Page 10 of Dare To Take

Even though it’s not a surprise, it still hurts. I scrub my eyes with the back of my hand and force myself to stop crying. If I’m going to survive this, something has to change. I sniff and sit up straighter. I need to protect myself.

An idea forms, and ignoring the rest of the hurtful messages, I click away from the app and open an internet browser.

An hour later, I have everything I need ordered and delivery scheduled for the next few days. The Arabella who first set foot in this house was naive and trusting. I’m not going to be that girl anymore.

There’s movement on the landing outside my door. I drop my phone and get to my feet. It’s too early for Elena to be back, but when I peer out of the door, it’s to see Eli on his way into his room. His clothes are crumpled, and he looks exhausted.

Guilt eats at me again. He must have been at the hospital with his dad. I move along the hallway until I’m standing on the threshold of his door. He’s sprawled out on his bed with his eyes closed.

“How’s your dad?” I keep my voice low, empty of emotion.

Eli doesn’t move. “Alive.”

“That’s good.”

His eyes open to slits, the green a thin gleam between thick black eyelashes. “You don’t need to pretend you’re relieved. I’m sure you and your mother are disappointed that you’re not getting your hands on his money.”

I grit my teeth, and don’t bother to deny it. Elliot is in the hospital because of me. Nothing I do will change his mind. Eli’s hate is too deep to believe anything I say.

“You got what you wanted. The whole school knows what I am now because of the video you posted. I can’t believe you took the phone from my room. Have you been watching me? Is that how you knew about it?” My voice is calm—the complete opposite of what I feel inside.

“For fuck’s sake.” Eli sits up and pins me with a glare. “I did not post that fucking video. I’m sick and tired of being blamed for things I didn’t do.”

Sparks flicker between us. There’s no way to deny the pull I feel between us, and I hate him even more for the attraction I feel. My anger scalds me with tiny embers. It’s all his fault.

Tears burn the back of my eyes, but I resist shedding them. “Why are you such an asshole?”

“Why did you accuse me of taking advantage of you when you’re the one that begged me to fuck you?”

“I was drunk.”

His gaze doesn’t leave mine, and his hands move to palm himself in the front of his jeans. “You weren’t that drunk. You knew exactly what you were doing. You had your hand on my dick. You said you wanted me—”

I can’t stop my eyes from following the movement as he squeezes himself through the denim. “Shut up. I don’t want you.”

He bares his teeth. “Liar.”

My attention snaps up. I glare at him with all the hate burning inside me. “Bite me.”

“Already have, Princess. More than once.”

Chapter 7

Eli

She turns to leave, and I’m off the bed and blocking her escape in a heartbeat.

“Why did you come back?”

“You think I wanted to come back here?”

“You’re eighteen. You could have refused.”

The surprise on her face is enough to tell me that she didn’t even think of that. I laugh, the sound hard and lacking humor.

“Too focused on the money to even think about that, I guess.”

Her hand swings out, but she’s too slow. I catch her wrist and pull it down to her side. “You know, you hit me a lot. You should see someone about that temper of yours.” I step forward, driving her back a step. “Or did I hit a nerve, Princess? Was I too close to the truth?”

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