
Tangled in Deception (The Dark Enchantment #1)
Chapter 1
Lexi – Age 13
As I turned the corner onto my street, the blaring lights and piercing sounds of police cars and ambulances attacked my senses. I had no idea what was happening. At first, I thought it was our next-door neighbor's house, Mrs. Roberts. But as I approached the scene, a realization hit me. It was my house. Suddenly, it was like a wave of white noise washed over me, and the only thing I could think about was my parents, making my feet fly underneath me.
I got yanked backward by a massive police officer, “Whoa there, young lady, where do you think you’re going?” He asked.
I blinked twice. “That’s my house,” I said, pointing to the white wrap-around porch with chipped paint.
The officer said something in his hand-held radio, and then gave me a look of sadness and pity.
“I’m afraid you’ll have to wait here,” he said.
“But..but my parents! Where are my parents?”
I began to move myself under the tape when he caught me a second time. He held onto me until a female officer took me to a police car and had me sit in the back.
“I’m Officer Wendy.” She crouched down and smiled. “And what is your name?”
“Lexi – I mean Alexandria Caruso,” I said, swallowing hard.
“Miss Caruso, I’m afraid I have some bad news,” she said, placing her hand on my knee. “Both your parents are gone. I am so sorry for your loss,” she said, her arm reaching to touch my shoulder, gently moving my long blond hair behind my back.
Those words hit me like a ton of bricks.
“Do you have any other family, sweetheart?”
“Huh? What?” I asked.
“Family, do you have any other family, grandparents, aunts, uncles?”
“My aunt Lydia lives somewhere in Europe, I think, and I have an uncle, Carmine Caruso.”
Her face flashed with concern for a split second; then, her demeanor changed as she used her hand-held radio, and another officer joined her. They stepped a few feet away, but I could still hear them.
“Her uncle is Carmine Caruso,” Officer Wendy said to the other.
“Shit,” the other officer said, then winced when he noticed I was looking at him. He smiled awkwardly at me as he walked over to a woman who was in a different uniform from the rest.
The flash of bright lights faded into the evening, and a slight breeze tickled my arms as I sat in the police car. The scene became less chaotic, and Officer Wendy approached me.
“Good news! Your uncle is going to meet you at the station and take you to Brookhaven.”
“But I live here. I don’t want to live in Brookhaven,” I said. The words came out over a lump in my throat. I hadn’t seen my uncle for a long time, and the man I remember was not a nice person.
“I’m afraid there isn’t much of a choice, my dear,” Officer Wendy said with a little smile. “This is Rachel with children and family services.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Lexi,” Rachel said with a little smile. “I’m here to help pack some of your things, so please come with me.”
Lexi – age 18
“Lex, I swear to cow, if you don’t get up, I will pour cold water over your head!” Scarlett threatened with a teasing tone.
I rolled over with a sigh, only to see her standing on my bed with a glass of water above my head.
“Don’t you dare!” I shouted. She started laughing and jumping up and down on my bed.
“Come on! Get up! We have shopping to do! El is going to be here any minute!”
Scarlett and El or Ellie have been my best friends since I moved to Brookhaven when I was thirteen. Scarlett’s mom, Dierdre, manages the casino my uncle Carmine owns. El’s dad is my uncle’s lawyer, who also has clients worldwide, so he’s gone a lot. Dierdre has become like a mother to me and El over the years, and has helped me through more than I could have alone.
The Majestic Mirage Hotel and Casino takes up the first 48 floors of the tallest skyscraper in the city. My uncle lives in the penthouse, which is on the fiftieth floor. Above the penthouse are the Grand Gardens, a lush landscape in the middle of the steel and glass jungle of the city of Brookhaven. That’s where I live in a little white tower near the back of the gardens.
Invisible security fences surround all four sides. The only way to get in is through a stairwell; about twenty feet from my tower. There is also a glass conservatory where all our special family events are held.
The perpetual bachelor, my uncle always has women around him. I think he built this place because I cramped his lifestyle. He’s been very protective of me since day one. My parents died when I was thirteen, and their death was ruled a murder-suicide. It was discovered later it was just staged to look that way. A rival family took a hit out on them because my father was planning on changing things when my nonno died, and he took over the business. My uncle was his younger brother, and he took my father’s place. He doesn’t talk about it and gets mad when I bring it up.
He keeps a close watch over me. I’m not allowed to leave the casino. I’ve been told since day one that I am a valuable asset, and I could get taken very easily and used as a bargaining chip against my uncle. It's not something a thirteen-year-old wants to hear, but those are the cards I was dealt. I’ve had tutors for all my schooling, and my uncle won’t even entertain the idea of me going away to college, so I’ll be taking online classes instead. My friends never miss a chance to tease me about living in a "tower" at the top of the tallest building in the city. And because of my long blonde hair, they’re always calling me their modern-day Rapunzel. You’d think I’d be mad, but I’m not. My friends know the life I live—they just joke to keep things light. I guess it’s their way of trying to make me feel normal like I’m just some girl in a tower, not someone tangled in all this mess.
It was super rough for me, especially those first few years. My aunt Lydia didn’t want me to live with her, so I was sent here. As I got older, with Scarlett and Ellie by my side, we started sneaking out of the building. This place was built in the nineteen twenties by my Great-Grandfather Vito. It has lots of hidden passageways and staircases. Behind the garden wall, past all the rosebushes, we discovered a secret door leading down three flights of stairs to a service elevator that spits into an abandoned hallway. We are always careful because my long, almost white-blond hair is extremely noticeable. My uncle would be livid if he ever found out.
“It’s too early,” I yawned.” Last night, we went out to another casino, staying out until past midnight. It was risky, but it was a lot of fun. The garden gate isn’t connected to the security system, so slipping back in is easy.
“We have to shop! You need to look hot tonight!”
“What’s the point? I won't know anyone besides you, Ellie, your mom, and Zio.”
“That’s not all,” she squealed.
“What aren’t you telling me, Scarlett?” I asked, sitting up.
Nate’s back, and he’s coming tonight!” She cried.
I flopped myself back onto my bed and screamed into my pillow.
I’ve had a crush on Nate Blackwood since I moved here. He’s five years older and is a living, breathing, chiseled, sculpted god. Dark wavy hair, tanned and muscular with a trim waist and blue eyes so deep you could drown. His father is head of security for the entire building and casino. He’s always seen us like his annoying kid sisters, but that will all change tonight.
“Holy shit!” I screamed and jumped out of bed. “Why the hell didn’t you start with that?” I screeched.
She just laughed and followed me into my little kitchenette.
Scarlett popped over to the door after we heard El knocking, “You aren’t ready yet?” El shouted after she noticed I was still in my pj’s.
“I’m going, I’m going!” I waved them off and hopped into the shower.
The evening of my party, the weather was perfect. Not a cloud in the sky, and the city's twinkling lights surrounded us.
I walked out of my cottage wearing a pink iridescent sequin strapless dress with a high-low mermaid tail bottom, pink ice jewelry adorned my ears and neck, and I was wearing white iridescent strappy stilettos They still only made me about five foot seven. I’m five foot five on a good day.
My uncle was walking toward me with a pink rose corsage. He gave me a soft kiss on the forehead. “Bellissima,” he said flawlessly in Italian. Even though he and my father were born and raised here, they both had an Italian accent because my grandparents only spoke Italian around the house.
“Graze, Zio,” I replied, and a smile arched his lips as he offered his arm and guided me to the conservatory. He insisted I learn Italian, so I always called him Zio – or uncle in Italian.
Zio went all out for me like he always did. A pink satin tablecloth covered a long table adorned with huge bouquets of pink roses in giant crystal vases. The lighting was very subtle; he hired a band and laid a small dance floor next to the table.
“It’s perfect, Zio,” I said, taking it all in.
“Anything for mio piccolina,” he smiled. That’s what he’s called me since the first day I came here. His face was genuine; he was happy, which for him was rare. He is always rushing from one thing to another, so I rarely saw this side of him. A twinge of worry crossed my mind for some reason, but I just chalked it up to him being able to take an evening away from putting out fires.
He pulled out a chair for me and then sat at the head of the table as the guests arrived. Scarlett and El sat next to me, along with Deirdre, who was on Scarlett’s other side. Twenty or so others joined us, and my uncle introduced them as either colleagues, friends, or associates.
When I noticed Nate and his friend Julian walking toward the table, my uncle was just standing up to speak. My breath caught as I watched Nate waiting for my uncle to finish.
“Happy birthday, piccolina!” My uncle said joyfully.
I felt my cheeks get warm as I thanked everyone and watched Nate and Julian approach the table, excusing themselves for being late. Nate sat directly across from me, Julian across from Scarlett. Julian is a big flirt and is a year younger than Nate. He flashed Scarlett a killer smile, and she turned bright pink; her eyes suddenly focused on her cream-colored, gold-rimmed plate.
Dinner was served, and after, Mario, the executive pastry chef, brought out a giant pink chiffon cake. Everyone sang, and I made my wish.
I closed my eyes as I blew out my candles. I wish he would kiss me tonight.
Once the table was cleared, people started to head to the dance floor. Julian asked Scarlett to dance right away. Nate came around the table, ran his fingers through his wavy blond locks, and gave me a smile that made my stomach drop.
“Happy birthday, little mouse,” he said with a devious smile.
He’s called me Little Mouse since the day we met. He’s a good foot taller than me, plus he knows it annoys the hell out of me.
“Thanks, I said, ignoring his nickname for me. “So, I hear you’re done with school, congrats.”
“Thanks,” he said, throwing his hands into his pockets, looking all innocent, but still as hot as sin. He stared at me for what seemed like hours, then offered his hand and led me to the dancefloor. The moment my hand touched his, electricity shot through my entire body. Heat pooled in my core when he wrapped his strong arms around my waist. Fuck.
Neither of us spoke for a few minutes. He just stared into my eyes with his gorgeous, almost sapphire blue ones.
“So I suppose your uncle hasn’t changed his mind about college, huh?”
“Nope,” I said, blowing out a big breath. “I stopped asking months ago.”
“He’s looking out for you, that’s all,” Nate said.
“Since when did you start agreeing with him?” I asked in an annoyed tone.
“Lots has changed since I finished school, Lex,” he said.
“I’m not a little kid anymore, Nate; I understand what’s happening in the world. I have for a long time. Zio has enough resources if he wanted to let me go; he would,” I said with a tone that told him to drop it.
I ignored his intense gaze, and neither of us said anything until the song ended. I pulled away, but he caught my hand and led me to the edge of the garden wall, away from prying eyes.
“I don’t want to talk about it, Nate,” I said with a huff, leaning against the wall.
“You have no idea what you’re talking about; you haven’t been in the world like I have.”
“You take a gap year, then four years of college, and now suddenly you ‘understand the world?’” I said with air quotes.
He huffed. “You never leave the tower, princess; you have no idea.”
“Yes, I” ...- I clamped my mouth shut.
His eyes narrowed at me, and he caged me in with an arm on either side of my head. “What did you say?”
“Nothing, never mind,” I said, looking away.
He took my chin and made me look at him.
His eyes narrowed, “Don’t do it again.”
“You’re not my dad, Nate,” I said with sarcasm dripping from my words.
He made a little rumble noise in the back of his throat.
“Why do you care anyway?”
“I’ve always cared, little mouse.”
“Sure,” I said, my eyes cast down at the ground.
“What do you mean, sure?”
“Nothing. Never mind.”
“Mouse?” I look up at him and into his intense gaze.
His look changed at that moment, as if he was seeing me differently than before.
“We’ve talked about this before,” he said with a warning tone.
I had tried to kiss him a couple of summers before. It ended with me alone in this very spot.
“I’m eighteen, Nate.”
“True, but it doesn’t change anything,” he said, pushing his arms off the wall and away from me. His eyes pierced into my soul, and I didn’t think; I just flew forward and kissed him. He leaned into the kiss, pulling me toward him, my body melting against his before he pulled away.
“Lexi, it’s not possible.”
“Why not?”
“It’s just not, okay?” He said, brushing his hand through his hair.
“Why? Is it because of Zio?”
“No.”
“Then tell me.”
“I’m leaving for the Army in the morning.”
It was like someone squeezed all the air out of my lungs.
“Oh,” I said softly and started to walk away.
“Lex, please. Let’s not leave it this way.” He reached for my arm; I yanked it away.
“Fuck off Nate,” I growled.
Walking away from him was the hardest thing I ever had to do.