Fall (Fate Series Book 2) Read online

  Fall

  A Fate Series Novel

  Paige Hill

  FALL

  Copyright 2019 © Paige Hill

  The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is a crime punishable by law. No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded to, or downloaded from file sharing sites or distributed in any other way via the internet or any other means, electronic or print, without the publisher’s permission. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

  All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in, or introduced into a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without the prior permission of Paige Hill.

  Editor: Kamaryn Kretz Kamaryn with a K Editing

  https://www.facebook.com/KamarynwithaK/

  Content Editor: Trenda “T-Bird” London from It’s Your Story Content Editing

  http://itsyourstorycontentediting.com/

  Cover Photo: Deposit Photos

  Cover Design & Formatting by: Dark Water Covers

  Blurb

  Celeste-

  Love? Been there, done that, spent the night in jail. So yeah, love can bite me.

  I fell, but I picked myself up and moved on. Now, I’m exactly where I want to be—living a perfectly, uncomplicated life… until my little brother gets mixed up with the cartel and I'm forced to do the unimaginable to protect my family.

  I’m about to sell my soul and Aiden Briggs, the callous, hot as hell DEA agent, might be the only man willing to take down the devil.

  Aiden-

  Life and heartbreak taught me women are just as deadly as they are beautiful. I never lie to get what I want, and no woman warms my bed more than once.

  So, when I find myself wrapped up in the hot mess known as Celeste Martinez, I keep my emotions locked down like Fort Knox. Or so I thought.

  She has this innate ability to get under my skin, igniting something I wasn’t sure existed.

  Taking down the cartel was part of the plan... falling for her wasn't.

  Contents

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Epilogue

  Acknowledgments

  Contact Paige

  About the Author

  Also by Paige Hill

  Prologue

  Celeste

  Four years ago…

  That mother fucker. I wobble on the barstool, gripping the counter for leverage. Staring daggers into the judgmental screen on my phone, I watch, rather impatiently, for those three little dots to dance on my screen. Something to tell me that, for just this once, Jensen is going to be here for me. Things have been different between us lately. Like having to do anything for me is a huge inconvenience.

  Why did I agree to this? I ask myself, standing on shaky legs in mile-high heels. When you’re five foot nothing, high heels are your best friend. But tonight, the vodka coursing through me is going to render my runway skills useless. Ugh, they know I’m a lightweight. I never could hold my drink. Mother Logic is telling me I need to go home, but I am in no shape to leave alone.

  “Celeste! Shots!”

  I turn to see Taylor, frantically waving tiny misleading glasses of alcohol in my direction.

  “Oh, no, no, no!” I point a finger at her face. “No more. I told you four drinks ago that I was at my limit.”

  “Honey, that was two drinks ago and who cares? You’re young, go out. Live. Be free.”

  Her eyes widen, trying to add emphasis to her statement.

  She’s not wrong. I am wearing a kickass dress and shoes that took me six months to save up for. Totally worth it. But I really don’t want to deal with the human migraine named Jensen. And when he sees I’m drunk, he will for sure have something to say about it.

  Glancing at my phone again, disappointment settles in my chest. I should know better than to get my hopes up. He rarely answers me after eleven.

  Guess I’m taking a cab.

  Taylor leans over my shoulder, intentionally invading my privacy and not feeling the slightest bit sorry.

  “Can I help you?” I ask, chuckling. That’s just how she is. Impulsive, invasive, and one of the best employees I’ve ever had. But she’s more than that. She’s the devil on my shoulder.

  “Look, he’s clearly not coming to get you. Just stay a little longer, have a few more drinks with me and we can share a cab. What do you have to lose?”

  Tomorrow’s breakfast.

  Her giant doe eyes stare at me pleadingly. Eff my life. I really am having a great night… Screw it, if I don’t have to deal with his uptight ass tonight, I’ll stay. If only to make sure she gets home safely.

  It’s scary how easy it is to lie to myself.

  Before long, the bass is thumping in my chest, my hips swing to the beat and the light sheen of sweat that glistens on my skin, is simply perfection. Bodies crowd the dance floor, shaking their asses in tune with mine. It’s like the dance floor has a pulse of its own, a separate entity from the area of the bar that houses tables and little alcoves.

  I’m absolutely wasted, and it feels fabulous.

  Taylor grabs my arm, dragging me from my beloved dance floor.

  “We need to hydrate!” she mouths, fanning her face.

  Snagging two recently vacated seats at the bar, she orders our waters as I dig my phone out and check my messages. Considering it’s well after one a.m., I’m not hopeful—but hey, someone is always on social media.

  My phone must be broken. The damn numbers on the screen won’t stop shaking. Oh, wait, I got it. Look at you go, bet you could solve The DaVinci Code faster than Tom Hanks. Geez, my inner voice is arrogant when she’s drunk. When I finally manage to get my phone unlocked, confusion pinches my eyebrows together as I skim the six unread messages.

  1:02am Jensen- Where the fuck are you?

  1:10am Jensen- Jesus, Celeste! You tell me you’re not wasted at a bar and need a ride but can’t be bothered to tell me where you are?

  1:19am Jensen- This isn’t funny. Are you pissed at me or something?

  1:22am Jensen- I’m starting to get worried! WHERE ARE YOU?

  1:30am Jensen- Never mind. Thank Taylor for posting on fucking Instagram.

  1:46am Jensen- I’m outside. Get out here, NOW.

  Crap.

  “Tater Tot, I gotta go. For some unknown reason Jensen didn’t ghost on me.” It shouldn’t be like this, but it’s become the norm. I don’t have the slightest clue where he goes or why he ignores me.

  “Okay, babe. I think I’m done too. Let me walk out with you.”

  As we exit the building, a light breeze blows over me, cooling my overheated skin. A large group of people, dressed to
kill, line up down the sidewalk. A single velvet rope holds them back, begging for entrance.

  At this point, I just would have gone home. That’s some strange dedication.

  Jensen’s flashy red Lexus idles at the curb. He is glaring at me through the rolled down window and does nothing but piss me off. I get it, I worried him. Hell, I would have been worried too. But he can’t consistently ignore me every night and expect me to jump when he whistles.

  The desire to make up for ruining his night washes over me. Reminding myself that I’m rocking the shit out of these shoes, I devise a plan guaranteed to steal the bite right out of him.

  All the false bravado makes me feel like a goddess as I glide—or more like stagger—toward the car. A mischievous smile pulls at my lips as I push out my tits and bend into the open window.

  In a voice that would probably be seductive if I weren’t slurring, I lay it on thick.

  “Thanks for coming to get me. But I don’t have any money. Perhaps we can work something out?”

  Jensen is adventurous and really likes role play, so his stern reaction confuses me.

  Am I that drunk?

  The dash lights illuminate his sharp features and his eyes turn into slits as he continues to glare at me. He shakes his head incredulously and turns his face the opposite direction as if he needs a deep breath before speaking to me. Still staring at something fascinating on the other side of the road, he snaps.

  “Just get in the car, Celeste. I don’t have the patience for this. I had plans tonight, and you successfully ruined them.”

  My drunken brain struggles to keep up as I process his words. He’s pissing me off, but I need to look at this from his point of view. I didn’t ask him for a ride before I got wasted. It wasn’t fair for me to expect him to run to my rescue.

  He has been increasingly short tempered over the last few months. I don’t understand what changed between us, but he’s been very callous. My eyes fall to the passenger seat as I try to formulate a response. His perfectly pressed suit jacket is draped over the seat and the longer I stare, the more suspicious I become. He told me he was going to bed because he had to meet clients for an early morning meeting. It’s almost two a.m., why is he still in a suit? I drag my eyes up the length of his body, taking in the noticeably unwrinkled pants and his white button-down shirt. He’s rolled the sleeves to his elbows and the neck is open, his tie decidedly missing.

  The moment I see it, my world falls apart. I thought he was happy with me. I thought he loved me, but this just set our happily ever after up in flames.

  Still standing on the outside of the car, I open the door just enough for the interior lights to spotlight his betrayal.

  Light pink lipstick peppers the fair skin at his collar. The shade far too light for my complexion. Hurt burns a hole through my heart and straight to my soul.

  Taking a step back, I slam the door shut, forcing myself to keep the tears at bay. He isn’t worthy of my tears. I’ve had my doubts—sure. But this takes the cake and I’ll be damned if his infidelity doesn’t sting. My thoughts race and my anger spikes as self-doubt fills me to the brim. The Jensen I fell in love with would never make me doubt myself.

  I deserve to be treated with more respect.

  Eyeing him with barely restrained contempt, I laugh maniacally. It’s the only way I can force the betrayal from swallowing me whole.

  “Pink doesn’t look good on you, Jensen. It’s too bubble gum.” The words leave a bad taste in my mouth.

  “Is everything okay over here?” I vaguely hear Taylor ask from somewhere behind me.

  “This doesn’t concern you, Taylor. Go back inside and find your latest victim,” he snaps, his eyes on me.

  “Don’t you dare speak to her like that, you piece of shit!” I scream, thrusting my finger into the car. I’ve never spoken to him like this, and the sudden need to protect her from him sparks a fury in me.

  “Piece of shit? Seriously, Celeste? I should dump your ass back in the ghetto I pulled you out of.”

  I flinch as if I’d physically taken the blow. I’ve never heard the venom in his voice, and it cuts deep.

  “Fuck you.” It comes out barely above a whisper, but he knows he hurt me. He exploited the only weakness I’ve ever shown him.

  “On second thought, I’m going back to Chloe’s. Better pussy.” He turns to look out the windshield.

  My cheeks flame crimson as I open my mouth to unleash a fury unlike anything he has seen before. But he cuts me off.

  “Enjoy the walk home,” he spits, pulling away from the curb, the tires screeching.

  “You mother fucker!” I scream, knowing he can’t hear me.

  What is it about guys with money? They always think they have the right to control and manipulate everything in their lives. My breathing picks up and I try not to focus on the word home. It’s not my home, I just live there.

  My shoulders rise and fall with rage as I turn toward Taylor, my eyes begging her to call a cab. I need to get out of here before I have an audience when I lose my shit.

  “Is there a problem here?” A stern male voice interrupts.

  I involuntarily growl deep in my chest. Lord have mercy on the next person in my way. Turning, I teeter on my heels, righting myself as I zero in on the shiny badge at eye level. A scrawny cop dressed in a god-awful shade of brown, looks at me smugly.

  “No,” I grit between clinched teeth. I’m trying to play nice, something I’m not very good at. But, I’m technically drunk in public and I can’t afford bail money.

  Deciding its best to just exit this situation, I put one foot in front of the other, hell bent on getting out of here.

  “Stop right there,” he demands.

  Pissed off and robbed of all logical thought, I ignore him and continue down an alley. I’ve done nothing wrong, but I really have no idea where the hell I’m going.

  Taylor falls in line beside me, weariness written all over her beautiful porcelain skin.

  Shit. I walked right into a dead end. The chain link fence that separates the alley mocks me. This is not my night. I should have just stayed home with a gallon of ice cream and a romantic comedy.

  “I told you to stop!” the officer shouts, catching up to me.

  Throwing my head back, I curse the entire Grey Goose corporation.

  “The only thing I’ve done wrong is put too much faith in people,” I seethe.

  Closing the distance between us, he utters, “You’re under arrest for solicitation. You have the right to remain sil—”

  “You think I’m a fucking hooker! Perfect. Just fucking perfect.” I throw my arms in the air dramatically as unbridled rage bubbles to the surface.

  My face pales as his words sink in. This has to be a joke. My eyes bounce back and forth as I desperately offer my expansive shoe collection to fashion gods, in exchange for Ashton to pop out of the bushes telling me I’ve been punked. But no. He produces a pair of handcuffs, the action enough to snap me back into sobriety. That’s what I’m choosing to believe, anyway. Ignorance is bliss. Or so they say.

  “You cannot be serious!” Taylor shouts, incredulously.

  “Ma’am, I suggest you step away before I arrest you too.”

  “I am not a prostitute!” I shout.

  “Tell it to the judge,” he says, advancing on me.

  My brain is buzzing, the alcohol making it difficult to think. The officer invades my personal space, thrusting me forcefully against the fence. He squeezes my arm tightly, trying to force me to turn. Pulling away from him, the rough metal scratches my back and it takes me a second to gather my balance.

  “Get your hands off me!”

  “Whores like you enjoy this shit,” he spits, like I’m the scum of the earth, as he fumbles with the handcuffs.

  Sane thought boards the first plane out of my mind, only to be replaced with disgust for the entire male species.

  Drawing my knee as far back as I can, I thrust it forward, nailing him right in his Florida s
un dried tomatoes.

  “Dip your dick in a donut and fuck off,” I spit, shoving him back before grabbing Taylor’s arm. We need to get out of here before he regains the ability to walk. But as always, fate is never on my side.

  Two black and white police cars swarm the area. Tires screech and red and blue lights dance off every building, making the whole scene feel like a terrible nightmare.

  I am truly and rightfully fucked.

  How am I going to explain this to mamá?

  Chapter One

  Celeste

  Present day…

  “What the hell is wrong with you?” I ask as my palm delivers a satisfying smack to the back of his head.

  “Ow! Was that really necessary?” he snaps.

  He is some kind of stupid.

  “Look at me.” He waves a tan hand in the direction of his bruised and busted body. “Do you think that’s helping?”

  “Well, clearly the first beating knocked something loose in your dumbass brain. I figured I had a fifty-fifty chance of knocking it back into place. If not, I thought you could use the reminder.” I narrow my eyes, staring daggers at him.

  Identical eyes stare back at me, their intensity matching my own. We continue to glare at each other until he relents. He always caves first.

  His expression softens and the desire for acceptance has me lowering my voice.