Beautiful Villain

By Sophie Stern

Neil Coleman is the most confident, arrogant, over-the-top cocky jerk I've ever met.

Word on the street is that he just got out of prison for murder. Murder! In a town like Kurlin, that sort of thing just doesn't happen, but it did. I know what happened that night. Most people don't, but I do. It was a brutal murder and even now, five years later, people are still talking about it like it just happened. I've always thought there was more to the story than what Neil let on, but no one could ever prove he was innocent, and Neil wasn't exactly talking.

Only now he's back, and something tells me he's going to be out for revenge.

When he walks back into Kurlin, he holds his arrogant head high. It would be wrong for me to get involved with a guy like Neil. He's got a lot on his plate. He's been through hell and back again and honestly, I don't have time for drama.

But he's a beautiful villain, and I just can't stay away.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sophie Stern
• Release date: May 15, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393094456

Book preview

Beautiful Villain

Sophie Stern

Published by Sophie Stern, 2020.

This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.

BEAUTIFUL VILLAIN

First edition. May 15, 2020.

Copyright © 2020 Sophie Stern.

ISBN: 978-1393094456

Written by Sophie Stern.

Also by Sophie Stern

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Destroyed

Guarded

Saved

Christmas on Chaos

Alien Chaos: A Sci-Fi Alien Romance Bundle

Aliens of Malum

Deceived: An Alien Brides Romance

Betrayed: An Alien Brides Romance

Fallen: An Alien Brides Romance

Captured: An Alien Brides Romance

Regret

Crazed

For Keeps

Rotten: An Alien Brides Romance

Anchored

Starboard

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Abandon Ship

Below Deck

Crossing the Line

Anchored: Books 1-3

Anchored: Books 4-6

Ashton Sweets

Christmas Sugar Rush

Valentine's Sugar Rush

St. Patty's Sugar Rush

Halloween Sugar Rush

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You Suck

Troublemaker

Jaded

Club Kitten Dancers

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Pose

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Dragon Enchanted

Hidden Mage

Hidden Captive

Hidden Curse

Fate High School

You Wish: A High School Reverse Harem Romance

Freak: A Reverse Harem High School Romance

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Good Boys and Millionaires 2

Grimalkin Beasts

Alien Indulgence

Grimalkin Needs Brides

Ekpen (Intergalactic Dating Agency)

Torao (Intergalactic Dating Agency)

Leo (Intergalactic Dating Agency)

Honeypot Babies

The Polar Bear's Baby

The Jaguar's Baby

The Tiger's Baby

Honeypot Darlings

The Bear's Virgin Darling

The Bear's Virgin Mate

The Bear's Virgin Bride

Office Gentlemen

Ben From Accounting

Owls of Rawr County

Bound to the Owl

Polar Bears of the Air Force

Staff Sergeant Polar Bear

Master Sergeant Polar Bear

Airman Polar Bear

Senior Airman Polar Bear

Return to Dragon Isle

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Dragon's Hex

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Sweet Nightmares 2: The Sound of Roses

Sweet Nightmares 3: Bittersweet Vampires

Sweet Nightmares 4: The Vampire King

Team Shifter

Bears VS Wolves

No Fox Given

The Fablestone Clan

Dragon's Oath

Dragon's Breath

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Dragon's Whisper

Dragon's Magic

The Feisty Dragons

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Naughty Dragon

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Vanquished

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The Editor

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Honeypot Darlings: Omnibus Edition

The Swan's Mate

The Feisty Librarian

Polar Bears of the Air Force

Wild Goose Chase

Star Princess

The Virgin and the Lumberjacks

Resting Bear Face

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Seized by the Dragon

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Star Kissed

Big Bad Academy

Club Kitten Omnibus

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Dark Favors

Savored

Vampire Kiss

Chaotic Wild: A Vampire Romance

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Heartless

The Dragon's Christmas Treasure

Out of the Woods

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Craving You: A Contemporary Romance Collection

Chasing Whiskey

The Hidden Planet Trilogy

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Tokyo Wolf

The Single Dad Who Stole My Heart

Free For Him

The Feline Gaze

Fate High School

Dragon Beast: A Beauty and the Beast Retelling

Boulder Bear

Megan Slays Vampires

Vampire Professor

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Sugar Rush

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Scallywag

Contents

Beautiful Villain

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Epilogue

Author

Readers!

Beautiful Villain

Sophie Stern

COPYRIGHT © 2018 BY Sophie Stern

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

Neil Coleman is the most confident, arrogant, over-the-top cocky jerk I've ever met.

Word on the street is that he just got out of prison for murder. Murder! In a town like Kurlin, that sort of thing just doesn't happen, but it did. I know what happened that night. Most people don't, but I do. It was a brutal murder and even now, five years later, it kind of feels like it just happened. I've always thought there was more to the story than what Neil let on, but no one could ever prove he was innocent, and Neil wasn't exactly talking.

Only now he's back, and something tells me he's going to be out for revenge.

When he walks back into Kurlin, he holds his arrogant head high. It would be wrong for me to get involved with a guy like Neil. He's got a lot on his plate. He's been through hell and back again and honestly, I don't have time for drama.

But he's a beautiful villain, and I just can't stay away.

Prologue

Finley

Five years ago

The scream that fills the air chills me to my core.

Who is it? Who’s crying out? Who’s in trouble?

Someone sounds like they’re hurt.

Or worse.

This isn’t the innocent scream of surprise when your friend jumps out and scares you on Halloween. This isn’t the kind of scream that happens because you’re shocked.

No, this scream is something different.

Something much more horrible.

This is the scream of someone who is in pain.

The entire town seems to fall completely silent except for the scream. I’m standing next to my car in the high school parking lot. The football game ended an hour ago, but I’m still here talking to Susie and James.

What the fuck was that? James asks. He tenses, and I know that I must look just as scared as he does right now.

It came from the woods, Susie whispers.

We all look in that direction and the scream comes again.

We should call the cops, I say. I’m not going over there to find out what’s going on. No way. No how. That’s so not my thing.

Just as the words leave my mouth, though, we hear sirens. A lot of them. They rush past us: three different cop cars. They all have their lights on and every single one of the cars is speeding.

Where the fuck are they going? Susie asks.

More importantly, who the hell are they after? James asks.

We stand in silence for a long time, but something has changed in the air. I don’t know what’s going on or what’s going to happen next, but one thing is for sure: nothing is ever going to be the same after this.

Chapter One

Finley

Present Day

Kurlin isn’t exactly a town that’s known for its incredible night life. In fact, the most interesting thing that’s happened this year is that Mrs. Walker’s prized petunia plants were eaten by a feral cat. She’s out for blood and has started a petition to clean up the town of cats.

All of the cat lovers have been taking in all of the strays they can find for fear that Mrs. Walker will go after them or drive them to animal shelters and drop them off. Nobody thinks she’ll do anything crazy like shoot them, but I saw her talking to someone about getting some cat traps for her yard, so I don’t think I’d put it