The Dark Side of Innocence
Started: 11/6/2020
Completed: 12/26/2020
"I hope you remember what I said, Atlas," he said. He went back to his firm tone of voice now that we were alone.
He glanced up at me as he packed three pairs of jeans into the bag. I was too busy trying to figure out how the hell I had three brothers who suddenly wanted custody of me after all these years of me being in foster care that I didn't even remember what Mr. Harris had told me last night, but it clicked. He had told me those things because he knew that I was leaving him today.
"You will never be loved by them if they find out what you are, what you've done. And if they do find out, I'm sure they'll send you right back here to me where you belong," he said calmly as he placed the rest of my turtlenecks next to the jeans and lastly put in a coat.
He zipped the bag that he had apparently finished packing for me and I looked around the room.
"Let's go," he said firmly holding the bag in his hand as he walked out of my room.
I didn't know if I should be happy or scared to be leaving Mr. Harris. I never imagined that I would be leaving him. Ever. He had told me last year on my birthday that he was going to marry me when I turned 18 and aged out of the system.
***
For Atlas Bishop, moving in with three older brothers she never knew she had meant a chance at freedom she believed she didn't deserve. But there's no rest for the wicked. Every decision she must make in her new life will hide the fact that she was harboring the devil inside, deceiving everyone around her so she doesn't get punished ever again.
Ace Innocenti has never been in love before, but he's certain he's in love with an innocent angel, the new girl Atlas Bishop. He's determined to keep his anger issues in check and his illegal activities at bay to keep her that way. But, innocence has a dark side that lies and cheats, and Ace learns his lesson the hard way.
