Smokescreens & Butterflies

By Angelina Kerner

Mia just wants to be happy and thought she had the perfect life as Mikey's wife until everything comes crashing down. The lies are too much to bear and she enters into a new marriage with Damon DeLuca. Entering a new life, with smokescreens evaporating, she realizes just how dark her life had become.

Though Mia knows she has found a newfound freedom in Damon, can she transform into a budding butterfly?

Disclaimer - The book has mature language, sex, abuse, and references to torture and rape.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Angelina Kerner
• Release date: May 22, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224321582

Book preview

Prologue

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Mia

I now pronounce you man and wife! You may kiss your bride, the county clerk announced in a fake manner, but I didn’t care.

Mikey pulled me into him and planted a kiss on my lips, which made our small collection of friends’ cheer. After the kiss ended and we got hugged from left and right, we stayed a bit to take photos and signed all the paperwork. I left the chapel with Mikey’s best friend, Damon, while my husband ran ahead to grab our car.

‘Our’ car.

I had an ‘us’ now and a ‘we’. How surreal my life changed in mere seconds after saying ‘I do.’

Damon half-smiled, glancing down at me. He towered a good few inches above me, just like Mikey. Are you sure that’s all you wanted? A wedding in the county building and a small get-together at a restaurant? When Mikey told me you went for his idea, I thought he was lying.

I shrugged and waved my bouquet of flowers in the air as the next girl was nervously eyeing the chapel. Good luck and congratulations, I whispered to her.

The girl nodded, then looked down and away. Her groom pulled her into a bear hug and whispered things that made her blush. I saw her body relax into him and knew her life would be good, just as mine would be.

I tilted my head and pressed my lips together before replying to Damon. Mikey’s heading into his last year of medical school. It’s not smart to throw money away. Besides, it’s not like we can wait for any of our parents. His parents are dead, and mine live in Germany. They wouldn’t fly in for a wedding, only for grandkids. I’m happy. Mikey’s a good man. Besides, we really wanted you to be here since you’ve been traveling so much lately.

Mia... Damon said, shaking his head at me. "Normal girls want huge weddings, like, I don’t know, at horse barns, and here you are, probably thinking of getting yourself a pasta dish at the Cheesecake Factory."

I chuckled and bumped my hip against him playfully. Who said weddings need to be huge?

His parents are dead, huh? Damon frowned.

I nodded, leaning forward. Yeah. Didn’t you know? You two have been best friends for what... five years?

Damon pinched his nose and closed his eyes as he stopped to think. Yeah. Five years sounds about right. You came into our lives two years ago. You skateboarded right into us.

I patted him on his shoulder, grinning. My niece wanted me to show her a trick I knew how to do pretty well, but the wheels went out, and I just slammed into both of you. Fuck, when I fell on you guys, I thought I would get sued or something.

Instead, we became fast friends. Damon pumped his fist in the air.

My giggle was drowned out by a passing fire truck.

I clasped my hands together, closed my eyes, and wished whoever waited for the help would get it in time. 

Damon’s shoulders slumped. I’m sorry for being away so much. I want to eventually be the best detective our state has ever seen. It takes a lot to grow into someone I could be proud of becoming.

I rested my hand on top of our clasped palms. I’m proud of you. You recently solved a major case in Switzerland. I read about how you found the missing boy. It even made our news here! Are you learning a lot over there about being a detective, or are you ready to move on?

We continued walking, the double doors opened automatically, and we stepped out of the building. The crisp air felt freeing.

Damon crossed his arms, staring into space. I know how to be an American cop, but I would love to be a detective. I’m not only studying Swiss cops but Japanese, Russian, Swedish, you name it. I get to travel to a lot of cool places and learn different perspectives on how to look at crime scenes. My next stop is back to Japan. This time for a longer visit.

I fidgeted with the skirt of my dress. Thank you for the postcards, by the way. I look forward to your next one. When are you coming back to stay so the three of us can be a team again?

In a couple of months, Damon replied, eyeing Mikey’s car driving toward us. But I don’t think it will ever be like it was in the past. You guys are your own team now. I’m just the third wheel.

My hands clenched my bouquet of flowers. Somehow, his words felt like a stab to my heart. I hope you’re wrong, Damon, because I need both of you in my life, always. We’ve been so close since our first meeting. It would be great to skate together again, go to drive-in movies, and do so many other things.

Mikey got out of the car.

I froze and stared with wide eyes and raised eyebrows at his appearance. He had changed into jeans and a dress shirt. It was as if the suit he wore for the wedding never existed.

Why did you change, man? Damon asked, his jaw jutted stubbornly forward.

Mikey shrugged and winked at me; his enigmatic smile aimed at Damon. I wanted my bride to steal the scene at the restaurant. All eyes on the gem I finally caught. His eyes never wavered from mine after his attention returned solely to me.

The pride in his voice made me grin from ear to ear.

He opened my door, and I got into the car. Damon, we’ll see you at the restaurant!

Damon scratched his neck and waved goodbye.

Hours later, it wasn’t hard to notice how he never showed up at the restaurant. Damon truly felt left out of my new life with Mikey.

My lips quivered while I was washing my hands, taking a small moment for myself before leaving for home with Mikey. If my new husband hadn’t distracted me with rose petals all over our apartment, I would probably have been depressed for days afterward.

Chapter 1

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Mia

Hey! I saw that! Olivia blew out her cheeks, making all of us chuckle.

My eyes lit up, and I raised my hands up in defense. I didn’t do anything.

You did that trick with the cards. You changed them at the last second! Olivia folded her arms across her chest, her eyes twinkling.

Emma placed her cards in front of her. Mia wouldn’t do that.

She would for the fun of it. Camila shrugged and winked at me. I would, especially if I was the dealer.

I rolled my eyes and sat back in my chair. "Zero faith in me, like, seriously. Okay, let's play a new round. Anyone