Tabou

By Beckett Riley

Trapped between societal boundaries, Tom and Theia Edwards thought they knew all about the family business they just inherited from their father. When the true nature of his dealings are revealed, they are thrust into the savage world of drug smuggling for a Mexican cartel.

Forced to continue the work their f

• Language: English
• Publisher: Beckett Riley
• Release date: Sep 1, 2021
• ISBN: 9781087982557

Book preview

Copyright © 2021 Beckett Riley. All rights reserved.

Tabou

Bound in Sin

Copyright © 2021 Beckett Riley

Cover Design: Rose Miller

Image: Shutterstock

Editor: Emily A. Lawrence,

www.lawrenceediting.com

Formatting: Champagne Book Design

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This book contains material protected under Federal Copyright Laws. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is strictly prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means including electronic, photocopying, or recording without written permission from the Author/Publisher.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locations is entirely coincidental.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page

Copyright

Epigraph

Warning

Playlist

Books by Beckett Riley

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Epilogue

Acknowledgements

About the Author

People make the rules of society, not God.

—V.C. Andrews, Flower in the Attic

This book is a graphic tale of passion and forbidden love between a brother and sister that contains sexually explicit situations and triggers. If you can’t handle that, do not continue reading.

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My Blood 21 Pilots

ilomilo Billie Eilish

Cambia el Paso Jennifer Lopez

I’m on Fire AWOLNATION

Gods and Monsters Lana del Rey

Take Me to Church Hozier

Think Kaleida

Gone Away Noctura

NDA Billie Eilish

La Llorona Angela Aguilar

Unsteady X Ambassadors

Quiet, the Winter Harbor Muzzy Star

Tuyo Rodrigo Amarante

Young and Beautiful Lana del Rey

Sleep Apnea Chevelle

Make Me Wanna Die The Pretty Reckless

Save Your Tears The Weeknd

Matt Maeson Cringe

99 Luftballons Kaleida

Counting Bodies Like Sheep A Perfect Circle

Black Danger Mouse featuring Nora Jones

Into Their Woods

Enrapture

Heist

Delectable

Coming Soon

And Hell Followed

The tears streamed down Tom’s face as his dad swerved in and out of traffic while on speakerphone with his wife. They had been in North Charleston for a swim meet.

Goddammit, Miranda! I can’t be in two places at once. We’re still an hour away from the hospital and the only person with Theia is the fucking maid because you were too busy shopping in New York. God knows what would’ve happened had I not been in town this weekend.

Tom just looked out his window and clenched his jaw as they continued to bicker and pin the blame on one another.

You’re both assholes, he thought when his phone received an incoming text from the fucking maid who had been more of a parent to him and Theia than their own parents. She was in constant contact with Tom since she’d found Theia unconscious in their mother’s bathroom after downing an entire bottle of pills.

Rosa: They pumped her stomach. She’s going to be fine Tommy.

Tom: Thank you Rosie. Dad and I are less than an hour away.

Why the fuck would she do that? She’s ten! What ten-year-old does something like this? said his father after hanging up on Miranda. He shook his head and mumbled something about having to miss work.

The anger just built up inside of Tom. It had been building for years.

I’ve been telling you guys to pull her out. The bullying has only gotten worse and that fucking school doesn’t do shit about it, he said, fantasizing what those bitches’ faces would look like after he smashed them in. They made his sister’s life a nightmare.

Kids are going to be kids, Thomas. You know that. I thought it would toughen her up, but Theia’s just… too weak.

His words stung Tom and he glared at him, the ire he felt for the girls harassing Theia shifting to his own father.

She’s not weak. If anything, she’s stronger than those cunts at school.

James’s eyes nearly fell out of their sockets before he hit Tom’s shoulder.

Watch your fucking mouth. If your mother hears you saying that word, she’ll go ballistic.

He couldn’t care any less what made his mother go ballistic. Had she been more present in Theia’s life, none of this would’ve happened.

They arrived at the hospital and Tom bolted out the door as soon as his father parked. Inside, he rushed down the hallway and saw Rosa waiting for him. She held out her arms for him and Tom ran straight into them, sobbing.

"No llores, mijo. Theia is going to be okay," she assured him.

Where were you when this happened, Rosa? barked my father as he stalked up to them. How could you let this happen?

Rosa looked at him as if she’d been struck and shook her head with guilt. I’m sorry, sir. I was in the laundry room and she s—

What room is she in?

Rosa pointed to the door behind him, wiping her tears with the back of her hand.

It’s not your fault, Rosie, Tom told her before following his dad into his sister’s room.

Machines beeped the moment he stepped foot inside the cold, sterile room. He brushed his baseball cap off his head and raked his fingers through his hair when he saw the tiny body hooked up to IVs.

Jesus Christ, mumbled his father, pinching the bridge of his nose and cursing when his phone rang.

Don’t you fucking dare pick that up, thought Tom, but he did and started arguing with his lawyer about something before he exited the room. Fear and rage flow through him as he approached the bed to see his baby sister with a tube going in her mouth. Tom stifled a sob and put his hand over hers, leaning in close to her ear.

Wake up, baby bird, he whispered a few times as he kissed her little hands.

I swear to God I’ll never let anything bad happen to you ever again.

No response. He kept begging her to open her eyes when he felt her grip tighten in his hand.

That’s it, Theia. Now open your eyes for me, okay? C’mon, baby bird. I know you can do it.

The moment he saw her pained, hopeless blue eyes staring into his, his sobs came in waves.

Fifteen Years Later

Why the fuck did we agree to do this here? asked Tom as his car came to a stop at the open gate to their house. The driveway was lined with cars, blocking the entrance.

Albert said it was the proper thing to do to let people pay their respects, answered Theia, checking herself in the mirror and shaking her head at the sight of her swollen eyes and runny mascara.

That’s what the funeral was for. Not this… circus shit. And that fat fuck should never have a say in our family decisions. It’s bad enough Dad brought him into the family business. Now he thinks he’s one of us. Look at this shit. We can’t even park the fucking car in our own home. Tom parked the car across the street and shut off the engine, looking over at his sister, who was trying to wipe mascara off from under her eye with a tissue but ended up removing most of the concealer hiding the white vitiligo spot over her eye.

Fuck!

Come here. He grabbed her chin and turned her face to him. He licked his thumb and wiped away the runny makeup. I don’t know why you do this. You don’t need this shit. There, he said, wiping the remaining concealer and liner. Beautiful. Perfect.

Theia scoffed and turned her gaze down. Yeah, right.

Look at me.

She met his gaze, tears welling up again.

Have I ever lied to you?

Her gaze softened and a smile tugged at her lips. No, never.

How are you feeling? I can shut this thing down right now if y—

No, I’m… fine. I’m okay. The thick black ring surrounding the iris of her blue eye was always more visible when she cried. The anomaly was part of the vitiligo including most of the eyelash. Needless to say, she was subjected to teasing and bullying growing up that would make most adults want to curl up in a ball and pray for a swift death. After she downed a bottle of their mom’s happy pills, Tom finally convinced their parents to pull her out of school and hire private tutors. That wouldn’t be the last time she’d attempt to take her own life.

Let’s get this over with. She opened the car door. Tom grabbed her arm, his chocolate brown eyes full of concern.

Hey.

What?

I love you.

I love you more, she replied.

They walked arm in arm up the cobblestone driveway and past the garden toward the main house; an exquisite stone manor painstakingly planned and built by their father as a gift to their mother when he landed his first big account exporting goods from South America. Tom cursed under his breath when he heard the laughter and voices of the funeral attendees, chatting like they were at a five-star restaurant. Upon entering the house, they were bombarded with unwanted hugs, condolences, and the usual he’s with your mom now.

One attendee, having had a little too much wine, commended them on the extensive mahogany molding and trim throughout the first floor.

Okay, replied Tom before leading Theia to the only place well-to-do people at parties don’t