DARE SERIES COLLECTION

by Tessier, Shantel

“That we know of. But plans change,” Deke says cryptically.

  I sigh. “Then what are you gonna take?”

  “His legs. His arms.” Cole shrugs carelessly. “Hands. Whatever body part the man needs to play football.”

  “You’re gonna break his bones?” I ask.

  Deke chuckles behind me. “No, princess. Bones can heal.”

  I swallow at the amusement in his voice, but I feel butterflies in my stomach. This is the part of Deke I wanted to see. The ruthless evil that swims inside him.

  Cole leans forward, placing his elbows on his knees. “I’ve got a question, though. There was a woman. She was at UT. Before we knew he was gay, we saw him talking to her outside the classroom. And we thought he was cheating on you with her. Do you know who she is?”

  I frown. Seth has a lot of girls who are friends. He gets along with everyone. “What did she look like?”

  “Pretty,” he says with a smirk and I know he said that just to piss Austin off. “She had brown hair and brown eyes—”

  “That’s his twin sister.” I interrupt Cole, knowing who they are talking about. “She is dating Peter. The guy who you guys beat up the other day after swim practice.”

  A slow smile spreads across Shane’s face, and it has me sitting back more into Deke. I don’t know much about him. Less than the others. He was closest with Kellan. Who knows what Shane is thinking now?

  “Are you going to hurt her?” Austin asks.

  Cole sits back and runs his hand over his chin. “We’ll do whatever needs to be done.”

  “Our concern is Seth,” Bennett says, looking at Austin. Clearly trying to smooth over what Cole just said. “He’s our main priority. I doubt she knows much.”

  Austin gets up and walks out of the room. Cole watches her from his seat but makes no move to go after her. Seconds later, you hear their bedroom door slam shut.

  Shane laughs. “Don’t you worry she’ll kill you in your sleep?”

  Cole just smiles. He’d probably get off on that.

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  DEKE

  I MAKE MY way through the crowd of kids who clutter the living room. “Boneshaker” by Redlight King blasts through the large speakers that are placed in the corners.

  I take a drink from my Solo cup as a blonde pushes her way past me. She steps up onto the coffee table and removes her shirt, showing everyone her pink bra with white polka dots on it. She tosses the shirt to another girl who stands beside me. Guys and girls holler over the song. I keep walking, not seeing who I’m looking for. I exit the living room and head down a long hallway. I catch sight of Cole standing in the kitchen talking to a girl who sits next to us in one of our classes at UT. His eyes meet mine briefly, but he doesn’t acknowledge me in any way. I pass the kitchen and keep going until I’m in the back of the house.

  The lights are dimmed back here, and the song changes to “Legend” by The Score. I take another drink and spot who I’m looking for.

  She stands back in the corner, leaning up against the wall. She has a cup in her hand and a smile on her face while talking to another girl. And I recognize her. She doesn’t look the same, but I would never forget her face.

  What are the odds?

  I walk over to them. “Excuse me?”

  They both turn to look at me. “I know you.” I point at the brunette that I’m not here for.

  She bites her bottom lip and looks me up and down. “I don’t know you.”

  I chuckle. “Well, not officially.” I hold out my right hand. “I’m Deke.”

  “Brynn.” She introduces herself.

  “You work at Silence.”

  She nods her head quickly and shakes my hand. “Yes, I do. You’ve been there?”

  “I have,” I say to the girl who had asked me to help her. Brynn was strapped in a straitjacket and sitting in a tub full of black water.

  “She’s been doing that job for two years now,” the other girl says, rolling her eyes. “I don’t know why she does it.”

  “What can I say?” Brynn smiles. “I like being restrained and held under water.”

  “Dear lord.” Her friend sighs. “You need to fire your therapist. He is not doing you any favors.”

  Brynn laughs. “Oh, he gives me favors all right.”

  “Did I hear something about restraints and water?” An arm drapes over my shoulders, and I look over to see Shane now standing with us. His eyes start at her red heels and work up her white skinny jeans and black V-neck tank top that shows off her impressive cleavage. She wears a black choker and a smile on her pretty face. “I’m sad I missed it.”

  She takes a drink from her straw. “Well, we get to keep our props.”

  Shane chuckles and takes her hand. “Let me get you another drink while you tell me all about it,” he says, pulling her away.

  I turn to the girl who I came here for. “Melissa.” She holds out her hand. She tilts her head to the side. “I’ve seen you around campus.”

  “Really?” I ask. “Do we have classes together?”

  She shakes her head. “No, but I’ve seen you with my brother.”

  “Oh, who is your bother?” I play dumb.

  “Seth. Seth Wilson.”

  I nod my head. “Yeah. Yeah. He’s friends with some of my teammates.”

  Her face lights up. “You play football?”

  “No. I’m on the swim team at UT.”

  “That’s awesome.” She smiles up at me. “My boyfriend is too. Maybe you know him? Peter.”

  Yes, unfortunately, I know that fucker. I feel my phone vibrate in my back pocket and pull it out. I drop it on purpose. “Shit.” I hiss.

  “I’ll get it.” She leans over and picks it up for me.

  “Thank you.” I laugh. “Had a little too much to drink.”

  “It happens.” She lifts her cup to her lips and takes a sip.

  I look down at my phone and open my messenger.

  Cole: Are you almost done? I can’t talk shit with this girl anymore. Fuck, this is why I never hung out with people at parties.

  I chuckle but respond.

  Me: It’s done. Get ready.

  “I know him,” I say, getting back to our conversation. “How long have you guys been dating?”

  “It’s new,” she answers with a laugh.

  “Is he here tonight?” I ask, looking over my shoulder to see if people are watching us. But nope, everyone is too busy doing their own thing. I don’t even see Shane and Brynn.

  “No. He went out of town this weekend to see his grandmother.”

  I want to laugh. The bastard is probably shacked up with some bitch. The way he spoke of Demi didn’t sound like a man in a committed relationship. I guarantee this chick isn’t the only one he’s fucking.

  “Whoa,” she says.

  I pocket my phone. “You okay?” I ask, placing my hand on her arm.

  She closes her eyes and sways on her feet. I take her drink from her other hand and see that she had finished it off. “Good girl,” I whisper.

  “Huh?” She asks with heavy eyes.

  “Nothing. Here let me help you.”

  “I … what …?” she slurs.

  I walk her out the back door where there are less people, and she stumbles over her own feet. I lean down and pick her up, carrying her in my arms to the SUV parked a few houses down so the partygoers don’t see us. Cole is opening the hatch to my Range Rover for me. I place the passed-out girl in the back. After removing her phone from the back pocket of her jeans, I jump in the passenger seat. Cole gets in the driver seat since he hasn’t been drinking. Bennett already sits in the back.

  “Where the fuck is Shane?” I growl.

  Bennett pulls out his cell and calls him. “Where are you? We’re ready,” he snaps. “Get your ass out here.” He hangs up. “He’s coming. Pretty sure he was fucking.”

  I roll my eyes. “Should have left his ass in Collins,” I mumble.

  Seconds later, I see him running down the street, and he ju
mps into the back seat barely in enough time before Cole takes off.

  I smile as I slide her screen and see that she didn’t have a lock on it and go to Seth’s name. I type out a message.

  Me: Meet me at the cabin. ASAP. It’s important.

  Then I shut her phone off so he can’t contact her.

  _______________

  I sit on the couch at the cabin, and Cole sits next to me. Shane sits at the kitchen table texting away on his phone. Pretty sure it’s to the girl from the party who works at Silence. Bennett stepped out back five minutes ago, saying he needed to make a call.

  “How long has it been?” Cole asks.

  I look down at the clock on my phone. “Thirty minutes. He should be here any minute.”

  The back door opens, and Bennett steps inside.

  “How long do you think this will take?” Shane asks. “I’ve got plans later.”

  I roll my eyes. “Would these plans consist of a girl and a straitjacket?”

  “Yep,” he answers. “All I need is a tub. Or a pool would do.”

  Bennett shakes his head. “I don’t wanna know anymore. Drugging and kidnapping one girl is enough for one night.”

  Headlights shine through the front window, and seconds later, they shut off followed by a door shutting.

  “Showtime,” Shane says excitedly.

  The front door bursts open, and Seth runs inside. He comes to a quick stop when he sees all of us taking up the small area. He swallows as his eyes go to each of us. He looks at the floor and at the chair next to me. He realizes instantly that it wasn’t his sister who messaged him. “Where is she?” he demands.

  “Safe. For now.” I stand.

  He takes a step toward me. “If you …”

  “What?” I ask. “Rape her? Take advantage of her? Like you were going to do Demi?”

  He swallows, making his Adam’s apple bob up and down. “I didn’t have a choice.”

  “Funny,” Cole says, coming to stand next to me. “Neither did we.”

  His jaw sharpens. “I’ll tell you anything you need to know.” I expected it to be that easy. Too bad it had to be this way.

  I reach out my hand. “Give me your phone.”

  “No.” He shakes his head, taking a step back. “Anything but that.”

  “Shane,” I call out, not taking my eyes off Seth.

  I hear the chair he’s sitting in slide across the tile and then his shoes on the floor as he exits and goes to the only bedroom in this small cabin. Seconds later, he comes back into the living room, and this time, he has a woman in his arms. She lies across them, still passed out.

  “Melissa!” Seth snaps and goes to take a step toward them, but Cole places a hand on his chest, stopping him.

  I walk over to the kitchen area as Shane sits her in a chair. She slumps forward, and I walk behind her, gripping her dark hair in my hand, I pull her head back. With my free hand, I gently push her brown hair off her face, neck, and chest. I slide my knuckles down over her exposed neck, making him think the worst, but really, I’m just checking her pulse. When satisfied, I pull my hand away and look back at him.

  “Melissa?” he shouts.

  “She can’t hear you,” I tell him. “See, I gave her what GHB you had left.”

  Cole holds up the now empty bottle that he found here earlier this morning. “You know, what you didn’t use on Demi.”

  “You son of a bitch!” he shouts and goes to walk toward me, but Cole slams his fist into Seth’s face, knocking him back.

  “But there wasn’t much left,” I add. “I say we’ve got maybe thirty minutes before she starts to come around.”

  “If you hurt her …”

  “What?” I ask. “What are you going to do? There’s four of us and one of you.” This guy has no clue what we are capable of.

  “And unlike you, none of us are gay.” Shane says, stepping up next to her. “And in case you were wondering, brunettes are my favorite,” he adds, pulling a long piece of rope out of my black duffle bag.

  Blood runs from Seth’s nose as he watches Shane somewhat speechless and wide-eyed.

  Shane moves behind the chair and pulls the girl’s arms behind it. He begins to wrap the rope around her small wrists, binding them together before tying the rope to the chair. Making it impossible for her to move if she wakes.

  “Stop,” Seth chokes out, finding his voice. “I’ll give it to you.”

  I stay where I’m at, holding the girl’s head back by her hair, and Cole takes the phone from him. He brings it over to me. Pulling up his Facebook app, he then goes to his PMs. He scrolls down until he gets to Evan Scott and opens it up.

  Evan Scott: Want to keep your secret a secret? Fuck Demi Holt.

  Seth: What? Who the fuck is this?

  Evan Scott: Someone who knows everything about you.

  Seth: Fuck off, man.

  Then Evan sends a video to him. Cole pushes play. Sounds of grunts fill the silent room as we watch Seth and our English Lit professor fuck under the sheets of a bed. It’s clear who it is and what they are doing. Cole exits out of it.

  Seth: What the fuck? How did you get that?

  “Where was this recorded at?” I demand, not bothering to look up at him.

  “Here,” he answers roughly.

  Evan Scott: Fuck Demi Holt at the cabin in the bedroom, and I’ll keep your secret. You’ve got twenty-four hours.

  Cole exits out of the app. I look at Seth. “When were you here with him?”

  Blood still drips from his nose and onto his white T-shirt. He won’t look us in the eyes. Instead, he stares at the floor. He’s embarrassed. I don’t give two shits who he fucks as long as it isn’t Demi against her will. “Last time was earlier this week. This is where we always meet.”

  “Go check the bedroom,” I order to Shane. “There has to be a camera set up.”

  “Evan didn’t tell you to drug her. What made you think to do it?”

  “I thought it would be easier …” He swallows. “I overheard Peter talking about it. He sold it to me.”

  “You bought GHB from your sister’s boyfriend?” I demand.

  He flinches but doesn’t answer.

  “Who all knows you’re gay?” Cole asks him.

  “No one did. No one other than Demi.”

  “And Professor?”

  He shakes his head. “He wouldn’t do this.”

  “What makes you so sure?” I ask. Now that I know he bought the GHB from Peter, and Peter had been the one openly bragging about how he would fuck Demi. I’m thinking that maybe they weren’t as careful as they thought. And the professor needed to cover his tracks.

  He runs his hand over his dark hair. “’Cause we’ve been hooking up for over a year. There’s no reason to do it now.”

  Shane enters again and shakes his head. “Nothing.”

  My jaw clenches. “It doesn’t make any sense. Someone had to know. And they are connected to both you and Demi.” And us. They had us come to this very cabin to give us that fucking letter.

  “Becky.”

  We all turn to look at Shane. He leans up against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest. “I accused the wrong sister. She’s the only one who connects them both and the four of us. She came here to Texas with you. You fuck her over for her sister.” He shrugs. “She was around him.” He points at Seth. “Who knows what she heard or saw. She’s crazy enough to do it.”

  “But not smart enough to pull it off.” Cole growls.

  “She did have Austin’s journal. She knew a lot more than we knew she did,” I add.

  “What?” Shane asks. “Austin had a journal? What all was in it?”

  “Everything,” I answer.

  “Fuck.” He sighs, leaning back and hitting his head against the wall. “I swear, every time I’m around your asses, I find out more shit that I should have already known.”

  “Bennett.” I turn to face him. He sits at the kitchen table, typing away on his phone. “Bennett?” I s
nap.

  “Oh.” He drops it to the table and joins our conversation. “It could be her. All she’d have to do was see you log in one time. It’s not hard to change an email address and login info.” He shrugs.

  That’s all the confirmation I needed. We’ve spent too much time on this already. If Becky did it, Cole’s right, she won’t be smart enough to cover her tracks. And it’ll be easy to prove.

  I release her hair and lean down to untie the passed-out girl’s wrists and throw the rope to Bennett who is already back to texting on his phone. “Shane,” I say and he pushes off the wall. He walks over to us. “Go load her up in the back of my SUV. Take her back into town.”

  “No!” Seth shouts.

  “He’s just gonna take her home,” I tell him. We did some research earlier before we went out to the party. Their parents are out of town for the night on their yacht. They’re throwing a party for a co-worker of his father’s. Showing off their wealth is the best way to do that.

  “I’ll take her home,” he growls.

  “You’ll be staying with us,” I inform him.

  He swallows nervously, and Shane smiles at him. “Don’t worry, man. I’m not into fucking chicks who are unconscious. I like it when they fight.” He winks at him as he lifts Melissa into his arms.

  “I don’t believe you.” Seth fists his hands.

  I was never going to hurt her. I slipped some GHB into her cup when she bent down to pick up my phone, but I never had any plans to do her any harm beyond that. I didn’t even give her much. I just needed enough for her to sleep while I interrogated her brother.

  “You have my word,” I tell him. “I don’t hurt the innocent.”

  “You’ve drugged her.”

  I take a step toward him. “And you slammed Demi’s face into the floor while you held her down and unzipped your pants. If she hadn’t gotten away, you would have raped her!” I scream the last part. “Your sister will wake up tomorrow with a headache and no memory of tonight, but she won’t think her friend betrayed her.”

  He hangs his head, and I look at Cole. “Help Shane get her in the car.”

  Bennett brings the chair to the center of the room that Melissa just occupied and hands me the rope. “Have a seat, Seth,” I order.

  DEMI

  I chew on my nails as Austin drives us down the dark highway. The clock on her dash reads a little after midnight. Deke sent me a message a half hour ago to head their way. They didn’t tell Austin and me much about their plans for tonight, and I’m not sure I even wanted to know them. The less we know, probably the better.