Deleted Scene—fear no truth

Meet Tenley Andre

When I first wrote Fear No Truth, I had a whole section of the story told in flashbacks from Tenley Andre's point of view. Tenley is the murder victim in this mystery, and her POV didn't make it through edits, but I have a particular love for this scene from the party she attended the night she died, and I hope you'll enjoy this glimpse of her.

The music was too loud, the room too hot. And Zayne seemed to have sprouted an extra hand for every beer he’d chugged. Tenley squeezed through the mass of writhing, sweaty people who were supposed to be her friends, smiling at a few and wincing when others copped a feel as she slid by. 

Air. She just needed fresh air. 

And a little more space. Not that Zayne was going for that—Tenley could feel him behind her even without the “Hey!”s and “Watch it!”s flying in her wake.

She moved quicker, her heart rate picking up like it did before a race. Adrenaline. The finish line. 

Zayne couldn’t catch her. 

Nobody ever caught Tenley Andre.

Well. Almost nobody.

She flung the balcony doors wide, gulping the cool night air, heart hammering into her ribs like she’d just sprinted the hundred. 

She sped forward. Leaned over the cold concrete rail. Looked down the hill.

Peaceful out there. 

Tenley could think out there, could even almost feel something, with the cool air blowing the sticky-sweaty memory of Zayne’s paws away. She closed her eyes.

A paw found her bare bicep.

“What the hell is the matter with you, huh?” Zayne slurred, spinning her to face him. “I’m not good enough for you or some shit? Because baby, I got news for you. You’re not going to do much better.”

His full lips curled back over perfect teeth, which matched his perfect clothes, hair, and pedigree. A shame none of that perfection bled into his personality.

Tenley tensed when he jerked her to him. “It’s hot in there,” was all she said.

“It’s hot anywhere you are.” He planted his lips on her neck. She focused on the sensation. Nope. Still nothing. Well—nothing good, anyway. Her head fell back and she studied the stars. 

So bright. So beautiful. So free.

Zayne’s meaty hands roamed over Tenley’s ass. Slid under her tight skirt. She wriggled, trying to break his grip. He’d be pissed, but she didn’t care anymore. His breath was hot on her neck, the smell of beer making her stomach twist and roil. 

“Zayne, stop it.” Tenley turned her head when he tried to kiss her, pushing against his chest. Just when she thought a well-placed knee might be in order, the doors opened behind him. 

“Oh, sorry—hey—Tenley?” 

Nicky. Thank God. 

Tenley shoved Zayne harder and peeked around him, shooting a wordless, wide-eyed SOS at her oldest friend. Her only real friend in this whole crazy messed-up world. 

Nicky crossed the balcony in two long, easy strides, resting a hand on Zayne’s shoulder and looking down at him with a not-subtle-at-all “back off.” 

Nicky just won state in wrestling for the second year in a row. Zayne glared, but he complied.

Tenley pulled in a lungful of bone dry Hill Country air and scooted closer to Nicky. He laid an easy arm around her shoulders. 

Not confining. Not proprietary. Comfortable. Familiar. Home.

Nicky leaned his cheek against Tenley’s hair. “You ready to go home?” he murmured.

She nodded, then pushed his jaw with the top of her head. “You need to shave.”

“I did.”

“When?”

“Friday.”

Zayne cut them one last rot-in-hell look and wandered back into the party.

“You okay?” Nicky steered her to the stairs off the back of the balcony. 

“I am now, thanks to my white knight.” Tenley paused at the rail, the stars jockeying with the sparkling skyline in the distance for most beautiful vista. “Pretty out here.”

“I prefer rainbow armor, thanks. And yeah, it really is.” Nicky brushed a sticky strand of spun gold off Tenley’s cheek and she smiled. 

“What would I do without you?” she asked, her voice soft.

“Let’s never find out.” He laughed his big, booming laugh, and Tenley settled her head in the soft place where his shoulder met his collarbone, listening.

“Let’s not.” She whispered, wrapping her arms tight around his rock-hard middle. “Take me home? I don’t think Zayne’s willing, and tomorrow is a big day.”

“Tuesday? Whys’at? Shit, did I forget about another exam?”

Tenley smiled, towing him toward the steps. “Every day should be a big day, right? We’re young and rich and free and the whole world is at our feet.” She waved to the city below them. “Literally, even.”

“You’re crazy.” He laughed again. Oh, how Tenley loved Nicky’s laugh. “But I love you.”

She stopped on the third stair and turned her face up to his. “And I love you. Don’t you ever forget that. Promise?”