Free Secrets & Surrender 2 by L.G. Castillo Page B

intensity of the pain as each word slammed into my chest.
    “I want you to stay away from Dominic. Break up with him.”
    “I can’t. He won’t let me. You know he won’t let me. I’ve already tried before.”
    “He will if you convince him that you don’t love him.”
    Tears stung my eyes. “That’ll kill him.”
    She let out a breath. “Yes, he’ll be hurt for a while. But Kristie will be by his side to help him. She’s such a sweet girl and from a fine family. She’s much more suitable for Nic. Things like broken car windows didn’t magically happen when Kristie was with him.”
    “Nic’s not in love with Kristie.”
    She waved a hand dismissing me. “That will come in time.”
    “No, I can’t.” I stood up and headed to the door. “I can’t hurt Nic like that.”
    “You already have.”
    I clenched the doorknob, the truth piercing my chest. She couldn’t know. It wasn’t possible.
    With my back still to her, my words come out slowly. “What are you talking about?”
    “I’m talking about you being in love with someone else. I believe his name is Julian Fuentes.”
    My heart leaped into my throat. Guardedly, I turned, preparing to deny everything.
    She took one look at my face and her lips curled into a wicked smile. “Then it is true.”
    “I-I-I...”
    “Don’t try to explain yourself. It doesn’t matter to me. I don’t care who you lust for as long as you stay away from my son. His father has been approached by a number of highly influential politicians. There’s talk about putting him in the running for the next gubernatorial campaign. And I will not have you bringing scandal to our family.”
    I blinked, only half hearing what she was telling me. How did she know about Julian? Did Nic tell her?
    “Really, it’s the best for everyone. You must admit, in your heart, you knew it would never work out. So you’ll think about breaking up with Dominic?”
    It was too much. I couldn’t take this anymore. It seemed like the entire world was against us. It would never stop unless I put an end to it.
    I nodded numbly. “Just tell me one thing.”
    She arched a delicate eyebrow.
    “Please, just tell me who told you about Julian?”
    She gave me a slow, evil smile, sending shivers down my spine.
    “Why Kristie, of course.”

TEN: Mandi
    K ristie Stanton was a dead woman.
    I flung open the auditorium door. The place was filled with students running around, excitedly anticipating tomorrow’s performance. I marched up the aisle, scanning the place for Kristie. I couldn’t believe I’d fallen for that clueless, airhead preppie girl persona she put on. It was all an act from day one. And she had Mrs. Marcelli’s blessing.
    Ugh! I couldn’t believe I’d actually been her friend. I’d spent all that time teaching her the steps to my dance number with Julian too. Yep, she was stealing all my moves. I bet that’s what she had been planning to do with Nic if I hadn’t shown up that night—seduce him by rolling her hips and dancing provocatively they way he liked so much.
    “Hey! Watch it!” A girl dressed in a brightly colored costume bumped into me. It was Carla, one of the members of the Ballet Folklorico dance troupe.
    “Sorry. I’m running late,” she said breathlessly, pointing to the dancers on stage.
    I loved watching the troupe during rehearsals. The girls wore colorful ruffled skirts, and matching hair ribbons were woven into their hair and then it was put up in a bun. Because each girl wore a unique color, the stage looked like a rainbow. My favorite part was when they twirled around, creating waves with their skirts. It was so beautiful.
    Too bad that I wouldn’t be able to enjoy watching them today.
    “Mandi, you’re here.” Julian walked up the aisle with Chela behind him. “The AV crew needs us to run through some steps so that they can get the lighting right.”
    “Here.” I slapped my earrings onto the palm of his hand.
    “What’s this?”
    “Earrings,