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  CRUEL BOUNDARIES

  Michelle Horst

  CRUEL BOUNDARIES

  A Follow-up Novel to Dark Boundaries

  Copyright © 2015 Michelle Horst

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, including electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be re-sold or given away to other people.

  As an author I love what I write and I wrote it for you. If you want to use any part of the book and you are not sure just email me @ [email protected]. Or you can find me on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MichelleAnnHorst I’m one of the friendly ones. Quote it if you want, please tell your friends about it, create super-hot trailers and teasers. And please leave those awesome reviews!

  Michelle Horst (2015-02-12).

  CRUEL BOUNDARIES a Stand Alone Novel

  Kindle & Paperback Edition.

  Also by Michelle Horst

  THE TAINTED INK SERIES

  Wake Me up – A Tainted Ink Novel

  http://www. amazon. com/Wake-Me-Tainted-Ink-Book-ebook/dp/B00GDOP3NQ/ref=asap_bc? ie=UTF8

  CHLOE – A Tainted Ink Novella

  http://www.amazon.com/Chloe-Tainted-Ink-Novella-Book-ebook/dp/B00O6Z4QAK/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

  ZAC – A Tainted Ink Novel

  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21947983-zac

  VAALBARA SERIES

  Visions and Shadows

  http://www. amazon. com/Vaalbara-Visions-Shadows-Michelle-Horst-ebook/dp/B00KOZYQ56/ref=asap_bc? ie=UTF8

  The Land of Shadows

  Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Vaalbara-Land-Shadows-Michelle-Horst-ebook/dp/B00UIBMKYU/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

  A Light in the Shadows – Coming End 2015

  Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25015322-vaalbara-a-light-in-the-shadows

  THE DISSOLUTE TRILOGY

  Insensate

  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25604988-insensate

  Ruth (an Insensate Novella)

  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25765810-ruth

  Sentient and Cerebral (Book 2 & 3) coming early 2016

  DARK BOUNDARIES

  Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Dark-Boundaries-Michelle-Horst-ebook/dp/B00TFY1ZWE/ref=la_B007BBSJR2_1_8?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1423598410&sr=1-8

  He stole me.

  He broke me.

  I'm being auctioned for Fifty thousand dollars.

  Now, I don't belong to anyone but strangely enough I wanted to belong to him.

  It's his eyes . . . I lost myself in them

  CRUEL BOUNDARIES – coming end 2015

  Goodreads - https://www. goodreads. com/book/show/24490654-dark-boundaries

  He’s my cousin and I love to hate him.

  He bullies me.

  He tries to break me every chance he gets

  I remind him constantly that he’s adopted. It’s the only weapon I have against him.

  Footprints In The Sand

  (A Stand Alone Novel)

  http://www.amazon.com/Footprints-Sand-Michelle-Horst-ebook/dp/B00YLJ5R4A/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1433101882&sr=1-1&keywords=footprints+in+the+sand+michelle+horst

  He is all I think and dream about.

  My teenage heart beats only for him.

  Until he becomes part of my worst nightmare...

  Now, I avoid him.

  I ban every thought of him.

  Dedication

  This one goes out to Kristine.

  You’re my Sunshine that brightens my life.

  Love you bunches <2

  Authors Note:

  This book contains graphic scenes of sex, violence and strong language. I can’t stress that enough.

  If you are agreeable with these terms then I hope you enjoy the book. Some scenes may be disturbing to some readers, they are intended to be disturbing so that you will understand the main character’s hurt, her suffering and anguish, but also how she chose to overcome her difficulties.

  This book is intended for mature, adult readers who are 17 and older.

  Happy Reading ;)

  Acknowledgements

  I want to thank God for being there every step of the way and blessing me with such an amazing life.

  Thank you to Ronald and Sheldon, my lovely family, for being so patient with me.

  Kristine, my twinsie and super-amazing PA, I’d be lost without.

  My Beta readers #Twisted Sisters Kelly, Gemma, Amo and Madiha, - I live you all.

  To my Muses – love you all madly. Thank you for your endless support.

  To Karen’s Fairies (especially Nat, Sharon and Morgan) I take the dare of mentioning 'moist ambrosia' in the book.

  And most important – the readers, reviewers and bloggers – thank you for each of you. You make writing worthwhile.

  Thank you to each blog that took the time to take part in the cover reveal and release day blitz.

  Love ya all tons ;)

  ~*~

  Prologue

  Noah~

  (Age thirteen…)

  I hate babysitting her! She’s only nine and she’s a girl. I don’t play with girls! I’d rather spend the day outside with my friends. But … nooo! I have to look after the spoiled princess. I like my uncle Garrett and aunt Kris, but I hate all the attention Amy gets. I don’t understand why they make such a fuss about her.

  “Noah!” Mom calls from downstairs. Geez, they must be here already. My shoulders slump but I carry on playing my game. “Noah Macht, get your butt down here. You don’t want to make me come up there!”

  I throw the remote hard on the floor and drag my feet all the way down the stairs. I might have to babysit the brat, but I don’t have to like it.

  “Hi, Noah.” Amy says in a pitchy voice. She sounds like a mouse. I hate mice. I’d squash a mouse if I ever had to see one.

  “Noah,” Mom scolds me, “don’t be rude.” She nudges me towards Amy. “Greet your cousin then go greet your aunty Kris and uncle Garrett, they’re out back with your dad.” I shoulder bump Amy, instead of hugging her. It’s gross to hug girls. This is how I say hello to my friends every day. It’s cool. “So help me, Noah Macht! You’re testing my patience. That’s not how you greet family!”

  “It’s okay,” Amy squeaks. “He’s not really your son or family, so he doesn’t have to hug me.”

  That was such a nasty thing to say! I tighten my fists in anger. I want to punch her.

  “Amy!” Mom gasps. “Where did you hear that?”

  “It’s true, aunty Riza! I heard mommy and daddy talk about it this morning.” Amy looks at me and all I want to do is hit her. I want to hurt her as much as she’s hurt me. “You can still pretend to be my cousin, I don’t mind.”

  “I hate you,” I spit at her. “I hate everyone!” I run up to my room. I kick my PlayStation but it doesn’t make me feel any better. I sit down on my bed, feeling the hurt grow in my chest. Why would Amy be so nasty to me? We might not like each other, but to say my mom and dad aren’t mine is … it’s just cruel.

  Mom comes into my room and kneels in front of me. She places her hand on my knee. “Noah, you know I love you with all my heart, more than there are toys in the world.”

  “Why would she be so ugly to me?” I say with a scowl on my face.

  “Just because mommy and daddy adopted you, it doesn’t mean you’re not
our son. Amy doesn’t understand that yet. She doesn’t understand that out of all the children in the world we only wanted you. There is no one we love more in this whole wide world.”

  Mom sits with me for a while, hugging me. I love Mom’s hugs, they’re warm and she always smells nice. She pulls away and ruffles my hair. I hate when she does that. “Come on down and greet your aunty and uncle.”

  “Oookaayyy.” I’d rather stay in my room and play with my toys, but I follow Mom downstairs. When I see Amy sitting on Dad’s lap, I want to tell her to get off. He’s my dad! She has her own dad to sit on.

  “There you are,” uncle Garrett holds out his hand to me. “You have to learn to shake hands like a man.” I put my hand in his. It feels stupid. “Squeeze, Buddy.” I squeeze and then let go.

  Aunty Kris hugs me and then kisses my cheek. I pretend to wipe it off. I’ll never tell anyone I like her hugs and kisses.

  Amy is still on Dad’s lap and I don’t want to look at her any more. I go back inside and see her favorite doll lying on the couch. I grab it and run to the kitchen. I find a knife in the top drawer and sneak out the back door. When I stab the knife into her doll, I start to feel better. I keep stabbing at the stupid doll until all the stuffing is peeling out of its belly. I don’t want to be caught with the doll so I bury it out back and quickly wash the knife and my hands.

  I smile, knowing how Amy will cry for her doll. If she wants to take my mom and dad, I’ll take her doll. I’ll take everything she loves. I’ll make her pay for being so nasty to me.

  ~*~

  Chapter One

  Amy~

  (Ten years later …)

  “I’m coming!” I yell and then bring the phone back to my ear. “I have to go. My mom’s about to come up here and drag my ass down.”

  “Phone me later?” Sharon says. She’s my best friend. Some people think we’re sisters because we both have blonde hair. But if you look closely you’ll notice that she has blue eyes, where mine are grey, just like Mom’s.

  “Sure, babe. Talk to you later.” I throw the phone on my bed and go to check my appearance in the mirror. We’re having a family lunch for Easter.

  I’ve been lucky the past year. Noah has been too busy to come home for family gatherings. He always bullies me, every chance he gets. I don’t understand why he hates me so much. I’ve tried to be friends but he’s made it clear that he hates me. So when he doesn’t come home for family gatherings I’m relieved. I don’t have to deal with him.

  “Amy!” Momma calls again. Damn, she can be persistent!

  “I said I’m coming!” I yell back. I sit on the bed so I can put on my sandals. The door to my room swings wide open. “Mo-” My eyes widen as Noah walks in. He shuts the door behind him and leans back against it.

  I haven’t seen him in so long, he has changed a lot. His black hair is longer than when I last saw him, curling over his ears and into his neck. He used to keep it short. His green eyes still hold only hatred as he stares me down. He’s taller, and his muscles are much more defined. If I didn’t hate him so much I’d admit how hot he looks. But I hate him so he looks like shit in my books. I’d rather die than admit he’s attractive.

  “What? No big hello for your cousin?” he sneers.

  I get up and realize just how tall he’s gotten. I barely reach his shoulder. I scowl darkly at him. “I would if you were actually my cousin,” I taunt him. I know it’s wrong but I need to hurt him the way he hurts me, and that’s the only ammo I have. “No use in pretending you’re actually family.”

  He walks over to my dresser and picks up my lipstick. He uncaps it and writes ‘fuck you’ in large red letters on my mirror.

  “In your dreams,” I snap back.

  “Oh, Princess, you’re so funny” he laughs. “I heard you’re joining me soon. Careful what you say because it’s all going to bite you in the ass. It’s going to be just you and me in that big ole’ apartment. Lots of things go bump in the night.”

  “If you touch me I’ll tell Daddy.” I sound like a fucking five year old!

  “No, you won’t,” he hisses. He moves fast and yanks me closer by my shoulders. His fingers dig hard into my skin. “You won’t, because by you telling anyone, it will just go to prove that you can’t fight your own battles.”

  “Fuck you, Noah!” I spit at him. I yank free from his hold, seething with anger.

  He leans closer, his lips lifting in the corner. “In your dreams, Princess.”

  ~*~

  Chapter Two

  Amy~

  I watch as Noah snags the last of the apple pie, and I glare at him. Everyone knows I love Mom’s apple pie. He’s just being a dick.

  “Amy, are you listening?” Dad says.

  I quickly wipe the scowl from my face before smiling sweetly at Dad. “Sorry, Daddy, I got lost in food heaven for a minute.” I make sure to give Mom a sweet smile, too, before flashing a glare at Noah.

  “I’m asking if you’re ready for your big move?”

  Oh great…yay…not! I’m so not ready to share an apartment with Noah. Before I can try to formulate a polite way to tell Daddy that I want my own place, Noah says, “I’m so excited to have Amy with me. I won’t get as homesick then.” He smiles brightly at me but I can see the challenge in his eyes.

  I plaster a smile to my face and take hold of Dad’s hand. “Daddy, don’t you think it would be better if I stayed in your apartment? I really don’t want to intrude on Noah. He’s still new at his job and I’m sure he has a social life of his own … and I just don’t want to intrude on that. I’ll be fine in your apartment. It’s not that much farther from NYC.” I use my puppy eyes to try and sway Dad some more.

  He laughs and then shakes his head and it makes all my hope fade away. “It’s not that I don’t trust you, Angel,” Dad says with a more sober look, “I don’t trust the people out there with my only daughter. Noah will make sure you’re safe.”

  I want to scream and cry. I want to tell them how wrong they are about Noah, and that he’s the one I need protection from, but instead I nod. “Yes, Daddy.”

  ~*~

  Chapter Three

  Noah~

  I watch as Amy drags her luggage up the stairs. I should help her, that bag is bigger than she is, but that would mean I’d have to be kind to her. I can’t have her thinking I’m going soft on her.

  I lean against the wall by the front door and cross my arms. I make sure my face shows nothing of what I’m feeling when she finally reaches the top of the stairs.

  She stops for a minute and then gathers her long blonde hair, and lifts it away from her neck. She looks all flustered from struggling with her luggage and the late afternoon heat. She has this whole hippie-bohemian style going and it actually suits her. I love how it makes her look more fragile than I know she is, but I’ll never tell her.

  She finally notices me, and I see the shock in her eyes and then they drop to my chest. Her cheeks flush a glowing red before she scowls at me. “Don’t you own a shirt?” she snaps and then yanks hard on her luggage.

  “Just because you have the hots for me, you don’t need to take your sexual frustration out on the poor bag,” I taunt her and my words hit just the right spot.

  She swings back to me. “You … you,” she’s so flustered she can’t even get the words out and it makes me laugh. “You’re an asshole,” she nods, as if she’s finally made up her mind about me. “Yeah, definitely the world’s biggest asshole.”

  She swings back and misjudges her step, kicking the bag and we both watch it tumble down the stairs. It busts open on the way down and clothes fly all over the place.

  “No!” Amy groans and then starts down the stairs.

  I can’t watch her struggle all the way up again and with a sigh I follow her down. I pick up clothes on my way down. I crouch by the bag and turn it the right way up before shoving the clothes in. I reach for the clothes around me, just shoving them into the bag.

  When I grab another piece o
f clothing, Amy shrieks like a fucking banshee. “Don’t touch that!” I look down at the item I’m holding and then grin. It’s a pale pink lace bra.

  Oh, this is going to be fun.

  I hold it up and pretend to inspect it some more. Amy drops the clothes in her arms and lunges at me. She grabs the bra from my hand, and crumples it into a small ball before shoving it into the bag.

  “Never took you for the delicate lace type,” I say as I reach for the matching panty. I hold it between us and again she snatches it from me.

  “Don’t touch my stuff!” She blows some hair out of her face, but doesn’t look at me.

  “You look like a whip and cuffs type of girl, you know the kind that likes it rough.” I watch her body go still, and when she looks at me her face has lost all its color. Maybe that was taking it a bit far. It’s on the tip of my tongue to apologize when that familiar dark scowl comes over her face.

  “Don’t project your perverted desires onto me, Noah. Just because you like to fuck whores and beat the shit out of them, it doesn’t mean the rest of the world is into that. Please, keep your kinky shit to yourself. I’m about to lose my lunch here.”

  She grabs the bag and starts to drag it up the stairs again. I know what I said is wrong but she just took this fight to a whole ‘nother level. Constantly throwing it in my face that I’m adopted is one thing, I’ve learned to handle it. But saying that I like to beat women is just the ultimate low blow.

  I shove by her on my way up and the bag goes tumbling down the stairs again. “Noah!” she shrieks, but I keep going. She can pick up her own shit.