Secrets (Codey #1)

Secrets

Elena Moreno

Published by Double Fantasy, LLC 2015*

Copyright © 2015 Double Fantasy, LLC

http://doublefantasypublishing.com/index.html

Cover design / Photo by Miky Merisi

https://www.facebook.com/miky.merisi.9?fref=nf

Model: Carmine De Rosa

In accordance with the U.S. copyright Act of 1976. Scanning, uploading, transmitting in any form and electronic sharing of any part of this book without prior permission from the publisher is piracy and considered theft of the author’s intellectual property. This e-book is for your personal enjoyment and may not be re-sold or shared with others. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This book is a work of fiction. All names, places and dialogue are all a product of the Authors imagination. Any type of resemblance to people or events living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Dedication

This book is dedicated to all the women who love cowboys as much as I do. Leo and I are planning to retire and buy a farm. I await retirement with bated breath. For then, I will have my very own cowboy. 28 years more to go.

Acknowledgments

A big thank you to Miky Merisi for another fabulous cover. Let’s not forget Carmine De Rosa who graces my cover and brings Mike Codey, to life.

Cassandra Michaels lived in fear, ever since the night her mother asked the strange man for money. The man had walked over to examine her face and a chill had run down her spine. He said he would pay.

Years later, Cassandra fell in love and spent one glorious night with the love of her life. Yet that would prove to be the catalyst that unleashed the release of all the hidden Secrets.

Secrets

BY: Elena Moreno

Chapter One

Once again, Cassandra found herself lost in thought, while rubbing the little bump on her once flat abdomen. A mournful sigh escaped her lips. At least the tears had finally dried up. "Don't you worry little one. Everything’s going to be alright. It just has to be."

The creaking sound from the door caused her to turn. “My child, you must stop this worrying and eat something. It’s not good for you or the baby.” Cassandra tried to give her grandmother a reassuring smile, but was sure it fell short of her intention. “This is all my fault.” Her words came as no surprise. The lovely grey haired old woman was always taking on the blame for everyone else’s shortcomings.

“There’s so much you need to know my child. So much I should have told you years ago.” Cassandra frowned in confusion as the old lady sat in the wicker chair. “Do you remember when you were a child Casey? Do you remember the day my daughter took you away from your home? From me?” Cassandra closed her eyes as her mind traveled to the day her life had changed.

Flashback

Cassandra Michaels had cried herself to sleep for the umpteenth time in her short life that night. All she had asked for was one night. Did she not deserve one night of her mother’s undivided attention? The sound of screaming had woken her from sleep. Now here she laid, quiet as could be. It would be the last night her mother and grandmother would fight.

It took several minutes for Cassandra’s eyes to adjust after the light was suddenly flicked on. There stood her mother with a large suitcase in tow. Yet Cassandra knew better than to utter a word. She looked on quietly as her mother pulled out one drawer at a time and emptied their contents into the suitcase.

When she finally turned her way, Cassandra lowered her eyes. “You have five minutes to add whatever else you want in here. “Her mothers’ hands moved over the suitcase. “We are leaving and never coming back.”

Her little heart squeezed at the thought of never seeing her grandmother again. Why had the fight been different this time? Her mother was always getting yelled at by her grandmother. Yet one or the other would cave and all would be normal again. Well, at least until the next fight.

Cassandra flittered around the room looking for all her prized treasures. She collected the first prize ribbon she and her best friend Lucy had won in the science fair. The second thing was under the mattress. After pulling the mattress back, the book was exposed. The cover held only one word, “Diary.”

Just as Cassandra was packing her treasures away, a picture fell out of one of the books. A smile spread on her face. There they were. The same two women smiling back at her. It was the only picture she had of her mother smiling. There stood Avery Michaels next to her best friend. Both women looked happy and carefree. “Are you ready?” The scream startled her into moving again.

After tucking the picture back into the book, Cassandra made her way downstairs. “Why are you doing this?” Her grandmother asked in anguish. “You will live to regret what you’re about to do. Please think about what you’re doing to this poor child.” Her mother said nothing as she ran upstairs to grab the suitcase.

“My little Cassandra, I’m so sorry. Just know that I love you. Please take care of her for me.” Cassandra tried not to cry as she was engulfed in her grandmother’s arms. The embrace didn’t last long for she was harshly snatched from her grandmother’s embrace.

Cassandras little heart beat frantically as she entered the car. She was unsure what was happening, but the movement of the car finally lulled her into a restless sleep. Hours later, she was startled awake when a bag of chips hit her chest. Luckily, quick reflexes caught the can of soda that followed. “Where are we going?” Cassandra finally asked.

“We’re heading to our new life in Texas.” Avery Michaels answered with a glare as if daring her to start something. Cassandra knew better and just opened the bag of chips as tears silently rolled down her cheeks. What would Lucy think? What will happen to her grandmother? So many questions for an eleven year old to deal with.

Seventeen hours later, they finally arrived at their destination. Cassandra looked on as the car drove by a sign that read, Welcome to Longview. A frown marred her features as she looked around and realized there really wasn’t much to see. A sigh escaped when her mother pulled up to what looked like an apartment complex.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

As if her life hadn’t been turned around already. The next day brought with it the one person who would be the catalyst to the problem she was facing now. At the time, she had no idea what horror the man would bring.

Cassandra remembered the day the man came to her house for the first time. He was tall and looked very big to a girl her size. The intense look in his eyes when he spotted her, had frightened Cassandra. The look on his face had not been one of happiness. He had been talking. No, he had been yelling at her mom. She had been standing by the doorway of the kitchen and they were in the small living room. The raised voices had been what brought her downstairs to investigate.

They had only been in the house for one day. Her mother had moved them from Chicago to a small town in Texas. So little Casandra wondered how her mom had already made a friend. Yet the words they spoke made her stand still. Her mother was telling him that if he wanted her to keep things quiet, he was going to have to pay through the nose. That only made the man growl in anger and raise his hand as if to hit her. Without thinking, she found herself running to her mother’s rescue.   

"Stop! You have no right to hit my mother." Cassandra screamed as she tried to cover her mother with her little body. His face made a very weird expression and they just stood there. Both stared at each other for what seemed like hours. As he approached, Cassandra tried very hard to keep still and not show weakness. Sadly, it was something she had practiced well. Her mother delighted in making her cry when she showed weakness of any kind. Every fiber in her being was telling her not to show this man fear.

The man reached out his hand and cupped her chin. Then ever so slowly turned her face to the right, then to the left. The look in his eyes was far too critical. When he finally turned to her mother she shivered. "Yes, there is no question about it. I will pay what you ask." The words held a tone that was unfamiliar.  It could have been that his words just seemed to instill a fear so deep, it was hard for her to breathe. Yet the look her mother gave her assured it was something bad, very bad. 

"You are to have no contact with her until I say it’s ok. If you do, I will leave and take her with me.” Her mother informed the man. He looked once more at Cassandra before nodding his agreement. Then he turned and stomped away.

As he reached the door, he turned once more. "Only until she is old enough for me to collect. Then, she will be mine and you will stay the hell away from us." With those last words, he was gone.

Cassandra looked at her mother’s face, searching for an explanation. She looked down at her and smiled. "I’m glad I decided to keep you. Soon, I'll have all the money I can spend.” The look she wore was not a good one. Not at all. “Do you remember where the store is? The one at the end of the street?”

Cassandra nodded her head. Her eyes widened as her mother pulled out the stack of money the man had given her. "Go get me a coke." Came the harsh order as a fifty dollar bill was shoved into her palm. She flinched when her mother slammed the door to her room.

There was no choice. So she sighed and made her way to the store. “I guess it’s time to explore.” Once outside, Cassandra couldn’t help but notice the difference between Texas and Chicago. She already missed all the noise of the cars and the people. This place was just too quiet.

While taking in the surroundings on the way to the store. Her mind started wondering what her best friend Lucy was doing back home. One minute Cassandra had been on the way to the store. The next minute her body was on its way to the floor. The air was knocked out of her lungs and there was a cloud of dust all around.

When the dust cleared, three boys on their bikes were looking down at her. Anger simmered as they started to laugh. "I'm going to sue you for attempted murder!" She screamed but that only made the boys laugh harder. That only served to make her angrier. The oldest boy got off his bike and extended his hand.