Heartless: Lonely Souls, #2

By Autumn Reed

I returned to Moss Harbor, determined to find answers about my mother's death. But all I've managed to uncover are three lonely souls calling out to mine.

 

In just a month, Leo, Hayle, and Tristin Sharpe have wound themselves around my heart, reminding me of what I've been missing. I want them back in my life for good, but I should have known that maintaining a friendship with three tempting brothers could never be simple.

 

Leo is intent on wooing me, Hayle keeps drawing me in with his quiet support, and Tristin is doing his level best to push me away. All the while, their father lurks behind the scenes, manipulating us all.

 

I don't want to play into Vincent's hand, but I'm starting to realize it may be the only way to stay in the game.

 

 

**Heartless is the second book in the Lonely Souls trilogy, a contemporary reverse harem inspired by the characters of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Autumn Reed
• Release date: Aug 27, 2020
• ISBN: 9798201574352

Autumn Reed

Autumn is a lifelong bookworm with a penchant for sarcasm. She loves cloudy days, fluffy dogs, and murdering succulents. When she isn't bringing daydreams to life on the page, she can be found behind the lens of a digital camera or binge-watching Veronica Mars. To read more about Autumn Reed, visit www.autumnreed.com.

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

Tristin

From Thea’s bed to the police station in less than thirty minutes. I should have known the contentment I’d experienced while nestled in her lemon-scented sheets was too good to be true.

Good things didn’t happen to me. Not anymore.

And if they did, they were fleeting.

I’d gotten one afternoon and one night with Thea. I should probably be grateful. But my old friend, bitterness, was rearing his ugly head.

Because a single afternoon and night would never be enough. I’d had a taste of her sweet body and healing soul, and I wanted more. But what I wanted—needed—didn’t matter. It hadn’t for a long time.

I should have listened to my instincts. My life was nothing but a wasteland, and Thea didn’t belong in it. If sitting in yet another police interview room wasn’t a wakeup call, nothing would be.

Detective Dyck—an unfortunate name if I’d ever heard one—pulled out the chair across the table from me, the metal legs screeching as they made contact with the concrete floor. He’d also questioned me about the incident at the football house, and his current expression told me he wasn’t any more convinced of my innocence than he had been four days ago.

Four days...fuck. Time was moving even slower than it had in juvie, because I could have sworn weeks had passed instead of days.

I’d say it’s good to see you again, Tristin, but I’d be lying.

I bit back a snort. Same here.

He tapped his pen on the table. Tell me. Where were you last night, from nine o’clock on?

I was on a boat at the marina until almost midnight.

Alone?

Yes. I didn’t hesitate, though I doubted that information helped me. From what the officers had said back at the house, Bodie’s accident had happened sometime early this morning.

But whoever had loosened his lug nuts had likely acted earlier. Which meant that Thea wasn’t the solid alibi she’d assumed.

Dyck jotted down a few notes. After you left the marina? What then?

I drove to my house and went straight to Thea’s room, where I stayed until the officers showed up this morning. I wasn’t the type to kiss and tell, but she’d already admitted as much, so there was no point in hiding that we’d spent the night together.

Miss Gale was in her bedroom when you arrived?

Yes.

What, exactly, is the nature of your relationship with her?

I crossed my arms over my chest to keep from doing something stupid. Like overreact. I don’t see how that’s relevant.

Detective Dyck leaned his elbows on the table, his narrowed-eyed gaze unimpressed. It’s relevant if she’s lying to protect you.

Not that it’s any of your business, but Thea is a hot chick who happens to be living in my house. There’s nothing more to our relationship than that. I swallowed past the burn in my throat at the fiction spewing from my mouth. She has no reason to lie for me.

He wrote something else in his notebook, but attempting to read his chicken scratch upside down was fruitless. After setting down his pen, he looked at me again. You’ve been out of juvenile detention for, what? A month?

Something like that. It had actually only been twenty-six days, but who was counting?

Okay. So, you’ve been out for a month, and you’ve already been in here as a suspect for two different crimes. Three, if we’d had any evidence of sexual assault. Do you see a problem with that?

I gritted my teeth. This fucker thought he was so superior, and it was pissing me off. I see a problem with you continually blaming me for things I didn’t do.

Going to that damn party had been the second worst decision of my life. I’d walked into the football house, and a minute later, I’d found myself in a bedroom upstairs with a girl who had been given a date-rape drug. I hadn’t touched her, other than to help her to the bed to lie down.

Of course, no one had believed me. No one...except Thea.

Dyck inclined his head. We now know you weren’t responsible for drugging Miss Stevens. I’ll give you that much.

Well, that was news. Last I’d heard, I was still their prime suspect.

Laughing under my breath, I couldn’t resist baiting him. "Wow, you must be a much better detective than I thought. How did you solve the crime of the century?"

Maybe you should ask your brothers, he replied sharply before standing. If you think of anything else that might be useful, be sure to give us a call.

My only response was a flippant head nod as he opened the door and waved me through it. Thankfully, this interview had been much less painful than the last one. Probably because they had absolutely nothing to go on other than my perceived grudge against Bodie Jacobs.

In reality, I didn’t give a shit about that guy. I just wanted him to leave me the hell alone. Even if I hated him enough to fuck with his car, I wasn’t that stupid. Eighteen months in lockup had been more than enough for me. I had no intention of going back.

I’d foolishly believed that after my release from juvie, I would keep my head down and attend Harbor U for a year while I figured out how to get the hell out of this town.

The plan had sounded so simple.

But, then, Bodie happened.

Then, Thea and her crazy scheme for me to make amends with Violet at the party.

And whatever Leo and Hayle had been up to at the Backwoods Tavern last night.

What had sounded so simple was now more than complicated. It had only been twenty-six days, and everything was fucked up.

Maybe I’d been wrong...

Maybe I needed to escape this town sooner rather than later.

Maybe my disappearance would be better for everyone.

CHAPTER TWO

Thea

No one was talking.

Leo had driven Tristin, Hayle, and I to the police station and back with no more than two words exchanged between us. And I didn’t like it. Shouldn’t Tristin be asking what the hell was going on? And shouldn’t Leo and Hayle be explaining whatever had gone down last night?

I knew why I was keeping my mouth shut. I couldn’t get Leo’s hurt expression and Hayle’s knowing, resigned one out of my mind. I’d blurted that Tristin had spent the night with me to protect him. But, as the detective had explained during my short interview, Tristin’s appearance at the Sharpe mansion around midnight didn’t put him in the clear.

Bodie’s car had been tampered with in the Backwoods Tavern parking lot sometime between ten-thirty and one. So, my confession had been useless. And now it seemed that all three of the Sharpe brothers were pissed at me.

I wasn’t sure what I’d done to incite Tristin’s ire, but the way he was keeping his entire body turned away from me in the backseat told me something was going on in that hard head of his. And I doubted it was good.

Leo parked in the driveway, which suggested he planned to leave again soon. To escape to the boxing gym he frequented in secret? I wouldn’t be surprised. Punching—bags and sometimes people—was how he relieved stress. And there was no doubt the morning had been full of that.

We piled out of the Range Rover, and before I’d even shut my door, Tristin stalked up to Leo and Hayle, his back ramrod straight. What the fuck did you do?

Leo’s neck went stiff, but he kept his voice calm. We had nothing to do with Bodie’s accident. I swear.

Oh, really? Tristin released a derisive laugh. Then, why did we have cops on our doorstep first thing this morning?

They’re jumping to conclusions. It’s bullshit.

You know what’s bullshit? He poked Leo in the chest, and I couldn’t help but notice how similar the half-brothers looked from this angle. That same blond-brown hair, those same broad shoulders, and even the same clenching of their jaws. Though there were differences—Tristin’s hair was longer, and Leo’s muscles were more prominent—they were two sides of the same coin. In looks and personality.

No, Leo said coolly. But I have no doubt you’ll tell us.

What’s bullshit is the three of you putting your noses in my business in the first place. You had no right.

The three of us? I guess my earlier assumption had been correct. Tristin was pissed at me.

Moving to his side, I said softly, We were only trying to help.

His gaze shifted to me, his aquamarine eyes as hard as I’d ever seen them. And his voice was just as unrelenting. I don’t need your help.

I sucked in a breath. The words were more than a slap in the face. They were a knife straight through my chest.

I’d thought we’d moved past the part where he pushed me away for the hell of it. I’d thought I’d found a chink in his armor...that maybe I was that chink.

I should have known better. We’d had sex a few times. Nothing more. He hadn’t spoken words of love or affection. He’d merely indicated that he wanted my body.

And I’d given it to him.

Hayle stepped between us, his expression as dark as his almost-black hair. You can’t take your anger out on Thea. She’s the one who figured out Bodie was behind everything.

Over Hayle’s shoulder, I saw surprise flash across Tristin’s features. He’d truly had no idea that Bodie was responsible for drugging Hadley Stevens. Which meant that he’d had no reason to retaliate against Violet’s asshole brother in the first place.

Not that I’d ever believed he was guilty. Only a month ago, I’d watched him let Bodie get three punches in before defending himself. There was no way he would sabotage the guy’s car, even if he had known that Bodie set him up at that stupid, stupid football party.

Tristin locked eyes with Hayle. "I can’t take my anger out on her? She’s the one who convinced me to go to the party in the first place. He backed up a few steps but kept his attention on his brothers. You three never should have gotten involved. And from now on, you can leave me the fuck alone."

As he spat out alone, his gaze finally caught mine, and the blood flowing through my veins turned to ice at what I found there. This was more than him being pissed that our interference had led to multiple trips to the police station. This was even more than his restrained fury that tended to come out to play when Leo was present.

He was done with his brothers.

And he was done with me.

Tears gathered as I watched him open the garage, get in his Tesla, and fly past us down the driveway. Surprisingly, Hayle was the one who reached out to reassure me. He wrapped his arms around me and pressed my head into his shoulder.

He didn’t mean it. He’s just being an ass.

Though he was the leanest of the brothers, his embrace offered no shortage of strength and comfort. I allowed both to seep into me, making me even more emotional. Damn it. I would not let these tears fall. I wouldn’t.

I’m not so sure, I murmured into his hoodie. All signs pointed toward Tristin meaning every word he’d said.

We stood there for a minute, not speaking, before I withdrew. Leo was watching us from a few feet away, and he inclined his head toward the house. Come on. I could use a drink.

It’s not even noon. And, even though I’d already missed Western Civ, I still had two more classes today.

Leo slung an arm around my shoulder, reminding me of my first night back in Moss Harbor. He’d paraded me around Tristin’s welcome home party, introducing me to people I’d already forgotten. At the time, I’d assumed the worst of him. Assumed that there was no substance under his flirty football star exterior.

So much had changed in the last month. At the top of that list was how I felt about Leo Sharpe. He’d infuriated me as much as he’d surprised me. But he had surprised me. Kept surprising me.

Time is just a state of mind.

I tipped my head to look up at him, my heart skipping a beat at the grin on his full mouth. There was no hint of his earlier hurt when I’d revealed that Tristin and I had spent the night together. Was he over it already? And why did that thought bother me so much?

That doesn’t even make sense.

He started leading me to the open garage door. That’s what the alcohol is for. Everything makes more sense while tipsy.

Hayle huffed as he trailed after us. Your logic never fails to astound me.

It’s okay. Leo grinned at him over his shoulder. You can say it—I’m brilliant.

As brilliant as a circus animal, he muttered loud enough to ensure we both heard it.

In spite of myself, I sputtered out a laugh. I was fairly certain they were only trying to distract me from Tristin’s cruel words, but I didn’t even care. It was working.

Leo tugged on my hair. Hey. You’re supposed to defend me against my mean little brother.

And why would I do that?

Because I’m your favorite, obviously.

Hayle scoffed. The brother in her bed last night tells a different story. I stopped so abruptly, he bumped into my back. Shit, Thea. I’m sorry. He tugged on my hand to spin me to face him. Leo’s right. I am the mean one.

I shrugged, feigning nonchalance when, really, I wanted to run upstairs and hole myself away in my bedroom. It’s not like you’re wrong. We might as well address the bastard elephant in the room.

Told you we all needed a drink, Leo said brightly before walking the rest of the way into the house and heading straight for the kitchen. How about some orange juice with your vodka? he suggested.

If you change that to some vodka with my orange juice, I’m game.

There was no point in pretending I was going to any classes today. Even if I showed up, I’d be there in body only. My mind would be a million miles away. Or, more like the three miles to the marina, where Tristin was undoubtedly hiding out on his borrowed boat.

Once we all had drinks in our hands, we wandered into the living room. Hayle and I took spots on the couch, while Leo sat in one of the chairs across from us.

When no one spoke after a couple of minutes, I decided to break the silence. What happened last night?

Leo looked at his brother. Do you want to do the honors, or should I?

Go for it.

With a smile of sheer satisfaction, Leo said, We got Mark to confess to drugging Hadley and that it was all Bodie’s idea.

If I was Catholic, I would have made the sign of the cross. But, instead, I merely pressed a hand to my mouth and spoke around it. Seriously?

And I recorded the whole thing, Hayle added with a matching smile.

Oh, yeah, Leo said. Play the recording for her.

Hayle set his phone on the couch between us, and I listened as he and Leo worked together to get Mark to admit that he’d given Hadley the GHB Friday night.

What do you all think of this dirtbag drugging a college girl? Leo’s disembodied voice said loudly through the recording, and I laughed out loud. He’d clearly been playing to the crowd at the bar, and given the panic in Mark’s response, it had worked.

Toward the end of the recording, I heard something that sounded a lot like a fist hitting flesh. I didn’t even need to hear Leo’s subsequent threat to know he’d punched Mark. Maybe I should have been disappointed that he’d resorted to violence when it wasn’t necessary.

I wasn’t.

What happened? I asked Hayle as he hit stop on his phone. Did Mark turn himself in like he promised?

According to Detective Dyck— Leo laughed at the name, and Hayle rolled his eyes before continuing. Mark showed up at the station in the middle of the night. He heard about Bodie’s accident and immediately assumed it was us. Guess the fact that he wanted to blame us for something else we didn’t do spurred on his confession.

I stared down at my hands. I didn’t want to ask this question, but I had to. You two really had nothing to do with—

No, Leo said sharply. Absolutely not. I can’t believe you would even think that.

I forced myself to look at him, and nothing about his fierce expression suggested he was lying. I don’t. I just had to make sure.

Hayle’s voice was softer but no less urgent when he said, It wasn’t us. After leaving the Backwoods Tavern, we drove straight home.

Why didn’t you come find me when you got home? I’d done most of the legwork on unearthing Mark’s involvement. The least they could have done was tell me all of this last night.

We wanted to wait until the confession was official, Leo said. We were hoping we’d have a reason to celebrate this morning, and, instead...

The police showed up to question you all, I answered for him as I slumped back into the couch and covered my eyes with my arms. What a shitty, shitty way to start the day.

And, to think, memories of my midnight tryst with Tristin had kept me smiling all through my shower.

Tristin.

His name alone caused a burning ache in my chest. Whether it was from rejection or longing or plain hurt, I didn’t know. He’d been through a lot. I knew that. But I couldn’t keep excusing his behavior. Not if he was going to treat me like a beetle stuck to the bottom of his boot.

What about this newest...issue? I asked, not really wanting to utter Bodie’s name yet again. Do the police really think one of you is responsible?

I don’t know, Hayle answered. But once Dad agrees to release our security system records, Leo and I should be cleared.

Where is your father? I’d all but forgotten about Vincent this morning. Which was strange but also a bit of a relief. I might have returned to Moss Harbor to uncover his role in my mother’s death, but there were other things on my mind now.

The procrastinator in me was glad for the distractions. But I also knew I couldn’t put off my snooping forever.

He’s out of town on business. Don’t ask me where. I don’t even know.

I heard a trace of bitterness in Hayle’s tone, which surprised me. Usually, he was Vincent’s biggest fan. I’d have to ask him about it later.

For now, I was going back to bed. I didn’t even care if I fell asleep. All I cared about was diving under my covers and pretending the last few hours never happened.

CHAPTER THREE

Thea

Gerard—the Sharpes’ chauffeur and groundskeeper—was waiting for me in the kitchen the next morning, and I immediately knew what that meant. Tristin was ditching me.

Technically, he was likely still on non-academic probation. But if he’d wanted to see me, he could have driven me to class.

You can leave me the fuck alone.

A secret, stupid part of my heart had spent the rest of yesterday hoping he’d spoken the words out of anger. That he hadn’t meant them.

But I knew better. I’d seen his steely resolve. Whatever progress we’d made in our friendship had been wiped out in minutes. And I wasn’t even sure I understood why. My interference wasn’t exactly new. What had made him snap, now?

Considering how closed off he could be, I may never know. And that frustrated me more than I wanted to admit. I knew myself well enough to realize that I’d been falling for Tristin. And that was saying something, because I didn’t fall for anyone.

Well...except, maybe, his brothers.

I reached for a cinnamon raisin bagel and chomped into it, chewing like my life depended on it. This was what I got for caring—I was turning feral. I hadn’t even sliced the bagel in half. Or toasted it. Or slathered it in cream cheese.

Gerard cleared his throat. Is everything okay?

I swallowed my too-large bite. Men are the worst.

He chuckled lightly. Well, I can’t argue with you there. It probably doesn’t help that you’re living in a house full of them.

Was I, though? Vincent was gone half of the time, and Tristin was living on his boat.

I took another vicious bite of my bagel. Apparently, they didn’t have to actually be around for me think they were the worst.

I studied Gerard while I chewed, wondering how he’d remained so kind after spending all of these years around his employer and sons. Can I ask you something?

Of course.

What do you think of the Sharpe men? Do you think any of them are decent under all of that wealth and conceit?

It was a ridiculous query, and I half-expected a ridiculous answer. But Gerard’s expression turned thoughtful rather than amused. You know, I’ve witnessed a lot over my years working for Mr. Sharpe. And the one thing I’ve learned is that things are not always what they seem.

I attempted to read between the lines, but his comments could be taken too many ways. More questions bubbled up, but I shoved them down. Now was not the time to give away my hand. As much as I liked Gerard, I didn’t know the depth of his allegiance to Vincent. I had to assume anything I said to him might be passed along to the head of the household.

No longer hungry, I tossed the rest of my bagel in the trash and reached for my backpack. Guess it’s that time.

He nodded and followed me outside.

My morning didn’t improve over the next hour. Not surprisingly, Tristin wasn’t in Western Civ. But neither was Violet.

I couldn’t help but wonder what was going on with her. Was Bodie in such bad shape after his accident that she’d had to stay at the hospital with him? Or was she still clinging to yesterday’s claim that she was sick? When Leo and I went to see her yesterday afternoon, she’d seemed fine, if not a little more peculiar than usual.

I wanted to trust her. I still believed she was a good person. My first, second, and third impressions couldn’t be that far off. But there was no doubt she was hiding something.

Then again, unless what she was hiding had to do with the Sharpes, it wasn’t any of my business. She was entitled to her secrets. We all had them.

I considered texting her but ultimately decided against it. At this point, she might believe Tristin, Leo, or Hayle was responsible for her brother’s accident. Maybe all three of them. And it wasn’t something I wanted to try to explain over text message. I’d just have to wait until she showed up for class again.

When I met Petra outside of Carlson Hall after Western Civ, my day finally started looking up. My petite friend was wearing white shorts, a black sweater with a cat’s face embroidered on it, and black ankle boots. The stripe in her shoulder-length blonde hair was lime green today, and she was wearing red-framed glasses that I knew she didn’t actually need.

In spite of myself, I smiled at the sight of her. It wasn’t that she looked silly—her quirky, girlish attire worked for her. She just made me happy.

I’d never had a girlfriend like her.