DARE SERIES COLLECTION

by Tessier, Shantel

He tried to drug her? What the actual fuck? And he actually thought he was doing her a favor. I stare into Demi’s blue eyes while I listen to this guy who is supposed to be her boyfriend, and I can’t figure out what I’m missing.

  “Please say something,” he begs. When my silence lingers, he breaks down like a fucking chick. “I’m sorry,” He sobs. “They have a video of me and Hayden … you know that can’t get out, Demi. It can’t …” He sniffs. “Please tell me that you forgive me.”

  “If you’re afraid of a video getting out, wait until I’m done with you.”

  He gasps. “Wait … What? Deke, is that you?”

  I don’t answer.

  “I didn’t …”

  “But you tried,” I shout, interrupting him, knowing where he is going. I can literally see the evidence on her body as she stands in front of me. He tried to drug her!

  “She has to understand,” He growls no longer begging for forgiveness since he knows I’m not Demi on the phone. “I helped her out when she wanted to fuck you. Putting on that fake fight for you to sweep in and feel like a fucking man trying to save her. The least she could have done was let me do what I needed to do to save my ass. It’s not like she was still a virgin anymore.”

  My eyes swing to Demi’s at his confession, and I take a step toward her. “You’re dead.”

  DEMI

  You’re dead?

  He still holds the phone to his ear, but his eyes are on mine. I’m not sure if he meant that for me or for Seth, but my heart pounds in my chest, nonetheless.

  He pulls the phone from his ear, holds down the button to turn it off, and then throws it across the room. I hear it slide on the tile hallway that leads out of the living room. His eyes never leave mine. “Cole, take Austin—”

  “No.” She interrupts him, coming to stand beside me.

  My eyes shoot to Cole. He looks like he’s debating on staying. As if he wants to have a hand in whatever Deke plans on doing to me. Why do they think I’ve somehow betrayed them? I haven’t done shit to Cole.

  “Now!” Deke shouts, making me jump.

  Cole steps up to us, grabs Austin by the arm, and pulls her away from me. “Don’t you fucking hurt her, Deke!” she screams at Deke as Cole drags her out of the room. The front door slams shut moments later.

  We stand in silence, facing one another with only a few feet separating us. He stands, shoulders pulled back, and he’s breathing heavily. He looks like a storm about to drown me before carrying me out to sea to never be found.

  I swallow nervously. “I don’t know what he said …”

  “Enough,” he says in a clipped voice.

  “Deke, let me explain,” I growl, tired of this shit.

  “How you played me?” He quirks a brow.

  My jaw tightens. “This has nothing to do with you.”

  “Bullshit!” he shouts.

  I step into him. If I’m gonna go out, I’m gonna go out with some fucking balls. Men aren’t the only ones who can have them. “I did what …”

  “Needed to be done.” He nods. “You said that before. And Seth obviously feels the same.”

  I slam my fist in his hard chest. He doesn’t budge, but he grabs my wrist, and I whimper when he squeezes it tightly. “I never did anything to you against your will,” I shout, feeling the tears begin to burn my eyes. Once again, my sister wins. She fucked me over. I tried to do something to piss her off, and it burned me. I should have never let Deke touch me.

  I hit him with my other fist, and he grabs that one too. I cry out when he holds them both captive. His long and strong fingers digging into my bony wrists.

  He leans down, placing his face in front of mine, and whispers, “Two can play that game.”

  “Deke … what …?”

  “Seth told me that he helped you set me up. That first night I fucked you.”

  My eyes widen. That sorry little bastard. I will out him. I will no longer keep his fucking secret.

  “I’m guessing this is just another game you two are playing.” He spins around, drops my wrists and grips my neck, slamming my back into the wall by the TV. My vision blurs for a second from his force. When it clears, I see his murderous eyes stare into mine. “You asked me before if I wanted to hurt you.” He growls, tightening his hand.

  I try to shove it away, but he’s too strong.

  “The answer is that I want to fucking kill you, Demi. You’re a fucking pain in my ass. Your sister may be a fucking slut, but you are nothing to me. Do you understand that?” He shakes me and dots take over my vision. “Nothing.”

  Panic sits in my bones as my body screams for a breath. To survive. I kick my feet, but all I hit is air. I slap at his face, but I don’t think he even feels it. My already bruised cheek throbs, and my head pounds. When that gets me nowhere, I scratch at his arm and try to shove his wrist away, but he’s just too strong. Tears run down my face, and he watches them as if fascinated. I’ve heard of the sharks and how ruthless they can be, but I’ve never seen one firsthand. Until now. He doesn’t care about me or my life. I’m a problem for him, and he’s going to make me go away. My lips move, but nothing comes out. I try to beg him to stop, but it’s pointless. My head pounds so hard it feels like it’s about to explode. I’m losing mobility, my body becomes heavy.

  I reach out to the mantel below the TV and wrap my fingers around the first thing I feel, swinging it into the side of his head with as much force as I can manage.

  “Fuck!” He lets go, stepping away from me, and I crumple to the floor.

  I gasp for breath. My chest is tight, throat burns, and tears run down my face.

  He stands before me, reaching up and wiping his fingers through the trail of blood that runs down the side of his gorgeous face.

  I stay on my knees with my head bowed for a few seconds, trying to catch my breath. I don’t have much time before he comes at me again. I can’t swallow without it hurting and gasping for air. When I look up at him, I blink, allowing fresh tears to run down my face.

  His blue eyes tell me he’s not done with me. That was just the beginning. I’m a toy he wants to play with. There’s a promise there that I will die, but not yet. Maybe he’ll make me beg first. Men prefer a girl on her knees.

  He kneels in front of me, and I push back away from him, falling to my ass. I had dropped the object I had hit him with, so nothing is in my reach now. My back hits the wall again, and I whimper when he reaches out, pushing my hair behind my ear. His bloody fingers graze the bruise on my cheek from Seth, and I swallow a sob. My body shakes, and my heart pounds.

  “It’s a shame, Demi.” He sighs as if he hates to do what he is about to do. As though he doesn’t have a choice to kill me or not. “You are very beautiful.” Then his soft blue eyes harden, and his pouty lips thin. “But …”

  “I set you up.” My voice is rough, and the pain makes me flinch, but I need to explain it to him. My life depends on it. “We set you up,” I say honestly. It’s time to fill him in because there’s obviously bigger shit going on right now. And I need to know what it is. “I wanted you to fuck me to piss off Becky.”

  He pulls away from me and stands. I look up at him through watery eyes, placing my shaking hands on my thighs. “But you already knew that. What you don’t know is that Seth is gay, and I’m his cover. We pretend to be a couple because he is fucking his professor. And if it got out, he’d get kicked out of school and lose his scholarship. Not to mention, Hayden would lose his job.” I’m panting, trying to catch my breath.

  He stays looking down at me for a few seconds before spinning around and giving me his back. Running a hand through his dark hair, he lets out a growl. “There’s a video. That’s what he doesn’t want to get out,” he mumbles to himself.

  I pull myself up on my shaky legs, having to use the wall for help. I can finally breathe a little better, and I suck in a long breath. He turns to face me, and I square my shoulders. “Decide right now,” I demand.

  His baby blue eyes glare at
me. His jaw sharp and nostrils flared. I think he’s debating on whether to let me live or just finish me off. I deserve all his anger, but I’ve had enough tonight. I’ve reached my breaking point. “Decide!” I shout, but my voice cracks. Obviously, I’m not back to myself just yet.

  “On what?” He growls.

  “Whether you’re going to kill me or not,” I answer with a huff. “I’m tired of this fucking game, Deke. Make up your fucking mind. Either you want me dead or not.” I’m not dumb. Deke will be harder to fight, especially considering I’m still a little lightheaded from his hand being around my throat, but I’m fucking done.

  He takes a step toward me. I glare up at him, muscles tight and ready to pounce on him with everything I got. Shit will get broken in this house, but I will fight until my last breath.

  Reaching out, he runs his knuckles softly down my sensitive neck. I tense, expecting him to pull on my hair and throw me to the floor like Seth did. “What have I told you before?” he asks, and I don’t say a word, not sure what he’s talking about. “If that were the case, then you would already be dead.”

  I shove him away from me. I have a feeling if I hadn’t hit him, I’d be lying dead on his floor right now. “Then stay the hell away from me, Deke.”

  “You came to me.”

  “I came for Austin,” I snap. “I don’t need you!” I look him up and down, noticing the way his jeans hug his narrow hips and muscular thighs. How his shirt shows me his pecs and bulging biceps. I hate how attractive he is with everything that I am. The fucker just tried to kill me, but the twisted part inside me likes it. I’ve challenged him before, and he didn’t give me the Deke Biggs I wanted to see until today. And fuck, he’s powerful. Fucking ruthless. I like that. When my eyes meet his again, I say, “You served your purpose.”

  His hands clench, and I realize I struck a nerve. Good.

  He steps into me just as we hear the front door open followed by Austin’s voice call out frantically. “Demi?”

  “Here.” I try to holler, but my voice cracks.

  She enters the living room and runs to me, throwing her arms around my shoulders, shoving me away from Deke. Her green eyes look me up and down to make sure I’m not missing any body parts. “Oh my God!” She gasps when she sees my neck. “Deke, what the fuck did you—”

  “She’s alive,” he interrupts her.

  Cole enters much slower and looks over at me. The way he fists his hands, I can tell he’s not as pleased as Austin is that I’m still breathing.

  The guys exchange a look before Cole gestures to the sliding glass door with his head, and Deke follows him out back.

  “Are you sure you’re okay?” Austin asks me.

  I sniff but nod my head.

  Sighing, she pulls me in for another hug. And I cling to her, wishing she had been my sister. I always wanted to be close with Becky, but it was just never an option. I know it wasn’t just me; she’s that way with everyone—a coldhearted bitch.

  “Come on.” She pulls away from me and takes my hand.

  “Where are we going?” I ask her.

  “Out.”

  I look over my shoulder to the backyard and see the guys standing by the pool. Deke’s head is down, and Cole stands with his arms crossed over his chest. “But Cole—”

  “Fuck Cole.” She interrupts me. “Fuck them both.” On the way out, she bends down and picks up my phone off the floor.

  _______________

  She took me to a bar. Well, I guess that’s what some call it. To me, it looks like a run-down shack.

  “He’ll find you,” I tell her.

  “Most likely,” she agrees. “I’ve heard Deke talk about this place on several occasions. If he can get in, so can we.”

  We enter the old wooden door and look over the small dance floor. Now I understand why the parking lot was so dead for a Friday night. Most of their customers are over sixty. An old man with silver hair is hunched over on the dance floor dancing with a woman who can’t quite get the steps right. He’s got a smile on his face, and she is laughing.

  I follow Austin over to the bar and sit down. The bartender lifts a brow at us.

  “Two shots of Fireball,” she orders.

  “IDs?” he asks.

  I bite my bottom lip nervously, but she pulls her wallet out and shows him one. He looks at it for a long second and then back at her.

  “Problem?” she asks.

  He sets it down and slides it over to her. “Your friend?”

  “Got her purse stolen. That’s why we’re here. Drink away the shitty fucking day.”

  After looking over my face as well, his eyes drop to my neck. I’m sure my bruises match her lie perfectly. I look like a girl who was beaten before robbed. He nods and turns his back to us and begins to make us our shots. I wonder how in the hell her ID is gonna get us drinks but then remember the guys giving her a fake ID when they made her join the GWS back in Collins. I read it in her journal.

  “Here you go, ladies.”

  She tosses her debit card on the bar. “Open a tab.”

  She grabs her shot and hands me mine. Without wasting another second, she throws hers back. and hisses in a breath. “It’s been a long time since I’ve had anything to drink. Besides that wine the other night. And I didn’t get to have much since Lilly was home.”

  I swallow mine and try to keep it down when it wants to come back up. I hate this shit.

  “He’s gay, isn’t he?” she asks.

  “Yes,” I answer honestly, knowing who she’s talking about.

  “I figured. I saw the way he was checking out the guys at Silence. And you guys weren’t very affectionate with one another.”

  I never paid attention to who and what he was looking at. I wasn’t jealous, and Seth isn’t out in the open. He plays straight very well because he’s been doing it all his life. He once told me his dad would disown him if he ever found out, and he feels he has to hide it from his team members. I once thought it was very sad and depressing, but after what he tried to do to me tonight, I no longer care what he’s going through.

  “There were things he did here and there. Very subtle, but I picked up on them. How did you guys hook up?” She lifts her hand to signal for two more.

  “His mother was my mother’s real estate broker. I first met him when she got the house five years ago, and we became friends. My mom has made me spend a few weeks with her here in Texas every summer, and I always hung out with him ’cause our mothers were friends. So when she made me move here for my senior year, he asked me for a favor, and I said yes. Wasn’t like I planned on getting a real boyfriend.” I shrug.

  She nods her head, and her cell rings. She shuts it off.

  “Cole?” I ask.

  “Yep. Let him feel what it’s like when you’re worried about someone, but they ignore you.”

  I frown, not knowing what she is talking about. The bartender sets two more shots down.

  “Make it four next time,” she tells him.

  I drop my head to stare at my shot; she’s already downed hers. “I’m sorry you guys are fighting because of me.”

  She looks over at me. “It’s not your fault, Demi.”

  “Wanna talk about it?” I ask.

  She runs her hand through her dark hair and lets out a sigh. “I … I couldn’t stand by and let Deke hurt you. I understand they have this unwavering loyalty, but Cole shouldn’t have let him hurt you. He dragged me out of the house and put me in his car. I was screaming at him. He was just gonna leave you there with him, knowing he was going to do something to you. But I opened up the door and ran back inside before he could get out of the driveway. I had to make sure you were okay.” The bartender sets four shots on the bar now, and she throws back one. “I used to be scared of them. The sharks. But now, they’re like fucking flies that I just wanna swat with my bare hand on most days.”

  I laugh at that. She looks over at me and laughs as well. Then I pick up my shot, and we clink them together.

/>   She slams her glass down as I try to swallow mine. “She wasn’t wrong,” she whispers.

  I don’t say anything, confused by what she means.

  “I think about it too,” she admits softly.

  I begin to understand. “Austin, don’t …”

  “What if he gets bored with me?” she whispers.

  “Cole is madly in love with you,” I say, placing my hand on hers.

  She looks over at me. “We can’t fight forever. We both can’t be this stubborn. One of us is going to have to give, or it will end.”

  “Cole would never leave you. Ever.”

  She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. “He’s here.”

  “Who?” I take a quick look around the bar. Did Seth follow me? My heart pounds at the thought. The odds of me fighting him off twice are not good. I’m already weak and tired.

  “Cole,” she answers, opening her eyes.

  “How do you know?” I ask.

  She lets go of my hand and takes another shot. “I can feel him watching me.” She throws back the shot and a smile appears on her face before she whispers, “I dare you.”

  Just then, a man walks up behind her and places his hands on her hips. I watch Cole lean down and whisper in her ear. “Hello, sweetheart.” He’s no longer the pissed-off guy he was thirty minutes ago, but I can’t tell if it’s a front or real. He’s put a shirt on and now wears jeans instead of his board shorts and has his hair spiked.

  She wipes the smile off her face and stands, turning around to face him. “I didn’t want to be around you.”

  He tucks her hair behind her ear. “And I didn’t care.”

  She huffs. “Cole …”

  He cuts her off with a kiss. One hand cups her cheek while the other goes to her ass, and he kisses her. It’s passionate. Slow and sexy. I watch his tongue enter her mouth as he pushes her back into the bar. I’ve never spent much time with them, but I’ve read about their passion, anger, and sex life in her journal. And the words she wrote don’t even compare to the real thing. To what he feels for her.

  He pulls away, and she licks her lips, her eyes slowly opening. “I’m not leaving,” she states.

  “I didn’t expect you would.” He lets go of her, grabs her hand, and says, “Dance with me,” before pulling her away from the bar.