The Lies We Tell: An Enemies to Lovers College Bully Romance (The Four Book 1) Read online

  The Lies We Tell

  The Four - Book 1

  Becca Steele

  The Lies We Tell (The Four, #1)

  Copyright © 2020 by Becca Steele

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Cover design by NET Hook & Line Design

  Editing by One Love Editing

  Becca Steele

  www.authorbeccasteele.com

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s crazy imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  Playlist

  Own It - Stormzy, Burna Boy, Ed Sheeran

  Rx (Medicate) - Theory of a Deadman

  Love The Way You Lie - Eminem, Rihanna

  rockstar - Post Malone, 21 Savage

  Nightmare - Halsey

  Broken - Seether, Amy Lee

  Ocean Eyes (Blackbear Remix) - Billie Eilish, blackbear

  Bad Things - Machine Gun Kelly, Camilla Cabello

  Speeding Cars - Walking On Cars

  Goodbyes - Post Malone, Young Thug

  Without Me - Halsey

  Bad Bitch - Bebe Rexha, Ty Dolla $ign

  I Fell In Love With The Devil - Avril Lavigne

  Shadow of the Day - Linkin Park

  Fire On Fire - Sam Smith

  Wicked Games - The Weeknd

  Partition - Beyoncé

  Catch Me If You Can - Walking On Cars

  I Fall Apart - Post Malone

  Arsonist’s Lullaby - Hozier

  Avalanche - Nick Jonas, Demi Lovato

  The Dark of You - Breaking Benjamin

  Find the playlist on Spotify or YouTube

  Contents

  Author’s Note

  Prologue

  1. Winter

  2. Winter

  3. Winter

  4. Winter

  5. Winter

  6. Caiden

  7. Winter

  8. Winter

  9. Winter

  10. Winter

  11. Caiden

  12. Winter

  13. Winter

  14. Winter

  15. Winter

  16. Winter

  17. Caiden

  18. Winter

  19. Caiden

  20. Winter

  21. Winter

  22. Winter

  23. Caiden

  24. Winter

  25. Winter

  26. Winter

  27. Caiden

  28. Winter

  29. Winter

  30. Winter

  31. Winter

  That’s it…for now…

  Acknowledgments

  Also by Becca Steele

  About the Author

  Author’s Note

  This book may contain triggers for some readers.

  The author is British, and British English spellings and phrases are used throughout.

  For Jenny.

  I blame you for this.

  You may tell the greatest lies and wear a brilliant disguise, but you can't escape the eyes of the one who sees right through you.

  Tom Robbins, Villa Incognito

  PROLOGUE

  One year ago…

  At Alstone College, we were kings. Untouchable. People called us “the Four.” How fucking original. We’d had the nickname since we’d first banded together at school—me, Zayde, and Cassius, all fourteen, and my brother Weston, thirteen. Now, with all of us at university and living together, we were closer than ever. Yeah, only me and Weston were related by blood, but they were all my brothers.

  Truth was, I didn’t have time for many people, other than my boys. Women were good for one thing, and if it didn’t involve a willing pussy or having my dick sucked, I wasn’t interested. Speaking of…

  “Time’s up.” I clapped my hands, startling the two topless blondes making out in front of me. They drew apart, heavy-lidded with arousal and the effects of the alcohol and weed they’d been smoking. One of the women continued to fondle the tits of the other, moaning, but my dick didn’t even stir. This shit was getting old, fast.

  I took another drag of my blunt. “Didn’t you hear me? Out. Now.” I pointed at the door, and they got the message. Fucking finally.

  “You sending away perfectly good pussy?” Cassius wandered in, grabbing the blunt from my hand and taking a huge drag.

  “Wasn’t that good, believe me.”

  He raised a sceptical brow. “How much have you had to drink?”

  I glanced at the empty bottle of Jack, thrown next to me on the sofa. “Shit. All of it.”

  “Brewer’s droop. Too much alcohol decreases the blood flow to your dick.” Cassius nodded sagely, as if he was a fucking medical expert. “That’s why you sent them away. Couldn’t get it up.”

  “Fuck off.”

  “Nah, think I’ll stay.” He slumped down next to me, throwing his legs onto the coffee table, knocking my phone onto the floor.

  “Watch it, mate.”

  I heard the door slam as I swiped my phone from under the coffee table, as Weston and Zayde burst into the room. Something, a premonition, had me sitting bolt upright, the haze from the drugs temporarily clearing as adrenaline raced through me.

  Weston spoke two words, his voice calm and measured, but his eyes showed the underlying worry he was trying to hide.

  “Code blue.”

  Fuck.

  ONE

  “Kinslee, I need you to be my guide in everything. What or who do I need to know?” I stood, hands on hips, watching my housemate as she blew out a breath, tapping her lip in thought.

  “Nothing specific I can think of right now, but stick with me and you’ll be fine. First, and most important, as you well know, there’s a big ‘welcome back to uni’ house party tonight. That’ll be our first stop.”

  “Sounds good.” I smiled, pulling my hair out of its messy bun, letting it cascade down my back. “I can’t believe I’m really here, about to become an official student.”

  During the first year of my degree course, when I’d been a normal university student in an ordinary university, the “accident” had happened, and my entire world had been turned upside down. I’d managed to transfer to Alstone College, a specialist business school, after months of back-and-forth, endless paperwork, and assessment of my course credits to ensure I could continue my studies going into my second year, rather than starting the first year all over again. Of course, the money I’d paid hadn’t hurt. At Alstone, money talked. That, and connections. A hundred grand, my mother’s new surname dropped casually into conversation—as much as I hated to use it, and my enrolment had suddenly been confirmed. Unfortunately, that had used a huge chunk of my insurance money, so I’d need to be careful with my spending.

  After my transfer had been confirmed, I was ready. I had enough money to get by, if I was careful. I’d used some of the remaining insurance money to buy a phone, a laptop, other university essentials, and a compact car. My housing was sorted—I’d paid for the entire academic year up front. I’d scoured the online university noticeboard, and after viewing three different sets of accommodation, I’d lucked out with Kinslee Stewart. A second-year student like me, she had a two-bedro
om apartment in a block right next to the campus and had advertised for a housemate.

  As soon as I’d met her, we’d hit it off. We’d spent the past week getting to know each other, and I felt like I’d known her for years already.

  I was beyond grateful that everything had seemingly fallen into place, but, all that aside, I had to keep my end goal in mind. The only reason I was now at Alstone College, rather than my previous university, was to investigate my dad’s death. And unfortunately, that also meant reconnecting with my mother. We hadn’t spoken in person for years, but after my dad had died, my hand had been forced. I didn’t, for one minute, believe the accident report regarding his death, and there were too many coincidences surrounding my mother to ignore.

  Until I got a chance to investigate everything, I’d throw myself into university life. My dad wouldn’t have wanted anything to distract me from getting my degree. He’d been so proud when I’d been accepted to study business—he’d spent hours touring different universities with me and going through the pros and cons of different degree courses and career paths.

  Sinking down onto Kinslee’s bed, I blinked rapidly as my eyes filled with tears. Fuck. I missed him so much. Not being able to pick up the phone and call or text him…it was like a piece of me was missing. Throughout my life, he’d been my one constant. The person who’d loved me, who had been there for me unconditionally. And now he was gone.

  I willed the impending tears to go, concentrating on slowing my breathing. I couldn’t afford to fall apart, especially not in front of my new friend. I wasn’t at the point where I wanted to, or even felt able to, explain what had happened.

  With an effort, I focused my mind on the present.

  We changed for the party, Kinslee wearing black booty shorts and a tight red top that made her boobs look amazing, and as for me—I had no fucking clue, so I let Kinslee choose my outfit, ending up in a tight electric-blue minidress which somehow highlighted and emphasised my minimal curves and long legs. She straightened my dark hair and gave me a smoky eye that made my blue eyes pop. Arranging her tawny corkscrew curls around her shoulders, she blew her reflection a kiss and proclaimed us ready.

  “Party time! Let’s go.” She threw open the door and we headed out of the apartment to the waiting Uber, and what seemed like no time later, we were pulling up in front of a house, music and light spilling out from the open door and windows.

  “House” was barely an adequate description for this monstrous residence. A sprawling, two-storey modern brick building, it was all sharp angles and huge black-framed glass doors and windows, the glass-fronted doorway extending the full height of the house, showing a glimpse of the upstairs area and a huge skull-shaped pendant light suspended from the upper-floor ceiling, descending all the way down to the entrance hallway. I sucked in a nervous breath. You’re strong. You can do this. Squaring my shoulders, I linked my arm through Kinslee’s, and we strutted up the pathway and in through the open door like we owned the place.

  Kinslee led us through the wide tiled hallway, past a large curving staircase, into a kitchen teeming with people that was easily twice the size of Kinslee’s entire apartment. “Drinks first?” She turned to me with a grin.

  I nodded, returning her smile, and she made a beeline for the paddling pool in the corner of the room, effortlessly weaving through the clusters of people in her way.

  “Paddling pool?” I murmured to myself. Stepping closer, I saw it had been filled to the brim with ice and bottles of beer, cider, and cans of premixed cocktails. Genius idea. Kinslee reached in and grabbed us two cans of premixed mojitos, and pushing through the crowds, she led me into a cavernous room, where the sound system was set up and playing thumping dance music. I let her pull me into the area where the dancing was concentrated, and I lost myself in the music.

  Until I felt the weight of four sets of eyes, trained on me.

  As I subtly turned my head to look, tingles of awareness spread through my entire body, and I gasped. Carefully, I leaned closer to Kinslee, knowing the answer before I even asked the question.

  “Kins, don’t be obvious about it, but who the fuck are those guys? The four on the sofas?”

  Kinslee peered around me, her eyes widening and her whole body stiffening.

  “They’re the Four. They own this place. They pretty much run the campus.”

  They own this place? “The Four?” I echoed. “What lame kind of name is that?”

  Kinslee shrugged. “I don’t know, it’s just what people call them. From left to right you have Cassius, Weston, Zayde, and Caiden. They’re all sexy as fuck, and they know it. Spoiled rich boys who think they’re above everyone else. Cassius, Zayde, and Caiden are all in the same year at uni as us—they’re either nineteen or twenty. And Weston is Caiden’s younger brother—he just turned eighteen, and this will be his first year at Alstone.”

  Of course, I recognised two of them from their photos, but I needed to hear it confirmed aloud. “Caiden and Weston Cavendish?”

  Kinslee stared at me suspiciously. “Yes. Why? Do you know them?”

  I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly dry. “They’re…well, my stepbrothers, I guess?”

  “What? You’ve been living with me for a week now, and you never once thought of mentioning that you were involved with the Cavendish family?”

  “I’m not involved with them.” I thought for a moment, then added, “Yet.” Leaning closer, I lowered my voice. “You know how I told you one of the reasons I moved here was to reconnect with my mother? Well, she remarried a couple of years ago. Anyway, I haven’t met her new husband yet, or his sons. I…I didn’t attend the wedding. But I guess I’ll be getting my chance to meet them soon enough.”

  “You didn’t attend your mother’s wedding? Girl, you need to give me all the details. Don’t hold out on me.”

  Chewing my lip, I stared at her for a moment, then sighed. It wasn’t like I could keep my connection to the Cavendish family a secret, and as my housemate and new friend, she was owed an explanation. “I will. Let’s enjoy the party, and I’ll catch you up with everything tomorrow, yeah?”

  Kinslee nodded, a sympathetic smile crossing her face as she noticed my hesitation. “You don’t have to tell me anything you don’t feel comfortable talking about.”

  “Thanks, Kins.” I squeezed her hand gratefully. I wanted to talk to her, to share my fears and worries, but I wouldn’t be giving her all the details. Not by a long shot. I couldn’t.

  I surreptitiously studied the Four, but when it became clear they knew I was watching them, I gave up trying to be subtle and stared at them openly, boldly. Kinslee was right. They were the sexiest men I’d ever seen in person. Cassius was all blond, boyish good looks. A girl sat on his lap, and I noticed his hand was inside her skirt. Classy. Even with the girl wriggling around on him, he was watching me intently, interest flickering in his eyes. Weston looked the friendliest of the group, his blue gaze open and warm, his lips tipped up at the corners as he glanced in my direction. Zayde looked…dangerous. That was really the only way I could describe him adequately. Thick, deep brown hair, a small sneer on his perfect, full lips, his eyes flickering over me disdainfully before he turned away, dismissing me.

  And then there was him.

  Caiden.

  Angular jaw, eyes like stormy seas, rich, raven hair cut short around the sides and longer on the top. He was gorgeous.

  The way he looked at me, though…

  He looked like he hated me.

  I reeled back, trying to suck air into my lungs, stunned by the contempt pouring off him in waves, thickening the surrounding air, suffocating me.

  “What did you do to piss off Caiden Cavendish?” Kinslee’s urgent hiss sounded in my ear.

  “I have no idea. I’ve never seen him in person before in my life.”

  “Winter, this isn’t good. You do not want to get on his bad side, trust me.”

  “Looks like it’s too late.”

  Caiden Cavendish. Fu
cking rich, sexy asshole. I’d never felt such hostility from anyone before, and honestly? I was at a complete loss. It was obvious he was aware of who I was, recognition clear in his eyes. I had no idea why he would hate me on sight, though, unless he was pissed off that I hadn’t attended my mother and his father’s wedding—not that my mother had asked me to be there.

  Unfortunately for me, his visible hatred didn’t stop my heart beating faster or my thighs clenching together, desperate for his touch. I’d never had such a visceral reaction to someone before and I. Did. Not. Like. It.

  I needed to get laid.

  And fast.

  Caiden was off limits. That much was obvious. As I shot another covert glance in his direction, I groaned under my breath. How could one person look like a fucking Greek god?

  Beside the point.

  He was banished from my mind, as of now. For whatever reason, he’d decided he didn’t like me, so that was that.

  I grabbed Kinslee’s arm and turned us so I couldn’t see the Four (still hated their stupid nickname), and I let the music carry me away, the beat filling me, flowing through my body. We danced provocatively, attracting the attention of a number of guys in our immediate radius, and the far more hostile attention of the girls clustered around the Four.