Savage Secrets

CONTENTS Savage Secrets Playlist Let’s Connect! Content Warning 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 Epilogue Acknowledgments Also by Sarah Bale: About the Author Copyright © 2023 by Sarah Bale All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. Cover design by: Sly Fox Cover Design Edited by: Jodi Thompson and Katrina Harris Cover image by: Wander Photography Cover Model: Gobber First Printing: February 2023 Savage Secrets / Sarah Bale -- 1st ed To all the good girls who love Jafar, even though he’s an asshole- this one is for you! To paraphrase a quote from Guardians of the Galaxy… He may be an a-hole, but he’s not 100% a dick. He’s Angry—because I ran from him I fled the city, hellbent on starting over without Malik Jafar in my life. I should have known it wouldn’t be easy. I should have known he would give chase. But there’s something that he doesn’t know. Something he’ll never forgive me for. When he shows up, I know the game is over. I’m about to be thrown into the lion’s den. And face the wrath of my best friend. She’s Mine—no matter the cost I knew Ellie was going to destroy me the moment I first saw her. But that doesn’t stop me from wanting her. Loving her. But sweet Ellie has been hiding a secret from me. I’ll be damned if I let her slip through my fingers again. And then I see just how much I’ve been betrayed. So, I’m going to do what I do best. I’m going to paint this city red. And show Ellie that she’s mine. Scan to Listen Without Me – Dayseeker Lost – Linkin Park Calling You Tonight – Giovannie and the Hired Guns Jack – Hardy Waiting for Superman – Daughtry 45 (acoustic) – Shinedown Stone Cold – Nation Haven Calling Baton Rouge – Garth Brooks Lonely Day – System of a Down Say Something – A Great Big World and Christina Aguilera No Time to Die- Billie Eilish Push – Nick Jonas Big Girls Don’t Cry – Fergie Toxic Pony – ALTÈGO, Britney Spears, and Ginuwine Motivation – Kelly Roland and Lil Wayne Addicted to Love – Florence + the Machine Take Me to Church – Hozier Marry You – Childish Gambino King and Queens – Ava Max Unstoppable – Sia LET’S CONNECT! Become a VIP and join my Newsletter! You’ll get a FREE book in thanks. You’ll also receive exclusive info about upcoming books, teasers, and covers reveals. Join HERE You can also join my Reader’s Group on Facebook. Sarah’s Sinners Dear Reader, Your safety and well-being are important to me. Please be aware that there are themes that may be triggering to some people. These themes include: fat shaming, rape, self-harm (cutting), suicide idealization, stalking, and spousal cheating. If you or someone you know is a victim of sexual assault or abuse, please contact the Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-4673 or visit www.RAINN.org for support. If you are in the UK, please visit: www.uksaysnomore.org for support. YOU ARE NOT ALONE 1 Ellie Beware of the diamond that shines brightly only to lure you to your demise. Diamond? My mind goes to Jafar and my stomach roils. I drop the newspaper like it has actually burned me. What in the hell kind of horoscope is that? I reread it to make sure my eyes aren’t playing a trick on me. I haven’t been sleeping much since leaving New York, so it’s possible. But the words are still there, taunting me. “Too bad I didn’t get that warning three months ago,” I mutter to my empty living room. It’s just a coincidence. It has nothing to do with Malik Jafar, and yet it feels like a warning that I should take heed to. I trusted him and look where it got me. Pregnant and alone. Closing my eyes, I take in three deep breaths. I can’t think about him. Not when I’m about to do something that is going to change my life forever. When the nausea passes, I stand and look around the room one last time. I had little here to begin with, but I cannot take any of the furniture with me. Guess my landlord is going to have to deal with it once I’m gone. It’s the least he can do, to be honest. This place is falling apart, and no one seems to care but me. Story of my life. I grab the single suitcase that holds everything I’m taking with me by the handle. There was a time when I would be ashamed of that. Now I’m glad that I don’t have more, especially when I don’t know what the future is going to bring. My gaze goes to the bulletin board full of photos hanging on the wall, but I look at one in particular. The one from Jasmine’s and Jafar’s wedding. A dull throb works its way through my chest in tune with my heartbeat. Maybe one day it will go away, but today is not that day. I’ve thought a lot about whether I should pack the photo. I’ve decided not to. I’m starting over and I can’t have that