Title: Destroyed
Series: Tainted by Ruin Trilogy #2
Authors: Indie Black & Sienna Cousins
Genre: Dark High School Reverse Harem Romance
Cover Design: Pretty Little Design Co.
Release Date: November 2, 2021
BLURB
He was supposed to protect me.
Instead, he became the monster who turned my dreams into nightmares.
He was supposed to love me. In the end, his love was poison, leaving me tarnished and hollow.
His death was supposed to bring me peace. But, his memories continue to terrorize me.
Since his first lecherous touch I’ve had only one purpose. One reason to not fully give into my demons:
The fraying hope of escaping this depraved life.
Coming back to Montecito has reinforced what I was callously taught as a child.
Everyone has something to hide … even those you hold closest.
Depravity lurks in the shadows, taunting me, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
While anonymous threats promise nothing but bloodshed and death if I don’t obey.
My heart is torn between the three gorgeous guys who are the only bright lights in the obsidian darkness surrounding me.
But if my soul claims each of them equally, will they forgive me for refusing to choose?
When my nightmares begin to mix with reality, it’s hard to know what’s real and what’s a figment of my fractured mind.
One thing’s for sure, if my monster’s back, he’ll stop at nothing until I’m exactly how he loves me ...
Destroyed.
*Destroyed is the second book in the Tainted by Ruin Trilogy and cannot be read as a standalone. It is a Dark High School Reverse Harem Romance that includes scenes that may be triggering to some. (Sexual assault, physical abuse, self harm). Recommended for readers 18+.
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EXCERPT
Indiana
A rattling sound wakes me from another monster filled nightmare. Cold blue eyes and a twisted cruel sneer are forever burned into my memory. I blink rapidly, my chest rising and falling with staggered breaths as I fight to get back to the present. The ominous rattling sound that woke me continues. Immediately, I’m out of bed and on my feet, reaching for my cell phone while my eyes search the shadows of my room. He’s back. The monster is real and he’s back from the grave to devour me.
My breaths are coming in choppy as my clammy hands work to unlock my phone. A soft knock elicits a startled gasp from me and I clutch my chest. My heart is working triple time, beating erratically, frantically. Another knock, this time a little louder.
“Indiana, it’s me. Come open the window.” Maddox’s smooth honey voice filters through the closed window.
My heart continues to skip beats, only now it’s for an entirely different reason. What is he doing here? He made it clear he doesn’t want anything to do with me.
Rushing over on wobbly legs made of jello, I pull back the curtain and open the window, letting him in. Taking a step back, I inspect Maddox’s disheveled appearance. It’s more than just climbing up the trellis to get here. His blonde waves have rivulets running through them like he’s been pulling his hand through his hair incessantly. His clothes are wrinkled and askew against his broad frame.
We stare at each other in silence for a few moments, wordlessly communicating everything and yet—nothing at all. Pain and betrayal are clear on his face. Just as I’m sure mine shows the same, with added guilt and sorrow of course.
“What are you doing here, Maddox?” I break the thick, viscous silence between us, unable to hold out any longer. His eyes narrow, gaze turning sharper, slicing through every one of my mental shields. He’s evaluating me, weighing my worth, and determining if I’ll be found wanting. The burning need to squirm under the intensity of his sapphire blues is overwhelming.
I wring my hands, swallowing thickly. Slowly, with his eyes still locked on mine, he takes purposeful steps towards me until there’s less than a foot of distance left between us. I look up, craning my neck to hold his gaze. My breath hitches when his hand reaches out to gently swipe at my cheek, bringing his thumb to his mouth. It’s then I realize I’m crying silent tears. Embarrassed I look away, roughly swiping at my stupid face. I hate crying in front of others. I spent too many years crying and begging for solace from the depraved monsters who plagued me. I refuse to give anyone else my tears of despondency.
“Don’t do that. Don’t hide from me.” Maddox growls, grabbing my chin and turning my face back towards him.
“Why, Maddox? Why shouldn’t I hide? Better yet, why do you care, I thought you were done with me?” I snap, jutting my chin up defiantly. God, I know I shouldn’t push him. I miss him so fucking much, but I’m tired of this hot and cold game he’s playing.
His voice is gentle, eyes softening when he responds, “No matter what happens between us, Blue, I will never, never, stop caring about you. Do you hear me? I will always see you, always find you, always love you.” His thumb brushes over my quivering bottom lip.
----------------------------------------------------
Maddox
“Well isn’t this cozy.” I jerk awake and bolt upright, furiously rubbing the sleep from my bleary eyes as I scan the room, looking for the voice.
My icy gaze lands on Presley, standing on Blue’s side of the bed, leaning over her. There’s a devilish smile tugging at his lips and instantly I want to knock his teeth in. Fuck. It’s barely morning and I already want to lay into this asshole. Today’s going to be a long day if this is anything to go by. My eyes move from Presley down to Blue and I regret my choice to leave her topless last night. So. Fucking. Much.
“Get the fuck out of Indiana’s room you fucking sicko.” I roar, throwing the blanket over Blue to cover the side of her breast and exposed nipple. She stirs and lifts her arms over her head, not aware of the slithering snake in her room, ready to strike his favorite prey.
“Maddox, you stayed?” she whispers to me, cupping my scruff lined jaw.
“Of course I did, baby.” I brush our noses together.
“Well, isn’t this just a hallmark movie in the making.” Blue shrieks, and plasters herself to me, but that asshole just keeps on going.
“Girl meets boy as kids, they fall in love, but oh no, tragic circumstances pull the young lovers apart. Have no fear, though, they’re thrust back into each other’s lives a few years later and the love between them never misses a step.” he pauses and gives me a lascivious smile. “But here’s where it gets really good. Girl—still in love with her old best friend—also falls for her new tutor. She lets him eat her sweet, juicy pussy while her old best friend slash boyfriend is waiting downstairs for her, none the wiser.” Presley sucks in a gasp, a faux horrified mask falling over his face, before he continues, “Insert pause for dramatic effect.” The asshole fans his face, looking stricken.
I move to stand, ready to tear strips from this asshole’s hide, but Blue’s trembling hands wrap around my shoulders and press down, holding me in place. “Don’t.” Her one word plea eviscerates the fight in me and I slump back into the bed.
Presley strides towards the bedroom door, a maniacal laugh trailing in his wake. As he exits the room, he tosses over his shoulder, “Which boy will the girl choose, find out next week in the sequel titled, I’m a foster whore, part two.” I see red. Is there a color angrier than red? Because that’s what I’m seeing. Her bedroom door was locked last night, I made sure of that. Which means that asshole must have a key, and that just won't due.
Copyright 2021 Indie Black & Sienna Cousins
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INDIE BLACK
Indie Black is a brand new baby author, taking a plunge into the book world. She’s a California native who prefers tacos over sushi, the beach over the mountains, and books over anything else. She’s a certified water snob, dog lover and will try just about anything that tastes like bubblegum.
SIENNA COUSINS
Sienna Cousins lives on the sunny coast of Western Australia, a lover of all things romance, obsessed with dogs, good coffee and is an avid reader turned writer. When she isn’t reading or writing, she is watching reruns of MTV’s Catfish, stalking amazon for paperback sales, spending time with her little family or devouring smashed avo on toast!
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