Page 141 of Dare To Live

Garrett gapes at me. “You mean bait them?”

“Yes.”

“They’re an accomplice to murder, Bella! Do you understand how dangerous it could be? This isn’t a game.”

“If we’re careful, no one will get hurt.”

“Are you listening to yourself? Kellan died because he confronted Evan. And now you plan to pull the tiger’s tail and see if she goes after you, if she believes you know of her involvement with Evan Ridley?”

“Garrett is right.” Ivan says. “It’s too dangerous.”

Eli rakes a hand through his hair. “We have the perfect opportunity to bring Evan’s accomplice to justice.”

“At the risk of your own lives,” the Russian continues, his voice calm. “It’s been ten years. If she was going to do something, surely she would have by now. Miles should inform the police of what he knows and let them handle it.”

The need to hunt down whoever it is quiets at his suggestion, and I turn to Eli. “As much as I hate it, they’re right. We can’t risk our lives.”

Eli’s tongue flicks out to play with his lip ring. “Fine.”

Garrett eyes him. “Eli—”

“I said fine.”

A knock at the door interrupts us, and we all fall silent.

“That will be our food.” Ivan moves across the room to open the door, which reveals one of the security guards carrying takeout boxes.

“We’ll take ours back to our room.” Eli doesn’t wait for me and stalks out.

I give the others an uneasy glance. “I’m going to go with him and make sure he’s okay.”

I collect our dinner and drinks and take them back to his room. He kicks the door shut. I place the boxes on the table and unpack them.

I’m aware of him prowling the length of the room like a caged animal, while I prepare everything, and only turn to him when I’m done. “Eli, you need to sit and eat.”

He doesn’t stop pacing. “I’m not hungry.”

The more I stare at him, the more I see the angry eighteen-year-old boy from all those years ago. When his path takes him past me, I walk up behind him, wrap my arms around his waist, and press my cheek to his back.

He stills.

“Miles must have shut the memory down,” I whisper, hugging him tightly. “It’s not his—”

“I know it’s not his fault, Ari.”

“I was worried you might blame him for not remembering before. “

“No, I know he’s a victim too.”

“He never told me about what happened that day,” I wish I could soak in some of his pain, so he doesn’t have to carry it alone. “I never asked because I didn’t want to hurt him with the memories.”

Eli untangles my arms from around him and turns. “After what he told us, I’m not surprised he repressed it all. But I need to know who it is, Ari.”

Raising my chin, I meet the anguish combined with anger brimming in his eyes. “I know.”

“This is fucking with my head.” There’s an edge to his voice. “Whoever it is, they helped that bastard kill my best friend.”

I run a finger across his jawline. The look on his face is so real and raw, the darkness he struggles with so close to the surface. No matter what I say, it isn’t going to change his mind. He needs answers, no matter where it leads him. This week might be the only opportunity he gets to learn the truth.

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