Copyright  ©  2015  G.K.  DeRosa  LLC    

All  Rights  Reserved.  This  book  may  not  be  reproduced,  in  whole  or  in  part,  in  any  form  or  by  any  means,  including  photocopying,  recording,  or  by  any  information  storage  and  retrieval  system  known  or  hereafter  invented,  without  written  

permission  from  the  publisher,  G.K.  DeRosa.    

Cover  Designer:  Masa  Licinia  

 Published  in  2015  by  G.K.  DeRosa  LLC  

Palm  Beach,  Florida  www.wilderbook.com  ISBN:  978-­‐0692443408  

       

r o l o gu e          

A  violent  clap  of  thunder  burst  through  the  night  sky,  and  Celeste  shot  up  in  her   bed   and   screamed.   The   shrill   cry   echoed   through   the   quiet   house.   Her   heart  raced   as   she   looked  out   the  bay  window  as   a   brilliant   flash  of   lightning   lit   up   the  black   sky.   Movement   at   the   foot   of   her   bed   turned   her   attention   away   from   the  window,  and  she  froze  panicked.  She  heard  a  muffled  whimper  and  a  sniffling  cold  nose  tickle  her  feet.  She  giggled.  Relieved,  she  scooped  up  her  new  puppy  and  held  him  close  to  her  thundering  chest.  Slowly,  her  breathing  returned  to  a  more  normal  rate.    

Suddenly,  Celeste’s  bedroom  door  swung  open  and  her  mother  raced  in,  her  long  brunette  curls  a  tangled  mess.  

“Celeste,   sweetie,  are  you  alright?   I  heard  you  scream  and  came  as   fast  as   I  could.”   Her  warm   caramel   colored   eyes  were   fraught  with   concern   for   her   young  daughter.        

Celeste  nodded  silently,  not  taking  her  eyes  off  the  storm  that  surged  outside  of  her  window.  And  that’s  when  the  deafening  sound  of  an  approaching  police  siren  pierced  the  rainy  night.    

There  was  a  loud  banging  at  the  door  and  Celeste’s  eyes  shot  to  her  mother’s  nervous  ones.  “Stay  here,”  she  told  her  and  sped  down  the  stairs,  grabbing  her  pink  fleece  bathrobe  on  the  way  down.      

Celeste   slipped  out  of  bed  and  cradling  her  puppy   tiptoed   to   the   top  of   the  staircase.    

“Are  you  Olivia  Wilder?”  asked  the  police  officer,  his   face  grim  and  his   tone  professional.  

“Yes  I  am,”  she  answered,  a  slight  tremble  in  her  voice.  “I’m  sorry   to  disturb  you  at   this   time  of  night  Ma’am,  but   I’m  afraid   there’s  

been  an  accident.  It’s  your  husband…”        

P

hap t e r 1          

Celeste   sighed.   “Why   aren’t   boys   in   real   life   like   the   ones   in   the   movies,  Rocky?”   she   asked   her   sleepy   German   Shepherd.   In   response,   the   dog   cocked   his  head  quizzically  to  the  side  before  flopping  down  and  letting  out  a  prolonged  sigh.  All  Celeste  Wilder  wanted  was  to  find  a  guy  who  would  sweep  her  off  her  feet  like  she  had  so  often  seen  in  the  movies.  Surely  that  would  fill  the  empty  void  inside  of  her.  She  had  just   finished  watching  one  of  her  all-­‐time  favorite  movies,  Titanic,   for  probably   the  millionth   time   and   it   left   her   completely  wrapped   up   in   the   fantasy  world   of   endless   love,   romance,   and   adventure   –   until,   that   is,   she   was   snapped  harshly   back   to   reality   by   a   squeal   from   her   cell   phone.   She   saw   it   was   a   text  message  from  her  best  friend  Brian.  

On  my  way.  She  glanced  at  her  watch.  She  had  completely  forgotten  that  they  had  agreed  

to  go  to  the  library  to  study  for  their  American  history  final.  She  grabbed  her  books  and  quickly  stuffed  them  into  her  backpack.  

As  she  headed  down  the  hallway,  Celeste  paused  outside  the  closed  door  of  her   mom’s   room,   carefully   turning   the   handle   to   peek   inside.   Her   mom  was   still  sleeping,   her   short   brown  hair   swept   across   her   face   –   no   doubt   recovering   from  another   overnight   shift.   Celeste’s   mom,   Olivia,   was   the   head   nurse   at   Oak   Bluffs  Hospital  and  often  worked  shifts  that  ran  late  into  the  night.  She  took  her  job  very  seriously,  which  meant  lots  of  lonely  evenings  for  Celeste.    

Beep,  beep!  Celeste  ran  back  to  her  room  and  peered  out  the  window  at  the  black,  sporty  

Mustang   sitting   in   the   driveway.   “Ugh.   Back   to   reality,   Rocky.”   Pulling   her   curly,  golden-­‐blonde  hair  into  a  hasty  ponytail,  she  grabbed  her  bag  and  headed  outside  to  meet  Brian.    

It  was   a   beautiful   day,   one   she  would   have  preferred  not   to   have   to  waste  cooped  up  inside  a  library.  At  least  with  Brian  there,  it  would  be  somewhat  bearable.    

 

C

Brian  hopped  out  of  his  Mustang  with  a  beaming  smile,  his  sandy  brown  hair  ruffled  by  the  wind.  Brian  Kennedy  embodied  the  typical  boy  next-­‐door  good  looks.  Proudly  sporting  his  letterman  jacket  with  the  St.  Alice  Crusaders’  emblem  in  royal  blue  and  gold,  he  looked  like  he  could  have  just  stepped  out  of  a  J.  Crew  magazine.    

“Ready  for  a  mind-­‐numbing  day  of  studying  American  history,  Cel?”        The  Oak  Bluffs   Library  was  built   at   the   turn  of   the   century,   and   stood  as   a  

historic   landmark   building.   They  walked   through   the   atrium   and   Celeste   couldn’t  help  but  stare  at  the  imposing  columns  and  vaulted  ceilings  lined  in  mahogany.  As  beautiful  as  it  was,  to  Celeste  it  had  always  seemed  a  bit  creepy.  The  never-­‐ending  rows  of  massive  book  shelves  and  dark  recesses  seemed  like  the  perfect  setting  for  a  horror  movie.    

She   and   Brian   found   a   quiet   corner   and   settled   in.   “So   what   do   you   think  living  in  New  York  City  will  be  like,  Cel?”  Brian  whispered.    

Celeste  grinned.  “I  have  no  idea,  but  I  know  it’ll  be  amazing!  I  got  my  NYU  welcome  package  in  

the  mail   last   week,   and   everything   seems   so   unreal.   I   can’t   believe  my   dream   of  moving  to  New  York  City  is  actually  happening.  I  got  into  the  dorms  on  campus,  and  I’m  going  to  be  in  a  double  with  a  random  roommate.  I’m  kind  of  freaking  out  about  that  part  though.  What  if  she’s  weird  or  doesn’t  like  me?”  

Brian  chuckled.  “Calm   down,   I’m   sure   she’ll   be   totally   cool   and   everything   will   be   great.   I  

mean,  she  won’t  be  as  cool  as  me,  but  then  again  not  many  people  are.”    Celeste  giggled,  but  then  her  expression  grew  serious.  “I   really   don’t   know  what   I’m   going   to   do  without   you,   Brian.   I’ve   had   you  

right  next  door  for  fifteen  years.  You’ve  been  there  for  me  through  it  all.  How  am  I  going  to  get  through  college  without  you?”    

“Don’t  worry.  You  won’t  be  that  far  away.  I’ll  come  visit  on  weekends.  It’s  not  like  there’s  going  to  be  much  going  on  here  in  Oak  Bluffs  once  you  leave.  I’m  sure  I’ll  be  bored  out  of  my  mind.”    

Celeste  threw  him  a  grateful  look.    “I  think  the  more  important  question  is,  what  am  I  going  to  do  without  you,  

Cel?  School  has  never  been  my  thing.  Whose  homework  am  I  going  to  copy  when  I’m  at  community  college?”  

“Maybe  it’s  about  time  you  start  doing  your  own  homework,  Brian.  You  need  to  figure  out  what  you  want  to  do  with  your  life.”  

Brian  grunted.  “You’re  starting  to  sound  like  my  dad.”  Her  eyes  dropped  to  the  book  in  his  hands  and  she  made  a  face.  “Well,  I  guess  we’d  better  actually  start  studying,  because  if  we  don’t  pass  Mr.  

Wilson’s  final,  neither  of  us  is  going  anywhere.”      They  spent  the  rest  of  the  afternoon  delving  into  American  history,  quizzing  

each  other  until  they  couldn’t  memorize  another  date  if  their  lives  depended  on  it.    Brian  got  to  his  feet  and  stretched.  “We  should  get  going,”  he  reminded  her,  with  a  look  at  the  clock  behind  the  

main  desk.  Celeste’s  mom  was  scheduled  to  work  another  night  shift,  so  Brian  had  invited  her  over  for  dinner.  

As  they  drove  home,  the  soft  rumble  of  the  engine  lulled  Celeste  into  a  semi-­‐conscious  state.  Her  mind  began  to  drift  and  vivid  memories  came  flooding  in.    

 “Olivia,  Celeste,  I’m  home!”    “Daddy!”  said  Celeste  as  she  came  bounding  down  the  stairs  in  her  pajamas.  “It’s  so  late  Kristof,  I  was  getting  worried,”  said  her  mom  rushing  out  of  the  

kitchen.    “Just   some   issues   at   work,   nothing   to   be   concerned   about.   I’ve   got   some  

unruly  clients  in  town  that’s  all.”  “Daddy,  when  I  grow  up  I  want  to  be  a  private  investigator  just  like  you.”  Out  of  the  corner  of  her  eye  she  saw  her  mother  cast  a  nervous  glance  at  her  

father.   He   laughed   and   threw   her   over   his   shoulder.   “It’s   way   past   your   bedtime  young  lady.”  

Celeste   giggled   as   she   hung   upside   down   and   her   dad   carried   her   up   the  stairs  back  to  bed.    

 “Hey  Celeste,   are  you  going   to  get  out  of   the   car?”  asked  Brian,   impatiently  

holding  the  door  open.    “Oh  sorry,  I  didn’t  realize  we  were  here  already.”  “Yeah,  I  got  that.  What  were  you  thinking  about?”    Celeste  paused  just  outside  the  Kennedy’s  front  steps.    “Nothing  really,”  she  said,  avoiding  his  scrutinizing  eyes.  As   Brian   turned   to   walk   inside,   she   interjected,   “Hey,   thanks   for   always  

including  me  in  your  family  dinners  by  the  way.  Sometimes  I  feel  like  I  spend  more  time  with  your  family  than  I  do  with  my  own  mom.”  

“Yeah,   of   course,   that’s  what   best   friends   are   for   right?”   he   said.   “And   you  should  give  your  mom  a  break.  It’s  not  her  fault  she  has  to  work  all  those  long  night  shifts.”  

“I  know.  I  just  wish  we  had  spent  more  time  together  over  the  past  few  years,  you  know,  like  we  used  to.  In  a  couple  of  months,  I’ll  be  gone.”  

“I  thought  I  heard  you  two  out  here,”  said  Mrs.  Kennedy  opening  the  door.    Celeste   put   on   a   bright   smile   as   she   walked   in   and   gave   her   a   hug.     Mrs.  

Kennedy  was  an  elementary  school  teacher,  and  the  perfect  mom  in  Celeste’s  eyes.  She  was  always  home  when  Brian  and  his  sister  came  home  from  school  and  dinner  was   always   on   the   table   promptly   at   6:30pm.   Little   Maxi   came   running   up,   her  unruly  black  curls   tumbling   in  abandon  as  she   jumped   into  Celeste’s  arms.  Maxi—Maxine—was   Brian’s   seven-­‐year-­‐old   sister.   She   positively   worshipped   her   older  brother  and,  by  extension,  Celeste  as  well.    

“I’m  sooo  glad  you’re  here,  Celeste!  You  have  to  sit  by  me!”  Maxi  chimed   in  her  singsong  voice,  grabbing  her  hand  and  leading  her  to  the  table.      

“Celeste,  I’m  glad  you’re  joining  us  for  dinner,”  said  Mrs.  Kennedy,  giving  her  an  affectionate  smile.  “You  haven’t  been  here  in  weeks.”    

Celeste   grinned.   “Yeah,   it’s   been   crazy,   what   with   school   almost   over   and  finals  and  everything.  Mom’s  been  complaining  she  hardly  sees  me  either,  what  with  her  schedule  and  mine.  And  in  a  couple  of  months  I’ll  be  off  to  New  York.”  

“Aren’t   you  nervous   to  move   to   such   a  big   city   after   living   in   little   old  Oak  Bluffs?”  she  asked.  

“Kind  of,  but  I’m  definitely  ready  to  graduate  from  little  St.  Alice  Catholic  High  School.  I  feel  like  we  grew  up  in  a  protective  bubble,  and  I  can’t  wait  to  see  the  real  world  out  there.”    

“Well  we’re  certainly  going  to  miss  you,”  finished  Mrs.  Kennedy.    “I  suppose  we’ll  see  even  less  of  you  while  you’re  in  college,  as  I’m  sure  you’ll  

be  studying  hard,”  Mr.  Kennedy  said.  “But  I  hope  you’ll  stop  in  to  see  us  whenever  you’re  home.  Brian  could  use  some  more  encouragement  in  figuring  out  what  it  is  he  wants  to  do  with  his  future.  There’s  more  to  life  than  sports,  you  know,”  he  added,  looking  pointedly  at  Brian.    

“It’s   not   like   I’m  going   to   spend   the   rest   of  my   life   at   a   community   college,  Dad.  I’ll  figure  it  out.  I  just  don’t  know  what  I  want  do  yet.  Celeste’s  just  lucky,”  Brian  said,  grinning  at  her.  “Tell  them  about  the  campus  tour,”  he  said,  hoping  to  change  the  conversation  before  his  dad,  a  lawyer,  grilled  him  any  further.  

As   she   said   goodnight,   Celeste   thought   about   how  much   she   was   going   to  miss  these  family  dinners  with  the  Kennedys.  Brian  walked  her  home  even  though  it  was  just  next-­‐door  –  he  always  did,  and  as  they  stepped  up  on  the  porch,  he  pulled  a  crumpled  brown  bag  from  his  jacket  pocket.  

 “I  was  going   through   some  of  my  old   stuff   last  night,”  he   explained,   “and   I  found   these   stashed   away   between   my   collection   of   Legos   and   Mighty   Morphin  Power  Rangers.  Remember  our  walkie-­‐talkies?”    

Celeste  opened  the  brown  bag  and  her  eyes  lit  up.    “Oh  my  gosh,  yes!  We  had  so  much  fun  with  these.”  She  giggled.  “Remember  

how  we  used  to  drive  our  parents  crazy  talking  to  each  other  all  night?”    “Over  and  out.”  Brian  quipped.    “That’s  an  affirmative.”    “Listen,  I  know  we’re  going  to  be  too  far  to  use  these  things  soon,  but  I   just  

wanted  you  to  know  that  I’ll  always  be  here  for  you,  no  matter  what,  okay?”  Celeste  swallowed  hard  and  felt  a  lump  in  her  throat.    “And  in  the  meantime,”  Brian  said,  “we  can  play  with  these  all  summer.”  And  

he  pulled  her  into  a  bear  hug.    Celeste  squeezed  him  tightly  and  wiped  her  eyes  when  the  tears  threatened  

to  spill  over.      That  night,   Celeste   couldn’t   sleep.  Alone   in   the  house,   it  was   just   too  quiet.  

She  sat  up  and  looked  across  the  room  to  where  she’d  left  her  walkie-­‐talkie.  She  was  tempted  to  turn  it  on  and  see  whether  Brian  was  still  up.  She  peeked  out  through  the  curtain  of  the  big  bay  window  facing  his  house  but  saw  only  darkness.  She  opened  the  window  hoping  that  the  cool  night  air  would  help  her  sleep.  

She   scolded   herself,   whispering,   “Celeste,   you   are   fine!   You’re   practically  eighteen  and  you’ll  be  living  on  your  own  in  New  York  City  in  a  few  months.  Grow  up  and  stop  being  so  childish!”  

She   slipped   back   down   under   the   covers   and   felt   Rocky’s   cold,   wet   nose  nudge   her   cheek.   She   closed   her   eyes   determined   to   sleep   but   heard   a   rustling  outside  her  window.  Rocky  whined.  She  sat  up  and  swept  the  curtain  aside.  Outside,  perched  in  the  oak  tree  just  a  couple  feet  from  her  window,  she  could  just  make  out  the  outline  of  a  large  black  bird.  

 It   reminded   her   of   pictures   her   grandfather   had   shown   her   after   they’d  watched  the  old  Humphrey  Bogart  film  The  Maltese  Falcon.  She’d  been  curious  as  to  what  a  falcon  was  and  he  had  found  pictures  of  the  predatory  creature  and  shown  

them  to  her.  The  peregrine   falcon,  he  told  her,  was  the   fastest-­‐moving  creature  on  Earth.  She  stared  at  the  bird  in  fascination.  

Could  it  be  a  falcon?  She   was   about   to   lean   further   out   the   window   to   get   a   closer   look   when  

Rocky,   catching   sight   of   the   strange   visitor,   let   out   a   menacing   bark.   The   bird  immediately  took  flight  and  disappeared  into  the  night.  

“Well  that  was  weird,  huh?”    She   crawled  back   into  bed  and  closed  her  eyes,  willing  herself  not   to   think  

about  the  curious  creature.    Celeste   drifted   off   to   sleep   and   into   a   dark   dream.   She   found   herself  

surrounded   by   birds.   They   filled   the   air,   thousands   of   them,   not   unlike   the   old  Hitchcock   horror   movie   The   Birds.   They   filled   the   towering   oak   tree   outside   her  window,  chattering  and  squawking  with  urgency,  as   if   they  were   trying   to   tell  her  something.  Frightened,  she  tried  to  shoo  them  away,  but  they  wouldn’t  budge.  The  largest  stared  at  her   intently,  as   if   looking   into  her  mind,   its  eyes  a  vivid,  hypnotic  blue.  She   felt   strangely  exposed  as  she  stared  back   into   its  oddly  human  eyes.  She  awoke,  startled,  her  breath  coming  rapidly.  She  tried  to  shake  off  the  memory  of  the  dream,  but  she  found  herself  thinking  of  the  strange  bird’s  stare  all  night  long.          Want  to  find  out  what  happens  to  Celeste  next?  Buy  it  now  on  Amazon  -­‐  http://amztk.com/wilder    The  next  book  in  my  series  will  be  released  later  this  year.  Sign  up  to  my  mailing  list  to  be  the  first  to  know  when  it  is  out!  www.wilderbook.com      Contact  me:  Website:  www.wilderbook.com  Email:  gkderosa@wilderbook.com  Facebook:  www.facebook.com/wilderbookseries  Twitter:  vampgirl923  Goodreads:  G.K.  DeRosa