Page 72 of Dare To Take

Her laughter is light. “Open the glove compartment. I left something in there for you.”

I drop my cell onto my lap and lean forward to open the glovebox. There’s a small box with my name in silver writing across the top. Lifting it out, I settle back into the seat and pull off the lid.

There’s a thick silver chain inside. I hook a finger around it and pick it up. A padlock hangs from it, holding the two ends of the chain together.

“I miss you when you’re at school, but I want you to have the best education for your life ahead. I know school can be difficult sometimes, but you’re strong, clever, and talented. And I love you. We love you. I saw this necklace and it made me think of you.” She dashes a hand across her eyes. “Look at me, getting emotional.”

I laugh softly. “Like you do every new school year.”

“Anyway, the padlock signifies security and protection—”

Screeching fills my ears, lights flare, and the world turns red. My mom screams my name, throwing out a hand, and then pain explodes across my body.

“Fuck!” The shout is torn from my mouth as my eyes snap open.

My heart is racing. The smell of burning still fills my nose. The sound of sirens, shouts, and screams echo inside my head. There’s something digging into my palm, and it takes a minute or two for me to reorient myself.

I’m in my bedroom, in my bed, and I’m clutching the padlock around my throat. I force my grip to loosen and release the metal, then push into a seated position. The scars on my back are burning, like fire licking at my skin. I know it’s in my head. They haven’t hurt for years.

Three years, seven months, and twenty-four days, in fact.

“Fuck.” I repeat the curse softly, rubbing at my face.

I haven’t dreamed of that day in a long time.

So why now?

Chapter 46

Arabella

My shoulders sag in relief when the bell sounds to signify the end of the last class of the day. The week has passed in a blur, and it’s already Thursday. Just a few more days, and Eli will be back at school. I feel sick at the thought. Not even focusing on studying has been able to distract me.

Elena has been calling me every few days. When I asked her about him returning, she didn’t deny it. The way she speaks about him leaves me angry and hurt. I don’t know what crap Eli has fed her, but she seems to believe it.

Counselor Clarke keeps trying to reassure me that everything will be fine when my stepbrother returns, but I don’t believe him. He’s been asking continuous questions about the man behind the video. It’s left me defensive and closed. I’m pretty sure the school just wants to know who it is. Maybe that’s why he’s been assigned to me. There’s no way I’m going to tell him about Sin, the dares and what we did in the dark. It has made our session tense and uncomfortable.

Gathering my books, I shove them into my bag and rise from my chair.

“Hey, slut. Suck any cocks lately? I bet your stepdad loves having you on your knees.” Tina’s catty voice comes from my right.

“When she doesn’t have Eli’s dick in her mouth.” Linda snickers.

“Maybe she does them both at once,” Lacy adds, and all three girls descend into laughter.

I paste a smile on my face and meet their stares. “What’s the matter? Eli never gave you attention? From what I’ve heard, he’s had half the female population of the school. Including most of the cheer squad.”

Lacy’s smile turns malicious. “So, you admit that you had sex with your brother?”

“Stepbrother,” I correct her through gritted teeth. “And I’d rather fuck a cactus than Eli.”

“Or maybe a corpse.” Tina’s eyes crawl over my ripped black jeans and the velvety blood-red shirt before settling on the leather choker around my neck. “You look like the kind of freak who’d do it. Is the collar so he can clip a leash on and walk you around like the stupid bitch you are?”

“I’d rather be me than fake like you. Haven’t you been on your knees for Eli, Lacy? What would Brad think of that?”

My ex-roommate flushes red.

I walk past them, with my head held high. Satisfaction at the way I stood up to them makes me smile.

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