Hidden Read online

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  By

  Ancelli

  Copyright © Ancelli 2020

  All Rights Reserved

  Editor Rie Langdon

  Cover Design by Covers In Color

  The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement (including infringement without monetary gain) is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to five (5) years in federal prison and a fine of $250,00.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, stored in retrieval system, copied in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise transmitted without written permission from the author.

  This e-book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously. This is an explicit and erotic novel intended for the enjoyment of adult readers only.

  Gum, ice, and a pair of scissors was the beginning of something Ethan Monet or Rayn Taylor weren’t ready for. Having to hide their affair, the young couple find solace in each other’s arms away from the ugly reality of the world around them.

  One violent night led to everything crashing down around them, leading them down a path of chaos and hurt feelings.

  Fast forward five years later after an accidental – on purpose – meeting, hard to forget emotions are rekindled. Can Ethan and Rayn survive the secrets from the past exploding into their present to shadow their future?

  Chapter One

  Ethan Monet and his roommates, Colton and Maverick, lounged about in the hallway of the Lattimer College administration building after talking to his guidance counselor about graduation. Ethan was beyond happy to be graduating—finally—after five long, stressful years. It had taken him a year longer than expected to graduate: he’d played around at first, not attending classes when he should’ve been. It had taken a special someone to set him straight and make him look forward to the future.

  He could finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. In a few months he would be graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Business Management and a minor in accounting. He looked around at the few people gathered around. Normally, it was jam-packed as people came in and out the classrooms. They were slowly trickling back to the campus after a long spring break.

  “Why is she still here?” Colton asked, looking at one of the few African American girls attending the university. “I thought she would’ve received the message last semester when we inked her apartment door. She isn’t welcome here.”

  “You were the one who wrote on her door?” Ethan asked. He’d seen that door marked in red with racist names the last day of school, but he didn’t know it had been his own roommate’s prejudiced ass that had committed the act. He knew Colton had issues with other races, but he didn’t know his roommate would take things that far. Ethan kept quiet most of the time, even though his blood would boil over occasionally because of the ignorant shit his roommates would say and do. He didn’t share the same feelings as Colton, but he kept his comments and beliefs to himself. Ethan himself was what Colton would call “another,” or even “mutt,” as he didn’t know Ethan’s real origin. Ethan took after his father’s French side of the family. His bright hazel eyes and dirty-blond hair kept people guessing when they found out his mother was Afro-Cuban. It worked to his benefit. He even hid his identity from his girl: he wanted to be liked for who he was, not because of where he came from. Colton would have made his life a living hell if he’d found out he was there on a full scholarship because his parents were dirt poor, living in the backwoods of Oklahoma.

  They’d connected at first because Ethan and Colton both came from Oklahoma; however, Colton came from a wealthy family up north. Colton and Maverick were his freshman year dorm roommates, and he put up with their crap because half of the time he was gone. In junior year, Colton’s parents moved him out to an apartment complex close by, giving Ethan and Maverick an offer they’d be stupid to refuse. The parents paid for the rent, leaving him and Maverick to pay the utilities, which wasn’t much. He got to pocket most of his assistance and spend all the time he wanted at his girl’s apartment, just two floors up from his. He was there to make his family proud, be the first to graduate college. He couldn’t wait to see the look on Colton’s face when he introduced him to his Afro-Latina mother on the day of graduation.

  “I didn’t do it,” Colton backtracked, his voice shaky. For whatever reason, he appeared nervous after he’d just admitted to vandalizing her door. “Who the fuck names their kid Rain?”

  “The same people who name their kids Sommer and August.” Maverick laughed.

  Colton raised an eyebrow, staring at Maverick. He clearly did not find the comment funny: those were the names of his sisters.

  “Her name isn’t spelled R-a-i-n,” Ethan interjected. “It’s R-a-y-n.”

  “I don’t care how she spells her name.” Colton glared at Rayn as she strolled down the hallway. “She doesn’t belong here.”

  “And why is that?” Maverick inquired. “I’ve always been curious.”

  “He doesn’t have a reason.” At a loss for words, Ethan watched Colton closely. “Why don’t you mess with the football players?”

  Colton glared at both of them.

  Ethan stared at Rayn Taylor from a distance, feeling sorry for the way some people on campus treated her and the other African American students. They didn’t do anything to deserve it. Ethan hated the way his roommate talked and treated Rayn, but it wasn’t his place to defend her. Or was it?

  “Her hair looks like one of those rusty Brillo pads my mother used to use to wash dirty pots,” Colton commented with a smirk.

  Maverick shook his head. “Something is wrong with you.”

  Rayn took off the black scarf she wore wrapped around her waist and used it to capture her puffy brown afro, as if she had overheard Colton’s snide comparison. Silver hoops dangled from her small ears as she moved her head forward arranging the scarf securely around her head. Ethan couldn’t help himself as he stared at her every move. He was hypnotized.

  She picked up her bag and began to approach them, her mocha skin glowing against the white maxi dress she wore. The silky material showcased all her luscious curves. Her big dark brown eyes met his, and he instantly became aroused. Ethan swore her rosy lips curled up into a small smile for a few seconds. He was about to do something stupid and smile back when she finally showed her true colors and rolled her eyes at him. There it was, her attitude. I am such a fool, he thought, chuckling to himself.

  “Watch this.” Colton opened the cap to a water bottle, spit into the container, and closed it back up.

  “Don’t…” He walked away before Ethan had a chance to stop him.

  He cracked his neck, trying to control the feeling crawling up his spine. Hopefully, Rayn knew better than to take anything Colton or any of the guys like him had to offer. “She won’t take it,” Ethan said under his breath as he watched the interaction unfold in front of him. If she did take it, he wouldn’t allow her to drink the water.

  “Hopefully,” Maverick responded. “He’s a jerk. Sometimes I wonder about his mental state.”

  “I don’t have to wonder. He needs help.” Ethan took a deep breath. “It’s not the 1950s.”

  Colton followed behind her. “Hey, you,” he called out, making her look back.

  “My name isn’t ‘hey you,’” Rayn snapped, continuing to walk.

  “What’s with the attitude?” Colton lifted the bottle in the air. “I just wanted to know if you wanted some water.”

  She stopped and spun around, raising a thin eyebrow in suspicion. “I’m fine.”

&nbs
p; “I was trying to be nice.” He raised his voice. “It’s hot out here.”

  “Trying to be nice,” she cooed, then dug into her bag and pulled out a bottle of her own water. “Thank you, but I don’t need your kind of niceness.” She threw her bottle back in her bag and proceeded to move away.

  The guys started laughing at his expense. “She told you,” Maverick yelled.

  Colton’s face turned bright red. Ethan assumed Colton was embarrassed in front of the guys. “Bitch!” he yelled.

  Rayn stopped dead in her tracks and turned around. “What did you call me?”

  Oh shit, Ethan thought.

  “I called you a bitch,” Colton repeated harshly. “You think you’re better than us. We both know you’re here to help with the university’s diversity numbers.”

  “When you say ‘us,’” she replied nonchalantly, bending her index and middle finger into air quotations, “who are you referring to?”

  “Your kind shouldn’t be here,” he added with conviction. “Why don’t you go back to the ghetto you came from?”

  Rayn clenched her jaw as her chest heaved. She glared first at Colton, then looked over at Ethan before she turned to walk away. Colton stepped forward, grabbing her upper arm. He pulled her in his direction, making her bag slip out of her hand.

  “Let me go.” She tried to pry her arm out of his grip, but his hold on her arm appeared to get tighter. Her skin bulged up around his closed fist.

  “Don’t fucking walk away when I’m talking to you n—”

  Ethan ran up to them and without a second thought, shoved Colton away from her. His roommate tumbled to the ground, and Ethan gazed down at Rayn. “Are you okay?”

  Her eyes shone with unshed tears as she rubbed the area Colton had gripped. Dark, circular bruises were forming under her fingers. Ethan’s gaze darted from Rayn to Colton, who cracked his knuckles.

  “I’m fine, but he won’t be,” she said under her breath.

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” Colton pushed himself up off the ground.

  “I can defend myself.” Rayn looked at Ethan before picking up her bag. “Thank you,” she said softly as she walked away.

  “Dude.” Colton closed the gap between them to get in his face and pushed him back. “What the fuck is your problem?” Ethan didn’t budge, glaring back at him.

  “My problem?” Ethan replied. “What is your fucking problem with Rayn? I won’t allow you to put your hands on a female, no matter who she is,” he yelled at Colton as the girl disappeared from their view. “She hasn’t done anything to you or anyone else on this campus. Let her be, or else!”

  “Or else what?” Colton inched closer so there were mere inches between them.

  “Or else.” Ethan stood his ground. “I will make you regret ever touching her.” He clenched his teeth.

  “Dudes, what the hell?” Maverick got in the middle of them. “You two are acting like this, over her?” He pointed down the hall. “Colton, you were wrong for the water thing and touching her. Ethan, you shouldn’t have put your hands on him.”

  “He shouldn’t have put his hand on her.” Ethan rubbed his palms together, trying to keep from whooping his ass.

  “It was a fucking joke. I didn’t actually spit in the water, and if I had, I wasn’t going to let her drink it.” Colton backed away, throwing the water bottle in the trash can. “I wasn’t going to hurt her; I was just showing her who is in control.”

  “In control of what?” Ethan had to calm down, so he inhaled slowly. “Is that the way you show you’re in control, by bad-talking and manhandling a woman? You did hurt her.” He’d seen the way Rayn rubbed her biceps. “You may not like her, but that doesn’t give you the right to put your fucking hands on her. I don’t care if she’s black, white, or green.”

  “I wonder how your girl will feel about you defending another woman?” Colton brushed off his jeans. “What’s her name again?”

  Ethan couldn’t care less what people thought in this moment. He already knew his girl wouldn’t appreciate what he did, but she would get over it too. He was sick and tired of acting like someone he wasn’t. “You crossed the line.”

  “You did,” Maverick agreed with Ethan. “You better hope she doesn’t report you.”

  “My word against hers,” Colton replied in amusement. “You guys will have my back.” His smile slowly faded as he watched Ethan’s face. “Right?”

  “Do I?” Ethan raised an eyebrow. “If I were you, I would watch my back. I think you forgot who her friends are. She’s coming for you.” He cracked his neck again before walking away. He had one thing on his mind, and it wasn’t backing up Colton.

  Chapter Two

  Tears clouded Rayn’s vision as she ran into her apartment and quietly closed the door. She sighed, leaning her head against the frame. She was sick and tired of all the abuse and mistreatment she’d endured, for no apparent reason but the color of her skin, since the first day she’d arrived at the freaking university. During her freshman year, she was about to drop out because she wasn’t used to the bullying. But her father had said to her “Rayn Taylor, I didn’t raise no quitter,” and he was right: he hadn’t. He’d endured more than she ever would in her lifetime, and look where he was now, a powerful civil rights attorney in Los Angeles. Her hands shook as she turned the deadbolt on the door. She twisted it again, making sure it was locked.

  Rayn touched her throbbing, bruised arm. At first, it had just been name-calling and pranks, then someone tagged her apartment door, and now it had actually gotten physical. Rayn wiped the tears dropping from her eyes and placed her bag on the side table and walked deeper into her studio apartment. It was just right for her. Mercy, her roommate, had moved out of their two-bedroom apartment after the incident with the door. She didn’t feel safe, and Rayn couldn’t blame her. She had no choice but to downgrade. However, her mother made sure she had everything she needed. The small area was decorated in purple and white. Even her coffee maker was lilac.

  Her phone rang and she glanced up at the clock on the wall. Right on time. Her father called her every day at exactly five p.m. Rayn picked up the phone and sat down on her personalized beanbag chair. “Hi, Daddy.”

  “How was your first day back?” he inquired.

  “I can’t wait to graduate.” She laid back, hanging her head off the edge.

  Colton would be a dead man walking if she told her father he’d put his hands on her.

  “That bad?” There were a few seconds of silence. “You are to be treated as an equal, do you hear me? If anything happens to you again, I’m going to hit that school with a lawsuit. You got into that institution because of your hard work and my money. If another white kid does anything out of line, I mean anything, I’m taking another trip down there. Last time I spoke with the dean he said he had upped security after your door was tagged. Next time, I’m not talking.”

  “Dad,” Rayn whined. First that Ethan, now her dad. She could handle herself. After her father talked to the dean, the staff treated her with a standoffishness. Mr. Taylor had threatened to close the institution down if they didn’t stop letting students and staff members commit hateful crimes and do nothing about it. “I can take care of myself.”

  “Not while I’m alive.” He huffed. “A father’s role is to protect his family.”

  Rayn snapped her head toward the entrance of her apartment as the lock on the door jiggled and turned. She almost fell out the beanbag trying to get up before the door pushed open.

  As soon as they made eye contact, she placed her index finger over her lips. She stared at him as he strolled into her home like he lived there. Her father would have a heart attack if he knew she was in any sort of an intimate relationship, instead of putting her all in her studies. “Daddy, I have to go. Love you.” She quickly placed the phone back on the cradle. “I was wondering how long it would take you.”

  “Baby, are you okay?” He gently caressed her aching upper arm. “Don’t ever take anything Col
ton or his friends have to offer.” He stroked her arm down to her wrist. “Why did you stop and why didn’t you let me handle that fool?”

  Rayn placed her palm on his chest feeling the beat of his heart. “Because I’m not afraid of Colton like other people are, and you can’t afford to get in trouble. You’ve come a long way. How would you explain it?”

  “How would I explain what?” He put his hands on her hips, easing her closer. “That I’m defending my girl.”

  “No one can know about us, Ethan. My father will kill me. He has eyes on campus. He usually knows things happening in school before I do. Colton would kick you out and you won’t have a place to live. You need the financial aid money to help your parents.”

  “I hate the way they treat you.” He caressed her hips.

  “Me too. They hate me for something I can’t change. I will never apologize to anyone for being black.” She looked away from him. “I love the skin I was born with.”

  He leaned forward and kissed her forehead. “I love your skin more.”

  Rayn closed her eyes. That simple kiss meant more than he knew. The fact that he didn’t care if they were seen together spoke volumes. It had been her decision to keep them hidden away from the hurt of the world. She didn’t want to be seen with him—what would the other black students think? Rayn didn’t care what people around her thought, but she did care about her father. He would disown her if he found out about Ethan. Being hidden worked out to both their advantage. “What doesn’t break me makes me stronger. At least, that’s what my parents say.” Even though Ethan was white, she could share her fears and concerns with him, and he never judged her. He let her voice how she felt.

  “My parents say the same thing.” Ethan shrugged his shoulders. “I wasn’t raised to see color, but the world around us does. I think our difference makes us unique.” He stared at her bruise. “He crossed the line, touching you.”

  Rayn rubbed her aching muscle. “I have thick skin when it comes to words, but once you touch me, it’s on and popping.”