Page 59 of Dare To Take

I click on the first one. A photo fills my screen. A familiar photo. One I took in the shower in my room at school and sent to Sin.

I’m naked under the cascading water, one hand cups my left breast and a teasing pout is on my lips.

The caption attached to it drives a cold wedge through my ribs.

Merry fucking Christmas. Do you like my stepsister’s tits?

Chapter 39

Eli

“Eli!” My door bangs off the wall as my dad strides in. “What is wrong with you?”

“I don’t think the list has changed since the last time you asked.” I swing my legs off the bed and stand. “Why?”

“Why? Why? How can you stand there and behave like Elena’s daughter is not distraught in the other room.”

“Arabella?” I start past my father, only for him to grab my arm and haul me back.

“Stop pretending. Just stop it. I get it. You’re not happy I married Elena. And you’re taking it out on Arabella. I honestly thought after the past week that you’d come to terms with it, but I see now you were just setting her up.”

“I have no fucking idea what you’re talking about.”

He folds his arms and glares at me. “Okay, Eli. We’ll do this your way.”

“Do what my way?”

“I want your cell phone and your laptop. Unlock them both. Then pack enough clothes for the next month. I’m sending you to stay with your uncle in Rhode Island until—”

“What the fuck?”

“I thought I’d raised you better than this, but I can see those few years after your mom died—”

“Don’t you fucking dare,” I snarl.

He has the decency to not finish his sentence. “You’re going to stay with Edward.”

“You know I’m eighteen, right? You can’t legally force me to go anywhere.”

“Then I’m asking you. Whatever your problem is with Arabella, it ends now. Elena is trying very hard. I know she’s had problems. I didn’t go into this marriage with my eyes closed, Son. No matter what you may think. I know her history, just as she knows mine. Just answer me one question.”

“And that is?”

“Where did you get the photographs of Arabella?”

“I don’t have any photographs of her.”

“You’re telling me you didn’t upload a half-naked photograph of her today?”

“A what?” I reach for my cell and swipe the screen.

I’ve had it on silent all day. There are a multitude of notifications sitting in the top left corner, and a list of missed call alerts from Kellan. I tap on one of the notifications, and it opens onto Churchill Bradley’s social media app.

“Oh fuck.” I lift my eyes to search out my dad. “It wasn’t me.”

“Eli. It’s on your account.”

“It wasn’t fucking me.” I aim for the door again and my dad blocks it. “I need to speak to Arabella. I didn’t do this. I swear to you, this wasn’t me.”

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