Freed: Imprisoned Hearts, #1

By Bella Emy

MADDOX

There's nothing that can tear my best friend and me apart.
We have a brotherly bond that no chick will ever be able to come between.

But everything changes the night I meet her—Adelyn Pierce.
She's like a whirlwind, and I can't stop thinking about her.

I have to make her mine.

The next day, I'm happy to hear from Rick that he's met someone as well.
After all, what is better than both my best friend and I finding a new honey to crush on?

But when Rick and I talk about our encounters, there's something that sounds oddly familiar about his new friend.
The moment Rick introduces me to his friend, I'm stunned to see Adelyn—she's the same girl I've been into.

I don't know what I'm going to do now.

 

ADELYN

The night of Tommy's party, I met two wonderful guys...
One, Rick, is sweet, caring, and I can see a great friend in him.
The other, Maddox, is intense, and I want more with him.

But I'm torn.

When I discover that the guy I want as a friend is interested in taking our friendship to the next level, I don't know what to do.

The situation becomes even more complicated when I realize that Rick's best friend in the entire world is Maddox—the guy who's been consuming my thoughts.
My heart feels torn between friendship and something deeper, and I have no idea how I'm going to get myself out of this one.

USA Today Bestselling Author, Bella Emy's Freed is a short prequel to Imprisoned. It is a captivating journey of love, friendship, and the tangled emotions that arise when two hearts vie for the same affection. Follow the intertwined lives of Maddox and Adelyn as they grapple with the complexities of their feelings, and discover if love can break free from the shadows of friendship.

Freed should be read before Imprisoned, but both may be read as a standalone if desired.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bella Emy
• Release date: Aug 15, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223938996

Bella Emy

Bella Emy is a bestselling multi-genre, award-winning author. To stay up to date on all things Bella, join her FB readers' group, like her page, or follow on her Twitter or Instagram! BellaEmy.com facebook.com/bellaemywrites facebook.com/groups/BellasHeartbreakers twitter.com/bellaemywrites instagram.com/bellaemywrites

Book preview

ONE

maddox

Fuck.

Long, dark wavy curls fall down past her shoulders. Dark brown eyes giving way to long, thick eyelashes. She’s laughing with her friend next to her. She’s got pale pink full lips that surround the most gorgeous smile I’ve ever seen.

Wow.

A plummeting neckline shows off her amazing cleavage in a tight white blouse. Curvy hips fill denim jeans hugging snuggly. High-heeled sandals grace perfectly painted toenails.

Damn. Where’s she been all my life?

My eyes had just had the pleasure of taking in the most beautiful sight I’ve ever seen.

I take a sip from my drink and lean back against the wall. The cold alcohol slides down my throat, soothing me. My buddies, Patrick Hemmings and Gabriel Murphy, have been at it all night, cracking jokes, blissfully unaware of the beauty I’m gazing at.

Patrick, or Rick, as we like to call him, brought Gabe and me along with him to this frat party, even though we’re still in high school. But who’s going to know the difference? We fit in just fine.

And now, seeing this gorgeous girl standing across the room from me, I’m so glad I had agreed to come out more than ever.

I’m so fucking glad tomorrow is Saturday, Rick states and then takes a sip from his bottle.

Aren’t we all. School has been complete shit, with exams and last-minute assignments being due since the end of the year is near.

Gabe nods. My history teacher’s been on my ass, too. I need to make up four assignments, he says. Gabriel goes to Chester High School. Rick and I go to Winter’s Cove High. I met him through Rick a couple of years back, and since then, the three of us get together every so often.

I know. I owe mine a paper, too, Rick states and takes another swig, looking away.

I’m listening, of course. These guys have been my boys since the start of seventh grade. Yet I still can’t bear to pull my gaze away from the mysterious brunette with the pretty brown eyes, laughing with her friend.

Gabriel shoots me a look, grabbing my attention only for a split second before Rick’s next words cause me to look over at him. I’ll be right back, ladies, he jokes, smirking like an asshole. Mother Nature calls. He takes one last pull of his beer before placing the empty bottle down onto a nearby table and walking to the restroom.

Gabe lets out a sigh. Man, this house is huge. What I’d give to be part of a frat like this one day.

Mmm, is all I manage to say, but I’m only half listening now. My pretty brunette goddess is making her way to the middle of the living room, pulling another one of her friends out with her.

A blonde with a porn star’s size rack yells, Play track number nine! to a guy over by the stereo system. Shit, those things have to be at least a double H or something. I mean, they’re humongous. She’s definitely not a C, D, or even a double D.

Seconds later, a heavy club beat comes on, and before I know it, I’m watching the goddess’s booty swaying back and forth to the music.

Damn, even her ass looks amazing.

So, I hear there’s Tommy’s grandmother wrestling hairy gorillas in the back room. We should go check it out, Gabriel says, taking a swig.

I nod. Oh, yeah, yeah. Cool, man—wait, what?! I finally come to my senses, realizing what he’s said to me and spit my beer out. My friend, on the other hand, is cracking up at my expense.

What the hell, Murphy? I dust off my shirt from the invisible spillage.

He slaps a hand on my back, and catching his breath says, I knew you were lost in thought, then as his arm drapes around my neck, he casually points to Goddess. Lost in thoughts of that beautiful girl over there and what you’d like to do to her. He pulls his arm away and takes another sip.

I face him and don’t have a single rebuke because it’s true. Ever since I’ve taken notice of her, she’s all I’ve been able to look at all evening.

Gabriel laughs again. I’ve seen you checking her out all night. You should probably go talk to her.

I shrug. Maybe I will.

I’m let down as I look back to where she was dancing just a moment ago, shaking her beautiful ass to the music, and now she’s vanished into thin air. Where the hell did she run off to? I’ve got to find her.

I scan the crowd, but no luck. There’s just too many people here, and I still have no idea how the hell so many of us fit into this room. I guess this is what college parties are like. This is my last year, and then I’ll be out of Winter’s Cove High. I can’t wait.

What’d I miss, ladies? Rick says as he finally meets up with us again.

Gabriel and I share a look, but he doesn’t tell Rick about Goddess. Instead, he shakes his head and says, Nothing. Just chillin’, listening to these beats and checking out the honeys on the dancefloor.

Looking around, there are a ton of girls dancing to the music. But none of them catch my eye like she does.

But who is she? And where did she go?

I’ve got to find out.

Rick nods. Would you guys believe me if I told you there were people lined up in front of the bathroom upstairs to use it? I can’t believe how many people are here.

Gabriel flashes him a look. You had to wait? Why didn’t you just try downstairs?

Rick shakes his head. No can do, man. Tommy warned us not to go in there. His old man was over last night, and now that toilet’s out of commission till the plumber can come out here on Tuesday. Tommy is the president of the fraternity.

What? Why? I furrow my brows.

Rick just sucks his teeth before saying, Apparently, his old man, he then rubs his belly and says, "has some clogging issues