Heroes and Villains: California Dreaming 1

By Stacey Johnston

Two lives entwined in secrets.
Secrets that threaten to tear them apart before they even begin.

Sophie Valentine was a girl living a privileged life in the tranquility of Solana Beach.
At eighteen years of age, Sophie had it all. She wanted for nothing and had great friends and a supportive family. Add to that the fact that her uncles were famous musicians and she had what many considered the perfect life.
Perfect, until the day it was ripped out from underneath her.
Forced to move to Brooklyn under questionable conditions, Sophie envisioned the worst until she stumbled across four boys on the steps of her new apartment building.
She did not intentionally set out to fall for one of those boys, but what started as an innocent affair of the heart quickly became a fight for her life.
A fight for survival, she would struggle to win.

In a quiet Brooklyn neighborhood, Benjamin Sinclair was a troubled boy, leading a secret life.
Four years ago, after witnessing a brutal murder, eighteen-year-old Ben and his friends Luke, Kyle, and Stephen believed their lives would change forever.
Or so they thought.
When Ben met Sophie on the steps of his apartment building the day she moved in, he never envisioned how chaotic and turbulent his life would become.
Thrust into witness protection with a killer on his tail and an uncertain future, Ben has always refused to form attachments. Relationships were a luxury he could not afford.
For years, his only solace came from meaningless one-night stands and music.
That was until the day Sophie moved in.

A battle between the forces of good and evil awaits, one that could leave a devastating effect or be the start of new beginnings.
How will it end?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris AU
• Release date: Jan 22, 2016
• ISBN: 9781514444658

Stacey Johnston

Stacey Johnston resides in one of the southern suburbs of Perth, Western Australia, with her husband, four children, and a lovable Alaskan malamute called Storm. At one time or another, each of us has wished that our lives reflected those of the characters we read in books or watched on our television screens. As a child, Stacey was no different and found she could create stories in her head. Stories where her characters could come alive and she could escape when life around her became difficult. Leaving home at seventeen, she moved from family member to family member, trying to find her place. During those early years, alcohol became her closest friend, and her characters and stories in her head really started to blossom. It wasn’t until she met the man who would become the father to her oldest two children that she started to settle down. For the next twelve years, Stacey dedicated her life to her partner and their two beautiful children. Her stories were continuing to grow, but so was her desire to put them on paper and share them. Tragically, after losing her partner to a heart attack. her grip on reality started to slide, and it was during this time that her characters evolved. During her time of need, Stacey found a soul mate who would later become her husband and give her two more equally beautiful children. With his love, support, and encouragement, Stacey finally found the courage to put her characters and stories onto paper. Stacey’s hope is that other readers love her characters as much as she does. Her wish is that they get caught up in their stories, experiencing their joy and pain just as she has over the years.

Book preview

Copyright © 2016 by Stacey Johnston.

Library of Congress Control Number:   2016900691

ISBN:      Hardcover      978-1-5144-4467-2

      Softcover      978-1-5144-4466-5

      eBook         978-1-5144-4465-8

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

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

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Rev. date: 10/13/2016

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Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Everyone has that one place they like to escape to.

Mine is just in my head . . .

Chapter One

Sophie

F or as long as I can remember, my family and I have cal led

San Diego home.

Well, up until recently anyway…..

Our house is located within walking distance of Solana Beach and as you would expect, I’ve always spent a lot of my free time hanging out down there. My brother, Sean, and I have been fortunate enough to live a life most could only dream. It was a life where being privileged, as we were labeled – allowed you to pretty much do whatever you wanted. I say privileged because our mother is closely related to the three founding members of one of the biggest boy bands of the sixties.

How close you ask? Well, they are her brothers.

Most of my favorite childhood memories include them and their families. Considering how famous they are, it amazes me how she managed to keep us out of the spotlight all these years. I don’t honestly remember there ever being a time when they were not around. Thanks to them, and our parents, Sean and I have never wanted for anything.

It’s only been recently that I’ve taken notice of just how close knit my mother has been with her brothers over the years. There’s so much that we take for granted in our lives, that we perceive as normal. This was one of them.

The only reason I started paying attention was because a few of my friends had made comments about how envious they were of me. They’d wished their families were as close as ours.

Once again, this was something I took for granted. I just assumed every family is the same. It was around that time, that I started paying more attention when around my friends, and their families, noting the differences.

Regardless of schedules or work commitments, my father, and uncles always maintained daily contact with my mother and, subsequently, Sean and me. As far as I’m aware, they’re the only family she has, so maybe that’s the reason they are all so close.

The thing that I’ve always envied about my friends is their grandparents. I have always loved how alive their houses become when they are around. Over the years, both Sean and I have inquired at different times about our grandparents. We’ve never met any at all. I know that my father’s parents died in a car crash before we were born, but my mother always gives me the same answer.

She says that her parents are no longer around and that our lives are much better off with them not in it. I honestly don’t know if that means they are dead or alive, because she doesn’t elaborate.

There was this one day, when she was obviously being a little more sentimental, where she admitted that her relationship with her parents was not a loving one.

In her words, it was a story best left untold.

She maintains that she lives a fulfilling life, where she only surrounds herself with the people she loves and those who are important to her. On more than one occasion, she has told me that she sees no point in dwelling on the pain from the past. I’ve never truly understood what she meant by that, which is why it amazes me just how laid back she and my uncles really are. It’s hard to believe, considering we are given the impression that they came from a troubled family.

Personally, it’s not something I’ve chosen to dwell on. I just love how cool they all are to hang around.

The one thing I have grown to love the most about my uncles is the impromptu jamming sessions they spring on us, much to the disgust of Sean.

Actually, I don’t think that brother of mine has much of an interest in anything. Out of the two of us he is generally, more reserved and can be very secretive when he wants to be. There are times when he reminds me of our father because he’s very much like that as well.

About two years ago, I started questioning why Sean was spending weeks at a time away from home. I was jealous of the fact that I have to attend school and he didn’t. For about a year, I tried to get answers from him as to why, but he would get defensive and shut me down. I eventually stopped when my mother asked me to. She had given me her reassurance that there was a good reason behind it.

Aside from his secretive side, he has an extreme case of OCD when it comes to tidiness. My friends used to think that I was joking, but it’s something you really need to witness for yourself. His bedroom is more like that of a museum. Everything has a place, and it’s look but don’t touch. I have made it my mission to tease him over the years, for his freakish ways.

In addition to all this, it was discovered that only one of us shared the same musical talents as my mother and her brothers. There has always been plenty of encouragement and training given to us over the years, but Sean, unfortunately, inherited nothing. He can’t sing or play an instrument.

I, on the other hand, have a very strong singing voice. I have since I could talk. I like to think I take my talent as seriously as my uncles do, and I know exactly what I’m going to do when I’m older.

I never understood, though, why my mother was not as successful as her brothers, she herself has such an angelic voice. When we were little, she used to sing to help us sleep.

Still, to this day, from time to time, you will catch her singing when she is cooking or cleaning. I did ask her once why she wasn’t a performer as well, and all she said was that her dreams had already become a reality. She is content with how her life has turned out.

In her experience, there are two kinds of people in this world. Those who thrive on the thrill of an adventure and those who are happier with the mundane. I never, in truth, understood what she meant. She was forever saying weird stuff like that, but as long as she was happy, I didn’t care.

My dreams, though, are a little different from hers, and on a grander scale. My favorite is the one where I’m standing on a stage, performing, just as my uncles have over the years – well, maybe a little more modern than them, but you get my drift. We’ve been lucky enough over the years to attend quite a few of their concerts. I love seeing the thrill they get by having thousands of people singing, and dancing along with them when they perform.

One day that will be me doing that, even though I know my father will not approve.

He’s never thought very highly of what my uncles did, maintaining that it would be over his dead body to see me selling myself like that. I’ve never gotten his concern, but then I’ve never seen what they do as selling themselves.

All I’ve ever witnessed is the entertainment they provide to thousands. They make a lot of money and have a good time doing it. I suppose the drugs and alcohol side of what they do may play some small part in it, but we have never seen that side of their lives.

A little trust in me wouldn’t go astray. It’s not as if I’m into the drug scene anyway.

In all fairness to me, this shouldn’t be a concern for him.

I do, at times, wonder about my father though. He’s a very mysterious man. He is what we call our exception to the rule – the only one Sean and I are not particularly close to. That probably comes down to the fact that we don’t see much of him at all. My mother has always stressed to us, especially when we have complained, that his job is important. From what I believe, most of what he does has been deemed classified, although I don’t know what that means. Mom says that it is just safer for us not to know anything at all.

Don’t get me wrong, there have been times when I used to wonder what that meant, but in the end, I found it easier to turn a blind eye. I’ve always lived with the belief that Mom and Dad obviously know better.

Until now…

As of today, it appears, our lives are about to change. Something has apparently happened concerning my father’s work, and he’s moving us to Brooklyn.

Why Brooklyn? Well, anyone’s guess would be as good as mine. I certainly have no idea. The question I asked is, what would possess a man to uproot his whole family this quickly?

I probably should add; he is doing this without any resistance from us at all.

Our relocation will be to an apartment building, in what sounds like a dingy little neighborhood, somewhere in Brooklyn. I’ve made it perfectly clear that I’m not happy about having to leave my friends and family. It didn’t even rate as a concern for my father. Regardless of all my objections, we will be leaving within the week. To make matter the whole situation suck even more, my father and Hawke will be leaving us again, as soon as our move is complete.

If I haven’t mentioned him before, Hawke is what I suppose you could call my father’s colleague or best friend. Well, that’s what I think he is. He has been around our family for as long as I can remember. I think they have worked together for years, because he has always just been here.

It’s funny though, because over the years, my friends have made comments on how creepy his presence has been. I’ve never genuinely paid any attention. As I’ve mentioned before, he’s always just been there.

The funnier part was, we used to take turns trying to guess what sort of work they did. Especially since they spent so much time together. It always ended up with us making ridiculous suggestions like strippers or government spies.

So, my issue with this whole move, is that my father will be stranding us in a strange place with no friends. I’ll only have my mom and brother to depend on. You’d think that we should’ve been able to ask questions about what’s going on, but you would be wrong.

I can’t say that I’ve ever been game enough to challenge him in the past, so there is no way I’m planning to start now.

Over the years, whenever he was near, he had a vibe that just didn’t feel right. More like there was something about him that, at times, frightened me.

I can’t say exactly what it is.

This something wasn’t anything you can easily put into words. I’m not saying that he has ever hurt me – well, no more than his hand across my ass when I was younger.

However, he gives off a vibe that would lead you to believe he is capable of so much more. I never wanted to see if that was true, so I never pushed him.

Don’t read too much into my ramblings, I’m just throwing out my thoughts.

He is actually a very loving man toward us. It’s just that he also gives you the impression that he can be a very dangerous man too.

Well, the day has finally come.

It’s moving day, and so far, it has been shaping up to be one hell of a nightmare. Sean’s nonstop grumbling is starting to grate on my nerves. I have what feels like an almighty headache coming on, because that brother of mine has not stopped fricking complaining since we left this morning. If he keeps it up, I’ll make him finish the rest of it by himself.

Coming to a stop, I notice, out of the corner of my eye, a group of boys hanging around the bottom step of our new apartment building. Sean and I have spent the better part of the afternoon busy moving boxes and furniture up the horrendous stairs out front of our building. It’s no surprise that we are doing all this by ourselves, mind you. Dad and Hawke apparently had more pressing matters to deal with inside.

Really! What type of fricking excuse is that? I’m thinking that it’s definitely time for me to take a breather because, frankly, I’m fricking exhausted.

Parking myself by the side of the truck we hauled our shit up in, I divert my attention back to those boys on the step.

Whoa! What a sight! Now, don’t get me wrong, there was never a shortage of gorgeous boys back home and you didn’t have to look far to find them either. These four boys though, that I’m quite openly perving at, are the kind of gorgeous that astounds you. There’s no need for me to exaggerate, it’s something I believe they could do without even trying.

When Sean comes back down, I point them out to him. He tells me that every time we have walked back outside, they have glanced up at us. If they keep that up, I will no doubt lose my shit with them.

Do you lot seriously have nothing better to do with your time, than sit there gawking at us? I yell at them.

After helping Sean with a couple of table chairs, I find myself taking more notice of their actions as we pass by. It’s now bugging me.

Coming to a stop by the bottom step, I feel like I’m twelve years old again – you know, like a teenage girl fawning over her high-school crush, all because one of them has me mesmerized. He stands and turns so that we are now face-to-face.

Without any recognition of actually having moved at all, I find myself standing on the second last step, staring straight into the most beautiful blue eyes I have ever encountered. I must look a sight with my hands on my hips and my hair plastered to my face.

Even my clothing is dirty from all the crap I have been moving today.

What’s it to you anyway? mouths Blue Eyes.

Wow, did his eyes just twinkle when he spoke? Yep! Fricking oath, they did! This really isn’t what I need right now. I definitely don’t need another smart-ass person irritating me today. Sean has already done a good enough job of that already.

Without being able to stop myself, I angrily reply,

"What do you mean what’s it to you? Are you enjoying watching a poor, helpless girl lug heavy boxes and furniture up these steps by herself?"

Mr. Blue Eyes, as I insist on calling him, takes one look at me and laughs aloud.

There’s nothing poor and helpless about you, sweetheart. There is, in fact, two of you moving that stuff.

By the time he finishes speaking, my face has turned like the color of beetroot. I know that if I do not leave, my mouth will get the better of me, so without responding, I turn, stomping back up the stairs. Cursing under my breath, I get halfway up, when I hear, Hold up there, darling, where do you think you’re going?

I stop, turning back around to see all four of those boys now standing, staring at me with panty-dropping smirks on their faces.

What’s with you calling me darling? You halfwit! I bite back.

Harsh words for such an adorable little girl, one of the others replies.

Fricking hell! What is it with these boys, there is something about each of them that makes them stand out.

Unfortunately, for him, the smirk on his face was doing nothing more than aggravate me.

Do I look like a little girl to you? I hiss at him, giving him what I hope is my nastiest stare. Suddenly, bored of their stirring, I yell back to them, You know what? If I can’t guilt you lot into helping us, how about you all bugger off?

All four boys laugh once again, moving just a little closer toward me.

I definitely wouldn’t call you little, Blue Eyes teases, looking me up and down as he moves past with the others, toward our moving truck. And all you had to do was ask, sweet one, he continues.

Winking, he gives me a look that makes my knees weaken, forcing me to grip the railing behind me, steadying myself.

I am, for a short time, rendered speechless. This almost never happens to me. With a voice like his, you would have to wonder if anyone could refuse him.

Come on, think about it. Surely, there are more than a couple of girls around who wouldn’t think twice about dropping their panties for just a few short minutes of his time.

Well, obviously, you would be hoping for more than a few minutes, but you get my point.

The sight of him even has me thinking wicked thoughts. Thoughts which I know I shouldn’t be having right now – especially, ones of me on my knees, with him standing in front of me, his shorts hanging down around his ankles, my fingers sitting just slightly underneath the rim of his underwear, ready to pull them down. Right where the V…

Are you coming? he whispers softly, passing by. We have no idea where we are taking this stuff.

And just like that, the daydream is gone. From the look on his face and the quiet chuckle I can hear, I would say he was well aware of where my thoughts were heading.

Shaking off the blush that quickly rises up from my neck, I force a smile and lead them up to our apartment.

I was grateful that the rest of the afternoon flew past relatively drama-free. During that time, we learned that that blue-eyed boy’s name was Ben and that the other three were Luke, Kyle, and Stephen. Those four boys, along with Sean and me, made fast work of emptying that truck.

What surprised me, was how well we all got along. I was convinced that it was a good sign that all my fears of starting at a new school would be for no reason.

Well… about that….

It seems I couldn’t have been more wrong about our new school if I tried. After overhearing some people by the front gate, I quickly learned that our new friends are somewhat excluded from the so-called Cool Kids.

Honestly, how was I expected to believe that’s true? I seriously don’t get it. What I’m struggling to comprehend is how four extremely good-looking boys like this lot are not part of the popular crowd. As we observe some more, it’s like these kids move around in smaller groups.

Okay, so I won’t dispute that this, in itself isn’t out of the ordinary. The exception being that it would be later confirmed as being dependent on where they lived. As luck, would have it, Sean and I can expect unfavorable labeling as well. I suppose it’s expected, seeing we live in the same poor dingy apartment block as our new friends do.

I don’t get it, Sean says to me, breaking me from my thoughts.

How is it we go from being top of the food chain at Canyon Crest and we arrive here to be at the bottom of the shit heap?

Just lucky, I guess, I grumble.

After arriving at school, our plan was to meet up with Ben’s group near the admin building. As we reached our destination, we just stopped and waited. It was obvious that we stood out like a sore thumb. Observing the kids who were walking past us, I noticed that we should have done some serious research on what the fashion here is like. I can do nothing more than cringe when a group of girls passes by, and I hear some of the snide remarks filter out of their mouths. I was seriously considering doing a runner to head back home until I hear Ben and the others coming up behind us.

Don’t pay any attention to them, sweet one. Their bark is worse than their bite, Ben whispers in my ear, startling me for a moment because I thought they were further away.

I’m sure I’ll eventually get used to it and stop calling me sweet one already. I’m not a fucking lollipop, Ben, I reply nervously.

He’s now standing directly behind me, with one of his arms slinked around my shoulder and his hand resting on my stomach.

Oh my fucking god… the things this boy has stirred up inside me is not anything I can easily explain. He has managed to make my breathing quicken, my legs weaken, and my heart beat faster without putting in any effort.

Quietly