Page 216 of Dare To Live

“What do … what do you want?” I force the words out. I can’t feel my lips, I don’t know how much sense I’m making.

“What do I want?” Evan stills and straightens. “What do I want?” His voice changes. Becomes soft, calm and clear. “There’s only one thing I’ve ever wanted.”

I force my eye to open and focus on him. “What’s that?”

“You dead.”

It happens almost in slow motion, or at least that’s how it seems to my punch-drunk head.

He pulls out a gun.

The blonde beside him claps, a smile stretching her lips.

I’m trapped, strapped to the chair with no way of avoiding the bullet, but I try …

I brace my feet against the floor and shove.

Too little, too late.

White hot pain explodes in my chest.

The world spins.

My head hits something solid.

“You’re such a fucking hot mess.” Kellan rolls his eyes and holds out a hand to help me up. “Why can’t you do anything without me needing to save your ass?”

“I was doing fine until you died.”

“Which proves my point.” He nods toward the door. “Want to grab a seat, and I’ll get our food?”

“Sure.”

The door swings open to the cafeteria. It’s emptier than usual, but that’s fine. I fucking hate the way everyone stares when I walk in. The students who are there seem subdued, their eyes downcast as I walk past and drop to my usual seat. Kellan joins me there a few minutes later.

He pushes a mug of coffee across the table to me. “We should probably talk about what happens next.”

“And what’s that? … Kellan? … Kell?”

But he doesn’t answer me … because he’s not there, and slowly all sounds and images fade until only blackness remains.

Chapter 125

Arabella

I march up to the man surrounded by FBI agents, rage pumping through my veins. Bret watches my approach, his expression wary. The second I reach him, I swing back my arm and punch him in the face. Shouts break out around me, and my arms are grabbed roughly to prevent me from assaulting him further.

“No, it’s okay. Let her go,” he tells them, his hand covering his nose.

“You son of a bitch.” I snarl the words. “If anything happens to Eli, I’m holding you responsible.”

“You’re understandably upset—”

“Upset? You used us without our knowledge.”

He dabs at the trickle of blood coming from his nose with his fingers. “We had eyes on you the whole time.”

“Then how the fuck did Evan get his hands on Eli?”

---