Driven

By R.S. Novelle

There are always two sides to every story.

If you liked Calculated, you’re going to love Driven, book #2 in the Discovered series!

Using a mirrored plot technique, this fast paced, page-turning story goes behind the scenes in book #1 to show everything as it happened from the antagonists point of view. The mysteries are revealed as readers discover who the true allies were, and who ultimately fell into the trap of blackmail and deception. Friends betray friends, law enforcement switches sides, and the characters begin to realize that not everything is as it originally seemed – especially Mara Winsor...

Mara, who portrayed herself as a victim in the massive murder cover-up scheme in book one, reemerges in Driven as a woman bent on revenge. When everything was taken away from her at such a young age – her family, her friends, her inheritance, her faith – she began devising a plan that would avenge her circumstances and punish everyone who had a hand in destroying her life. Now in a position to see that plan come to fruition, she skillfully maneuvers all the pawns on her chessboard with twist after dark twist to feed her drive for retribution.

Ultimately, it’s left for the readers to decide if Mara is merely a sympathetic victim of circumstance, or truly a psychotic elitist.

• Language: English
• Publisher: R.S. Novelle
• Release date: Jan 3, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310755828

R.S. Novelle

Formerly a freelance journalist, Novelle has found placement of 75 of her pieces in both online and print publications since 2008. Additionally, she has written multiple screenplays, and contributed her effective writing style to many non-profit and for profit organizations. She launched several blogs over the years, which garnered international attention. In 2013, Novelle returned to her first love – fiction. Writing under the names Renee Novelle and R.S. Novelle, she has a publication schedule that includes psychological thrillers, suspense, paranormal fiction, contemporary women’s fiction, chick lit, and new adult. Though she received her Bachelor’s of Science in Communication, Summa Cum Laude, she considers herself a constant student of the written word. She’s an avid reader, an enthusiastic quote poster, and rarely takes “no” as a final answer. She has an unhealthy obsession for theater, dance, music and art, and strongly believes that wine is simultaneously the beginning of, and resolution to, all of life’s problems. She believes in following dreams, and that in the end, you always end up where you're meant to be.

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Driven

Discovered Series Book #2

By R.S. Novelle

PUBLISHED BY:

R.S. Novelle on Smashwords

Copyright © 2013 by R.S. Novelle


SMASHWORDS EDITION

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof
 may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever 
without the express written permission of the publisher
 except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

The purchaser of this book is subject to the condition that he/she shall in no way resell it, nor any part of it, nor make copies of it to distribute freely.

This book is a work of fiction. Any similarity between the characters and situations within its pages and places or persons, living or dead, is unintentional and co-incidental.

Find out more about this author, and any upcoming works, at the following sites:

Website: http://www.RSNovelle.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/RSNovelle

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ReneeNovelle

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RS_Novelle

There are always two sides to every story...

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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

About the Author

Additional Titles

CHAPTER ONE

Hit me.

It was a direct order. Firm. Resolved. Undeniable. Though her full lips pronounced the words with precision and control, as Josh peered down at what he considered to be a nearly flawless face, he couldn’t bring himself to take the request seriously.

Mara... Compassion pleaded from every pore of his tall, lean frame. Ignoring the steely look that pierced her gray eyes, he opened his arms to her, palms raised in surrender. Begging her to relent.

She stepped closer – gaze never wavering - extinguishing even more of the space between them. Hit me, damn it! Her tone had escalated from controlled to desperate in a matter of seconds, filling every corner of the luxurious room with its volume. Come on already!

Josh merely gazed down at her in utter bewilderment. I can’t. You know I can’t! In the year they’d been dating, he’d never seen her act this way. And truth be told, he wasn’t entirely certain how to handle it. Her composure was so unpredictable just now, so raw and uncontrollable that his own anxiety had heightened just from standing close to her.

And she could read it in every line of his expression.

Fucking men, Mara thought as she sneered to herself. They were so easy to manipulate, so easy to play with. She knew the exact sequence to hit to bring him to the brink of an emotional collapse, and elicit the response she needed. And he was so ignorant, he didn’t have a clue it was all an act. All she had to do was push the right button, and this chivalrous resolve he clung to so desperately would crumble, giving her exactly what she wanted.

"Goddamn it, what the hell is wrong with you? This has to be believable, I can’t do everything myself. Fucking hit me!"

There was truth to her words. She needed the bruise, no doubt about that. But she needed his guilt even more; she needed him to be so solidly repentant that he would spend what was left of his life dedicated to her every whim. It was a tactic she’d learned long ago, one of the few gems of understanding she’d gleaned from her time spent in the church, and it had served her well over the years.

The challenge of this, coupled with the rush she felt from the shouted exchange, flushed her pale skin with color while her expression filled with noted wildness. Her eyes were gleaming from excitement, adrenaline and just a touch of despair. Yet internally she felt as controlled and calm as she ever had. She was already thinking three steps ahead, and his reactions were just as predictable as she’d hoped they would be.

Then get someone else to do it. Came his weak retort. I don’t like the idea of hurting you; that’s not who I am, and you know that.

Mara took note of the red stain that had worked its way into Josh’s turquoise eyes, a clear sign his emotions were getting the better of him. Pools of liquid glistened in the corners until they decided whether or not they would spill over, or subside. He swallowed hard, his throat straining against the rising burn. It may not be who he wanted to be; he may be fighting against it right now with every drop of energy he had. But he definitely had it in him to turn violent; Mara could see it.

He’s a sweet boy though, she thought as she watched the man who was only two years her junior, which is exactly why I picked him for this. It was that sweetness she was relying on, to prove he would do anything for her. Anything...

Shoving him hard in the chest, Mara pushed him backward. He faltered, but recovered quickly, and stood unapologetically docile. Accepting the challenge, she shoved him again, then again, watching as his golden hair fell forward into his face after the assault. Fucking pussy. She challenged. And though she pushed him again, he did nothing more than take a mere step backward to catch his balance. "What the hell is wrong with you? Man up!"

Mara delivered one final push, harder this time, until his back slammed up against the wall. The force rattled a magazine quality, black and white photo of Mara from its hook, glass shattered across the slate colored floor. To bring his attention off the broken image and back to her, she slapped him across the face. Hard. He stared at her, shocked and wide-eyed, uncertain and dismayed.

Your father was right about you. You can’t do anything. She snarled in disgust. The way she was analyzing him, looking down at him through squinted eyes, had been well rehearsed. It was a calculated tactic to deliver results. You have no drive. You’ll never amount to anything. She took a step closer, until she was practically breathing on his neck. Then she lowered her voice. "Without me, you would be nothing."

Gotcha, she thought as his body began to tremble. Not in sadness, but in rage. She’d found the memory loaded with the right amount of pain, the right portion of contempt, and had wielded it over him. Taking a step back, she smirked in her success, and waited.

The wait wouldn’t be long. Though Josh was staring directly back at her, she could instinctively tell he was looking through her, deep into the past, to the moment of his most agonizing recollection. His face began to contort into an expression she’d never seen before, and as he cocked his arm back, Mara was given only an instant to brace herself for the strike she’d receive across her sharp cheekbone. The closed fist delivered an assault filled with every ounce of the frustration that had consumed him. She could feel it as skin collided with skin, and the energy passed from his body to hers.

Landing with a hard thump against her back after having been knocked from her feet, Mara was stunned. Motionless, in fact, for several seconds. The world slowed down around her as her body went numb, and her world grew silent. Her nerves must be in shock, she decided when she couldn’t feel anything at all at first. Then slowly, a tingling spread all over her skin, followed by a deep throbbing that moved up through the muscles. Suddenly, every cell in her body was on high alert to the pain. And despite her best efforts not to, she let loose a single exclamation of agony, then stifled the tears that were destined to follow as her full sensation rushed back to her.

This shook Josh from his reverie, and he was instantly consumed by guilt after he’d realized what done. I just hit my girlfriend. Immediately dropping to her side, he flung his arms apologetically around her and sobbed into her chest.

It’s been a long time since that’s happened, an amused Mara thought to herself as she gingerly fingered the throbbing skin at her cheek. The getting hit part, anyway. Breaking into hysterical laughter – at herself, at Josh, and at how easy the entire scenario had been – she gave the top of his head a single pat.

You really are a wuss, aren’t you? She half laughed.

Sheepishly, he pulled away from her and helped her to a sitting position. Mara indicated an item she wanted by pointing across the room to a vintage vanity situated under a sun-infused window. Bring me my mirror.

The jewel adorned hand mirror was quickly retrieved, and handed to her as she lifted herself gracefully from the floor. She analyzed every broken vessel as a dull purple color rushed to the skin’s surface – a color was made even more dramatic against her porcelain-toned skin. Then, giving a single, satisfactory nod, she declared, It’s perfect.

Josh opened his mouth to speak, but was silenced when Mara’s phone alerted her to a new text. Her finger went up, confirming his decision to wait, as she retrieved the device from its location on her desk. Distracted by the new task, she handed the mirror back to Josh, who dutifully replaced it exactly where he’d found it while she maneuvered the screens to retrieve her message.

He’s on the move.

Finally! She declared out loud. And fully understanding what her next move should be, Mara dialed a number without hesitation. As she waited, she counted the rings impatiently in her head. 1...2...

Hello? The voice from the other end was entwined with emotions.

Scott? Mara nearly made herself sick with the feigned concern that flowed almost naturally from her voice. Oh my god! Are you okay? What’s going on?

He knows. Scott was fully sobbing now, she noted. The sound of it irritated every cell in her body. He knows everything, he figured it all out. It’s over.

Of course it is, you moron, what’d you expect... No. As Mara tried to sound reassuring, she snapped her fingers at Josh, indicating he should be reading to write something down. You two were solid, you can get past this.

Josh hurried to find pen and paper from the shallow drawers of the onyx desk. As he bent over in his search, Mara eyed his tight rear as it strained against his jeans. She realized she was only half listening to the voice on the other end now, and turned away from the distraction.

No, you didn’t see the look in his eyes. I know. It’s over now. The trembling voice continued.

Not yet, my dear, but it’s about to be, Mara shrugged. Where are you? she inquired. Repeating the location out loud, she glanced over Josh’s shoulder to ensure he’d transcribed it correctly.

After issuing a satisfactory nod, Josh took the signal to pass the information along. He sent the directions via text to another waiting individual, and gave Mara a thumbs-up when he received confirmation. When finished, he tossed the phone onto the silk sheets of the bed that was situated just across from the ample chaise he settled into.

Okay. I’m not far. Josh had reached out his hand to her, inviting her to snuggle in next to him. Too much of a distraction. With a smile, she held a finger up indicating she was almost done before turning away to give those last few moments her complete focus. I’m coming to get you, and we can figure this out together.

Ending the call, she finally interlaced her fingers with those of her lover. You sent it? He nodded that he did, then pulled her down on top of him, laughing at the squeal of delight she released. As he stroked her back, and Mara allowed herself to relax into his well-toned arms, there was brief moment she could admit that she felt safe. Protected. And for just a moment, it made her reconsider everything she had planned.

Peering admiringly at her face, he ran his hand smoothly, gently over the now fully formed bruise before delivering a soft kiss to the tender skin. Drawing a sharp breath in reaction to the pain, Mara instinctively pulled back a little, which opened her neck for Josh’s lips to slowly caress the elegant line of her profile.

Just as she was settling into the seduction, relaxing into his touch, finding herself wanting more, her phone vibrated in her hand. Immediately at the alert, she pushed away from Josh until she was supported on her knees, straddling over him.

Well? She demanded as she answered.

Yeah, he was here. Came the rough reply. It’s done.

Without another word, she ended the call, and a giant smile spread over her full lips. And now it begins.

CHAPTER TWO

If she puts that bony finger in the air at me one more time, Mara thought as her jaw clenched tighter, I’m going to have to break it off for her.

Kylie lowered the finger in question, then gently pressed a button on her headset to end the call with Ana; the smirk alighting her face already conveyed the message Mara had anticipated receiving. Clearly, she was enjoying this moment. Maybe a little more than she should. That won’t last long.

I’m sorry, Kylie began, though her sarcastic tone belied the apologetic effort, but Ms. Meyers isn’t available today. If you’d like to make an appointment, she’d be happy to meet with you later in the week.

Mara peered at the impish girl behind the receptionist desk. Thoroughly scrutinizing every inch of her short hair, thin figure, and bohemian-inspired clothes, she was truly astonished at the transformation Kylie had achieved since the last time they’d seen each other. With her tattoos and reckless piercings sufficiently covered, there was little to be seen of her former life. Of her real self. Well done, Kylie, you’ve conformed. She hadn’t expected to find her here when she walked in, that had been a mere stroke of luck that Mara, now that she was aware, planned on using in every possible way to her advantage.

A slow, patient smile worked its way over Mara’s lips, while disdain poured out from under the thick, dark lashes of her intense eyes. Lifting her chin ever so slightly, she peered down her nose, once again using that well practiced sneer.

Do you ever miss it? She finally asked, her gaze never faltering. It only took seconds for the anticipated shift in energy to occur. And though Kylie did an admirable job masking the transition, Mara’s sharp perception picked up on it effortlessly – Kylie’s smug countenance had vanished, and Mara was