Cruel Boundaries
| Cruel Boundaries | |
| Number II of The Boundaries | |
| Michelle Horst | |
| (2015) | |
| Tags: | The Boundaries 2 |
| The Boundaries 2ttt |
Authors Note and WARNING: Cruel Boundaries is a work of fiction intended for adult readers above 18. It contains dark and sensitive subject matter that may make readers uncomfortable.
He’s my cousin and I love to hate him.
He bullies me.
He tries to break me every chance he gets
I remind him constantly that he’s adopted. It’s the only weapon I have against him.
CRUEL
BOUNDARIES
Michelle Horst
CRUEL BOUNDARIES
A Follow-up Novel to Dark Boundaries
Copyright © 2015 Michelle Horst
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, including electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be re-sold or given away to other people.
As an author I love what I write and I wrote it for you. If you want to use any part of the book and you are not sure just email me @
[email protected]
. Or you can find me on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/MichelleAnnHorst
I’m one of the friendly ones. Quote it if you want, please tell your friends about it, create super-hot trailers and teasers. And please leave those awesome reviews!
Michelle Horst (2015-02-12).
CRUEL BOUNDARIES a Stand Alone Novel
Kindle & Paperback Edition.
Also by Michelle Horst
THE TAINTED INK SERIES
Wake Me up – A Tainted Ink Novel
http://www. amazon. com/Wake-Me-Tainted-Ink-Book-ebook/dp/B00GDOP3NQ/ref=asap_bc? ie=UTF8
CHLOE – A Tainted Ink Novella
http://www.amazon.com/Chloe-Tainted-Ink-Novella-Book-ebook/dp/B00O6Z4QAK/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8
ZAC – A Tainted Ink Novel
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21947983-zac
VAALBARA SERIES
Visions and Shadows
The Land of Shadows
Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Vaalbara-Land-Shadows-Michelle-Horst-ebook/dp/B00UIBMKYU/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8
A Light in the Shadows – Coming End 2015
Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25015322-vaalbara-a-light-in-the-shadows
THE DISSOLUTE TRILOGY
Insensate
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25604988-insensat
e
Ruth (an Insensate Novella)
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25765810-ruth
Sentient and Cerebral (Book 2 & 3) coming early 2016
DARK BOUNDARIES
He stole me.
He broke me.
I'm being auctioned for Fifty thousand dollars.
Now, I don't belong to anyone but strangely enough I wanted to belong to him.
It's his eyes . . . I lost myself in them
CRUEL BOUNDARIES – coming end 2015
Goodreads -
https://www. goodreads. com/book/show/24490654-dark-boundaries
He’s my cousin and I love to hate him.
He bullies me.
He tries to break me every chance he gets
I remind him constantly that he’s adopted. It’s the only weapon I have against him.
Footprints In The Sand
(A Stand Alone Novel)
He is all I think and dream about.
My teenage heart beats only for him.
Until he becomes part of my worst nightmare...
Now, I avoid him.
I ban every thought of him.
Dedication
This one goes out to Kristine.
You’re my Sunshine that brightens my life.
Love you bunches <2
Authors Note:
This book contains graphic scenes of sex, violence and strong language. I can’t stress that enough.
If you are agreeable with these terms then I hope you enjoy the book. Some scenes may be disturbing to some readers, they are intended to be disturbing so that you will understand the main character’s hurt, her suffering and anguish, but also how she chose to overcome her difficulties.
This book is intended for mature, adult readers who are 17 and older.
Happy Reading ;)
Acknowledgements
I want to thank God for being there every step of the way and blessing me with such an amazing life.
Thank you to Ronald and Sheldon, my lovely family, for being so patient with me.
Kristine, my twinsie and super-amazing PA, I’d be lost without.
My Beta readers #Twisted Sisters Kelly, Gemma, Amo and Madiha, - I live you all.
To my Muses – love you all madly. Thank you for your endless support.
To Karen’s Fairies (especially Nat, Sharon and Morgan) I take the dare of mentioning 'moist ambrosia' in the book.
And most important – the readers, reviewers and bloggers – thank you for each of you. You make writing worthwhile.
Thank you to each blog that took the time to take part in the cover reveal and release day blitz.
Love ya all tons ;)
~*~
Prologue
Noah~
(Age thirteen…)
I hate babysitting her! She’s only nine and she’s a girl. I don’t play with girls! I’d rather spend the day outside with my friends. But … nooo! I have to look after the spoiled
princess
. I like my uncle Garrett and aunt Kris, but I hate all the attention Amy gets. I don’t understand why they make such a fuss about her.
“Noah!” Mom calls from downstairs. Geez, they must be here already. My shoulders slump but I carry on playing my game. “Noah Macht, get your butt down here. You don’t want to make me come up there!”
I throw the remote hard on the floor and drag my feet all the way down the stairs. I might have to babysit the brat, but I don’t have to like it.
“Hi, Noah.” Amy says in a pitchy voice. She sounds like a mouse. I hate mice. I’d squash a mouse if I ever had to see one.
“Noah,” Mom scolds me, “don’t be rude.” She nudges me towards Amy. “Greet your cousin then go greet your aunty Kris and uncle Garrett, they’re out back with your dad.” I shoulder bump Amy, instead of hugging her. It’s gross to hug girls. This is how I say hello to my friends every day. It’s cool. “So help me, Noah Macht! You’re testing my patience. That’s not how you greet family!”
“It’s okay,” Amy squeaks. “He’s not really your son or family, so he doesn’t have to hug me.”
That was such a nasty thing to say! I tighten my fists in anger. I want to punch her.
“Amy!” Mom gasps. “Where did you hear that?”
“It’s true, aunty Riza! I heard mommy and daddy talk about it this morning.” Amy looks at me and all I want to do is hit her. I want to hurt her as much as she’s hurt me. “You can still pretend to be my cousin, I don’t mind.”
“I hate you,” I spit at her. “I hate everyone!” I run up to my room. I kick my PlayStation but it doesn’t make me feel any better. I sit down on my bed, feeling the hurt grow in my chest. Why would Amy be so nasty to me? We might not like each other, but to say my mom and dad aren’t mine is … it’s just cruel.
Mom comes into my room and kneels in front of me. She places her hand on my knee. “Noah, you know I love you with all my heart, more than there are toys in the world.”
“Why would she be so ugly to me?” I say with a scowl on my face.
“Just because mommy and daddy adopted you, it doesn’t mean you’re not our son. Amy doesn’t understand that yet. She doesn’t understand that out of all the children in the world we only wanted you. There is no one we love more in this whole wide world.”
Mom sits with me for a while, hugging me. I love Mom’s hugs, they’re warm and she always smells nice. She pulls away and ruffles my hair. I hate when she does that. “Come on down and greet your aunty and uncle.”
“Oookaayyy.” I’d rather stay in my room and play with my toys, but I follow Mom downstairs. When I see Amy sitting on Dad’s lap, I want to tell her to get off. He’s my dad! She has her own dad to sit on.
“There you are,” uncle Garrett holds out his hand to me. “You have to learn to shake hands like a man.” I put my hand in his. It feels stupid. “Squeeze, Buddy.” I squeeze and then let go.
Aunty Kris hugs me and then kisses my cheek. I pretend to wipe it off. I’ll never tell anyone I like her hugs and kisses.
Amy is still on Dad’s lap and I don’t want to look at her any more. I go back inside and see her favorite doll lying on the couch. I grab it and run to the kitchen. I find a knife in the top drawer and sneak out the back door. When I stab the knife into her doll, I start to feel better. I keep stabbing at the stupid doll until all the stuffing is peeling out of its belly. I don’t want to be caught with the doll so I bury it out back and quickly wash the knife and my hands.
I smile, knowing how Amy will cry for her doll. If she wants to take my mom and dad, I’ll take her doll. I’ll take everything she loves. I’ll make her pay for being so nasty to me.
~*~
Chapter One
Amy~
(Ten years later …)
“I’m coming!” I yell and then bring the phone back to my ear. “I have to go. My mom’s about to come up here and drag my ass down.”
“Phone me later?” Sharon says. She’s my best friend. Some people think we’re sisters because we both have blonde hair. But if you look closely you’ll notice that she has blue eyes, where mine are grey, just like Mom’s.
“Sure, babe. Talk to you later.” I throw the phone on my bed and go to check my appearance in the mirror. We’re having a family lunch for Easter.
I’ve been lucky the past year. Noah has been too busy to come home for family gatherings. He always bullies me, every chance he gets. I don’t understand why he hates me so much. I’ve tried to be friends but he’s made it clear that he hates me. So when he doesn’t come home for family gatherings I’m relieved. I don’t have to deal with him.
“Amy!” Momma calls again. Damn, she can be persistent!
“I said I’m coming!” I yell back. I sit on the bed so I can put on my sandals. The door to my room swings wide open. “Mo-” My eyes widen as Noah walks in. He shuts the door behind him and leans back against it.
I haven’t seen him in so long, he has changed a lot. His black hair is longer than when I last saw him, curling over his ears and into his neck. He used to keep it short. His green eyes still hold only hatred as he stares me down. He’s taller, and his muscles are much more defined. If I didn’t hate him so much I’d admit how hot he looks. But I hate him so he looks like shit in my books. I’d rather die than admit he’s attractive.
“What? No big hello for your cousin?” he sneers.
I get up and realize just how tall he’s gotten. I barely reach his shoulder. I scowl darkly at him. “I would if you were actually my cousin,” I taunt him. I know it’s wrong but I need to hurt him the way he hurts me, and that’s the only ammo I have. “No use in pretending you’re actually family.”
He walks over to my dresser and picks up my lipstick. He uncaps it and writes ‘fuck you’ in large red letters on my mirror.
“In your dreams,” I snap back.
“Oh,
Princess
, you’re so funny” he laughs. “I heard you’re joining me soon. Careful what you say because it’s all going to bite you in the ass. It’s going to be just you and me in that big ole’ apartment. Lots of things go bump in the night.”
“If you touch me I’ll tell Daddy.” I sound like a fucking five year old!
“No, you won’t,” he hisses. He moves fast and yanks me closer by my shoulders. His fingers dig hard into my skin. “You won’t, because by you telling anyone, it will just go to prove that you can’t fight your own battles.”
“Fuck you, Noah!” I spit at him. I yank free from his hold, seething with anger.
He leans closer, his lips lifting in the corner. “In your dreams,
Princess
.”
~*~