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Dedication

Dedication

To all the readers who crave dark romance and all the authors who dare to write it.

Stay kinky my friends.

-C. Hallman

Lock Me Inside

Not all is as it seems…

When my mother announces she’s been dating someone, the last person I expect it to be is James Alistair—the father of two of my biggest bullies.

Nix and Colt Alistair.

I never knew why, but they always hated me. In school, they made my life hell, and apparently, nothing has changed. Only this time, instead of cruel jokes, things get physical, and when our parents leave for their honeymoon, I find out how far Colt is willing to take this.

I thought the worst time of my life was over.

I was wrong.

FOREWORD

Dear Reader,

Please be advised that this book is considered dark fiction/dark romance. This is NOT a love story. This book deals with many hard to read subjects which could be triggering to some. If you would like to look at a list of triggers or ask about a specific one, please email us at [email protected]

Thank you for reading!

XOXO

Cassy

CHAPTER 1

I feel him before I see him. His overpowering presence that fills every room creeps up behind me. The sound of my rapid heartbeat almost drowns out his approaching footfalls.

I glance down both sides of the hallway. Empty. Fuck.

My mouth goes dry, goose bumps pebble across my skin, and the small hairs on my neck rise.

“Hey, love bug,” his deep raspy voice taunts. A moment later, he appears on my right side, leaning against the locker next to mine. “Still haven’t shed your armor, bug?” He taps his index finger against the side of my back brace.

“Leave me alone, Colt.” My feeble request is met with a dark chuckle.

“Is that really what you want? According to rumors, you have a little crush on me.”

I don’t hide the way I roll my eyes. “You know that’s not true.” It’s really not, but of course, everyone would believe it. He is popular, a star player on our football team, tall, muscular, and of course, handsome. What’s not to love? For me, it’s his nasty personality.

He takes another step closer, eating up all the space until he is so close I can smell him. His spicy aftershave tingles my nose when he leans in, and his hot breath fans over my cheek as he talks.

“I don’t know… those texts were pretty convincing.”

Before I realize what’s happening, he grabs my wrists and twists me around to face him. He turns us both so my back is against the locker, and his body cages me in.

“What are you—” The words get lodged in my throat as Colt grabs the corner of my brace and pulls the velcro off with one hard tug.