Free Deception (Dirty Secrets #2) by Mercy Amare

Wednesday, August 27
    Twin code.

    My hands are shaking as I make my way home from the library.
    Daisy’s disappearance isn’t just her spending the night at some random guy’s house. She’s really missing. Somebody took her. Or killed her. My stomach contracts at the thought, and I pull my car over to the side of the road. I heave and I lose everything in my stomach. I clutch it with shaky hands and try to calm myself down.
    What should I do? If I tell the police, something bad could happen to Daisy and Cassidy… But what if I don’t tell the police and something bad still happens? It’s an impossible situation.
    I get back in my car and head toward my house.
    My head is pounding, and I feel confused. How can I choose? Both choices suck.
    When I pull up to my house, my phone vibrates with a text. I turn my car off and pull my phone out of my pocket.

    Cassidy Armstrong: Remember, you promised.

    I stare at the text until my screen goes black.
    Stupid, stupid promise. I shouldn’t have promised anything. How can I not tell the police this? This is so wrong.

    Me: You have until Saturday afternoon. Then we do it my way and tell the police.

    Cassidy Armstrong: Thank you, Mads.

    Part of me is mad at her for putting me in this position, but the other part of me understands why she did it. She can’t handle this on her own. It’s not fair for her to have to. I still don’t like it.
    I get out of the car. When I do, I see Jace walking toward me.
    “Where have you been?” he asks.
    “I, ugh…” There is a sharp pain in my stomach, and my vision clouds.
    Wait, what did he ask?
    “Are you feeling okay?”
    I nod, then shake my head. I bend over and start dry heaving on the grass. I feel Jace’s hands in my hair, and he holds it back for me. When I’m done, I look up at him, feeling mortified.
    “I’m sorry,” I tell him.
    He puts his arm around my waist and I lean over on him. He helps me walk toward the house. When we get to the stairs, he picks me up and carries me to my room. I’ve imagined this happening quite a few times, but the scenario was always different.
    Jace lays me down on my bed and sits down beside me.
    “How are you feeling?” he asks, feeling my forehead.
    “I’m fine,” I answer, scooting backward on my bed. I sit up and lean against the headboard.
    “You don’t seem fine,” he says.
    “I am. I probably just ate something bad.”
    He seems to accept my answer, and he walks around my room. “It looks a lot different than last time I was in here.”
    “You haven’t been in my room since we were ten.”
    “It’s very orange,” he says, then smiles. “I guess I should have known it would be.”
    “It’s my favorite color.”
    “I know.” He comes over to the bed and sits beside me. “I’ve known you for thirteen years. I pretty much know everything about you. There are no secrets.”
    That’s not true. There is stuff that Jace doesn’t know about me. Things I’ve done… secrets I know… stuff I would never want him to find out. Ever. Starting with the secret that Cassidy just told me and the fact that I’m the kind of person who would keep that big of a secret.
    “I like that I know everything about you,” he says, winking at me. “Someday, when we get married, I will already know everything there is to know.”
    My heart races at his words, but I force my face not to react. “Madeline Hope William. I like it. But you know, when we’re married you will be forced to have sex with me.”
    “There will be no force involved.” He turns to me and grins big. “Unless you’re kinky and like being tied up. I had a feeling that you were a deviant.”
    I smack Jace’s arm playfully. “Well, I don’t know if I am or not.”
    “I’m happy to offer up my services,” he says, then frowns. “So, you were going to tell me who you wrote the song about.”
    “I already told you, I’m not going to tell you. You have to guess.”
    “Luke Brentwood?”
    I shake my head