Page 1 of Drop His Mask

Prologue

Julian

Five Years – Five Months Ago

Julian was coated in sweat, blood, and grime.

He sat in a makeshift locker room after a particularly brutal fight against his friend, Jayce.

A towel fell over his eyes, causing him to jump in shock.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.” Raven’s lyrical voice calmed him immediately.

He turned around on the bench to get a better look at her. “How come I never hear you coming? And you know you shouldn’t be in here.”

She put a playful finger to her lips. “Shhh, a girl can never tell her tricks. I know I shouldn’t, but I have some news. I have to tell Jayce right away.”

Raven bounced on her heels, the motion caused Julian’s eyes to find their way to her chest.

His cheeks heated, and he stared pointedly at the lockers past her shoulder. Jayce didn’t deserve Raven. Once more the familiar prickles of jealousy crawled across his skin; he ignored it. “Oh, yeah, what’s that?”

Raven bent over, hands on her hips. “It’s a secret.” She poked his nose.

Raven now had his full attention.

He caught her before she could pull back. He did his best to ignore the softness of her skin, how delicate her wrist felt in his large hand. How he could take her here and now, if he so chose.

Raven was the remaining light in Julian’s otherwise dull and depressing life, he wouldn’t ever hurt her. But he could fantasize. Think about her cries as he took her. Wonder if she would be able to handle him at all.

Or if he would break her. Just like he did everything else in his life.

He let her go, flexing his hands out. The busted knuckles a testament to his destructive ways.

“Julie?” Raven’s eyebrows scrunched in concern.

His lips curled upwards; her mouth forming his name always caused an array of feelings to course through him. “You have to tell me your secret, bunny. We promised.” He brought his pinky up to her.

She took it, her eyes crinkling in amusement. “Aren’t we too old for this?” Even at her disagreement she still completed their ritual, locking pinkies and then kissing her thumb. He did the same.

“Never. Now whisper it in my ear. You know I won’t tell a soul.”

Raven seemed unsure for a moment but finally let out a sigh. “Fine, but not even Jayce. He really should be the one to know first.”

Julian’s heart began to rapidly beat against his chest as she stepped between his thighs and put her lips against his ear. “I’m pregnant.”

Julian’s hands reached out on their own accord, gripping onto her hip bones and holding her in place even as she tried to step back.

He swallowed down the acid that made its way up his throat.

“Julie?” Raven’s bright doe eyes stared at him in concern.

Slowly prying his fingers from her one by one, he did everything he could to control his emotions.

“Pregnant?” The word scorched him on its way out of his mouth. It tasted bitter. She couldn’t be pregnant. She was supposed to escape this hell and live a better and brighter life.

Now she would be tied to Jayce.

Always and forever.

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