Jared
They say love and hate dance together on one line.
My feelings for Layla don’t dance on the line; they destroy it.
It’s been seven years since she disappeared.
And now she’s back, but things have changed—I’ve changed.
I’m no longer the Jared she remembers, the boy who wanted to protect her.
I’m very much my father’s son, and I take what I want, and what I want is Layla.
But this time, I’m keeping her forever.
Layla
Seven years—that’s how long it’s been since I’ve seen him.
After painstakingly putting myself back together, I’m finally ready to start a life without his memory chasing my every step.
Imagine my surprise when my new beginning leads me straight back to him.
Only he’s not the boy I remember.
He’s angry.
Damaged.
Hiding secrets that want to destroy him.
He hates me. He wants me.
I’m not sure I’ll survive the man he has become. His demons threaten to destroy us both.
Broken People Duet: Deceive Me is created by Vi Carter, an eGlobal Creative Publishing signed author.

Broken People Duet (1): Deceive Me

Eight o’clock arrives, and the doorbell rings. My hand flutters to my white sleeveless shirt before grazing my knees. The rough material of the denim shorts scrapes the tips of my fingers. The see-through shirt material is light, and the cami underneath doesn’t stop the cold air from touching my skin. Despite that, my temperature rises dramatically as the doorbell rings for the second time. My white tennis shoes sound loud as I walk down the hall. Taking one last look at myself in the hall mirror, I brush my hair back over my shoulder. My minimal makeup will work to my advantage as the night wears on, but seeing myself, I feel maybe I’ve made a mistake and should have applied a bit more.


The girl who stares back at me has large blue eyes that look wide with fear. Pulling my bottom lip between my teeth, I look away. It doesn’t matter how I look; Jared is my friend—I grew up with him—and I need to remember that.


Chapter 40: Layla