Betrayal: Deadly Obsession

By Nancy Chastain

Our friendship grew as we did. Into a love that would stand the years of time. He was my first love. He was my first lover. We had it all, until…Without any explanation Chase walks in the house and announces we are over. Shattering my world to a million pieces.

I was unnerved when I heard "Hi Red." The loving nickname I had been called by only one person. Chase was back. He walks back into my life as easily as he walked out the door. Telling me he's missed me; He still loves me.

Do I risk him hurting me again to find answers to questions I ask myself over and over? Should I trust anything he says to me?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Nancy Chastain
• Release date: Dec 16, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223072423

Book preview

PROLOGUE

STEPHANIE

When I close my eyes, I see Amber Nikki Ross and hear the sound of the bullet puncturing her skull. It’s been three months, and it still echoes in my ears. I can’t sleep, and if I do, I dream about the last few minutes of her life—the life I ended when I pulled the trigger.

I can’t shake the image of her face, smiling at me like a psychopath, the small drop of crimson between her eyes increasing as it glides down her nose.

I never imagined I’d kill someone. Hell, I never thought I’d be in a position to need to kill someone. My father, a detective for the Oklahoma City Police, raised me on his own. He made sure I knew about guns and how to properly handle them. I always carried the 9 mm he gave me on my eighteen birthday for protection. Never had I dreamt I would fire it at another human being.

The day I shot Nikki, Dillion’s fiancé, Sara, was kidnapped. To help my cousin burn off some stress, we went on a run with Boomer, Sara’s rottweiler. A few blocks from the house, Boomer broke his leash and ran off. We chased him to an old, abandoned house and found him feverously barking and clawing at a small basement window.

By her dog’s strong reaction, we knew Sara had to be in the house. Dillion sprawled out on the ground to see what or who Boomer was after, while I called my father to tell him what was going on. Through the whole call, I had a sickening feeling in the pit of my stomach, and I voiced my fears to my father on the phone, telling him to hurry.

Boomer released a painful yelp that sounded like a scream, and I spun around just as the bat crashed down on Dillion’s forearm, snapping the bone as if it were nothing. Nikki lifted the bat over her head, readying herself for another blow at Dillion.

My training kicked in.

I pulled out my 9 mm and squeezed the trigger, killing Nikki.

Since then, my family has been very supportive. When asked how I’m doing, I’ve learned to smile and say, ‘I’m fine.’

I’d really like to tell them the truth. I’m not fine. I see dead people, like the kid in the movie from the nineties.

Chapter 1

STEPHANIE

Dillion and Sara are celebrating their bachelor and bachelorette parties together. We meet at their house, so we can head to the club together. Everyone is decked out in amazing costumes. Tony is a pimp, wearing a purple fur coat with a zebra-striped hat. Sam is dressed as his ho, wearing torn fishnet pantyhose, four-inch red heels, and a mini dress with zebra stripes. I didn’t expect anything less from those two. Sara, however, I’m surprised by.

My mouth flies open when I see Sara’s costume. She’s normally a T-shirt, jeans, and boots kind of girl, but tonight she walks in wearing a cheetah print miniskirt and halter top. She is Jane and Dillion’s Tarzan.

Close your mouth, Stephanie. I told Dillion it was too much. It’s too much, isn’t it? Sara says, her cheeks turning red as she does a little spin.

Baby, you look sexy as hell, Dillion answers before I can reply.

Sara, he’s right. Girl, why do you hide a figure like that behind jeans and T-shirts? Watching Sara blush is sweet, considering everything she has been through.

Dillion laughs. Stephanie, where’s your costume? You’re wearing the same thing you wear every day.

I glance down and shrug my shoulders. I am wearing what I do on most days: black leather chaps, bootie shorts, black lace vest, and my combat boots. I pick up my black leather jacket from the couch and put it on.

You want to see my costume, do you? I turn around and show them the back of my jacket. It’s bedazzled, and there’s a white unicorn with a rainbow mane. The front of my jacket has my trademark patch of a white flag waving in the wind with the word ‘freak’ across it.

Everyone bursts out laughing.

That’s epic, Stephanie! Sara adds.

Waiting outside for us is a sleek black limo. Everyone climbs into the car, and I realize I’m the fifth wheel of the group again. My loneliness weighs on my heart as I look at the two happy couples with me. It’s hard to believe it’s been two years since I’ve been in a relationship.

Tony and Sam kiss, while Dillion and Sara whisper to each other. I pour myself a shot of whatever brown liquid is closest to me. I take a drink, allowing the smooth tequila to make its way down my throat. With each swallow, the stress of the last few months lessens.

Stephanie, we are glad you decided to ride with us tonight. By the look on your face, you are starting to rethink the idea, Sara tells me.

Sara snickers when we both look at Sam, who has made her way onto Tony’s lap. You are more of a sister than a cousin to Dillion. I’m hoping you and I can someday be close, Sara says.

I’m not really used to having female friends. They don’t like my attitude or my honesty, but I would like for us to be friends. My thoughts go back to all the women in the past that said they wanted to be my friends. They only wanted to get close to Dillion, Tony, and Chase.

Your honesty is refreshing to me. Besides, the two of us against Dillion...he’ll never win. Sara winks.

Torturing Dillion as a pair will be twice the fun, I agree.

Dillion grabs his heart as if he is wounded by my statement. The rest of the ride goes smoothly. Every time Nikki pops into my thoughts, I chase her away with another shot of whiskey.

The limo pulls up to the club. The line of people waiting to get inside disappears around the corner of the building. We exit the car and walk to the door. Some of the people in line complain as we enter ahead of them. I laugh and give the doorman a quick kiss on the cheek as we enter.

Walking into the club, I’m amazed. Gary, the owner, has gone completely over the top with the decorations. The waitresses are zombie pin-ups, the bouncers are Frankensteins, and the bartenders are vampires.

Tonight’s band is a secret. Gary has been advertising it as an award-winning singer. He hasn’t told a sole, including me.

The hostess leads our party upstairs to the VIP area, where we can see everything but are far enough away from the noise to still be able to communicate with each other. I glance at the two smiling couples; they are all totally obsessed with their partners. I know, in my heart, I will never again have what they have. I paste a smile on my face to disguise the heartbreaking loneliness that fills me.

Picking up a beer from the bucket on the table, I raise it in the air. To Dillion and Sara, may your life together be filled with love and happiness! I am just about to take a sip of my beer when the hairs on my neck begin to tingle.

A warm breath hits my skin. Hi, Red.

My nipples are instantly rock hard, standing at full attention. Goosebumps run down my skin, causing me to shiver. My breath hitches as my chest tightens. I never thought I’d hear his voice again. It can’t be him.

Please don’t be him.

Please, dear God, let it be him.

I’ve never wanted it to be someone as bad as I want it to be him. Dillion would’ve told me if he was back, wouldn’t he?

Stephanie, please look at me. His deep, raspy voice always makes me weak in the knees.

I turn slowly, praying it’s not him.

I gasp.