Praise for the Fall Away series
‘I read this book in one sitting. Rival was as gripping as it was sexy!’
#1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover
‘Full of feeling and intensity that will appeal to the reader seeking an emotional rush’
IndieReader
‘This smoking-hot, action-packed story is a powerful addition to the edgy side of the genre, and readers will eagerly anticipate the next installment’
Publishers Weekly
‘I was really craving a book that would make me stop everything I was supposed to be doing and devour every word … and that’s exactly what Bully did!’
Smitten Book Blog
‘A unique twist on the bad boy meets good girl tale. I could not put it down!’
Aestas Book Blog
‘She did something seasoned writers haven’t been able to do – take a hero who was a complete ass and make me fall in love with him’
Scandalicious Book Reviews
Also by Penelope Douglas
Bully
Until You
Rival
Falling Away
Copyright
Piatkus
First published in the US in 2014 by New American Library, divisions of Penguin Group (USA) LLC,
First published in Great Britain in 2015 by Piatkus
Copyright © 2015 by Penelope Douglas
Excerpt from Aflame © 2015 by Penelope Douglas
The moral right of the author has been asserted.
All characters and events in this publication, other than those clearly in the public domain, are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
ISBN 978-0-349-40584-1
Piatkus
An imprint of
Little, Brown Book Group
100 Victoria Embankment
London EC4Y 0DY
An Hachette UK Company
www.hachette.co.uk
www.piatkus.co.uk
FALLING AWAY PLAYLIST
“Again”
by Alice in Chains
“Battle Born”
by Five Finger Death Punch
“Better Than Me”
by Hinder
“Bones”
by Young Guns
“Cruel Summer”
by Bananarama
“Deal with the Devil”
by Pop Evil
“The Deep End”
by Crossfade
“Down with the Sickness”
by Disturbed
“Dragula”
by Rob Zombie
“Falling Away from Me”
by Korn
“Firework”
by Katy Perry
“Good Man”
by Devour the Day
“Heaven Knows”
by the Pretty Reckless
“Hemorrhage (In My Hands)”
by Fuel
“Here Without You”
by 3 Doors Down
“The High Road”
by Three Days Grace
“I Hate Myself for Loving You”
by Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
“I’m Not Jesus”
by Apocalyptica
“Me So Horny”
by 2 Live Crew
“My Demons”
by Starset
“Never Gonna Stop (The Red, Red Kroovy)”
by Rob Zombie
“Slept So Long”
by Jay Gordon
“Stupify”
by Disturbed
“Take Out the Gunman”
by Chevelle
“Talk Dirty to Me”
by Poison
“Tired by Stone”
by Stone Sour
“Torn to Pieces”
by Pop Evil
“Trenches”
by Pop Evil
To all the good people who had bad parents.
We’re going to be okay.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
To my parents, two who taught me the right way and one who taught me the wrong way but all who loved me. I learned that honesty and trust are golden and character and integrity are prized. Thank you.
To my husband and daughter, both who sacrificed to see these characters live. I owe my daughter lots of trips to the park, and my husband … well, you know what I owe you, honey. And I’ll get on that. Soon. Totally soon. I promise.
To my support system at New American Library, all of whom put up with my endless questions and work hard to protect my vision for the Fall Away Series. Thank you, Kerry, Isabel, and Courtney for your trust, advice, and help.
To Jane Dystel at Dystel & Goderich Literary Management, who found me, and thank goodness for that! You’re always working, and I always feel important. Thanks to you, Miriam and Mike, for staying on top of everything and taking care of me.
To my street team, the House of PenDragon, who are a wonderful group of women—and one guy—who hold one another up and create a community of friendship and fun times. Needless to say, I laugh my butt off watching your conversations online, and I enjoy seeing how close you all have become. Bananas forever!
To Eden Butler, Lisa Pantano Kane, Ing Cruz, and Marilyn Medina, who are all available at the drop of a hat to look at a scene or provide quick emergency feedback. Thank you for walking with me through this process and being honest.
To Vibeke Courtney. Plain and simple, this is all you. If I had never met you, I might never have tried writing a book. And without you, it would never have been successful. My writing was nearly all narration before you got your hands on it, and you helped create my voice. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
To the readers and reviewers, thank you for keeping my work alive and showing your love and support! Your feedback, thoughts, and ideas have been incredibly important as these stories developed, and I always write with you in mind. I hope I can continue to give you characters you want to reread over and over again!
CONTENTS
PRAISE FOR THE FALL AWAY SERIES
ALSO BY PENELOPE DOUGLAS
COPYRIGHT
FALLING AWAY PLAYLIST
DEDICATION
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
PROLOGUE
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