.

  “Birdie?” His voice turned thick, low and gravelly. It rumbled through me.

  “I’m here.”

  “Remember the old grain mill?” he said, as if I could ever forget.

  “I remember.” It had been one of the best and worst nights of my life.

  “Meet us there.” He inhaled a deep breath, and I could imagine him scrubbing a hand down his face, his brows drawn together in deep contemplation. “We’ll bring supplies.”

  “Okay,” I breathed.

  “And B?”

  “Yeah?”

  “I missed you.”


  Nix

  “You missed her?” Zane snorted. “Bro, it’s barely been a few hours.”

  I flipped him off, not dignifying him with an answer. I didn’t mean I’d missed her for the few hours since we had said goodbye outside Miller’s house. I’d meant the last nine months.

  All those wasted days, weeks, months. Thinking she’d chosen her father over me. A better life over the one I could give her.

  Fuck.

  I didn’t know how the hell to deal with all the rage coursing through my veins. The bone-deep anger at the fact her father had kept her from me. Lied through his pearly white teeth to break us apart. As if he hadn’t hurt her enough already.

  I couldn’t get my head around it. The vindictiveness and malice. But most of all, I couldn’t believe that I’d fallen for it. That I’d bought his lies so easily.

  Growing up, Harleigh rarely talked about her father. As far as I knew, she’d known little about him. Known little about her mom’s life in Old Darling Hill. There were no grandparents on the scene. No aunts or uncles. Nothing.

  It was almost as if when Trina left, she hadn’t looked back.

  And it killed her.

  Slowly and painfully, it drove her to the brink of madness. The wounds so deep that they festered, only made worse by all the liquor.