Page 186 of Dare To Break

That gets his attention. “Are we going to do something dirty?”

“I am. You can join in if you like.”

He swings his legs off the bed and stands, walking naked across to the closet.

“And what are you doing?”

My grin is a baring of teeth. “You’ll see when we get there.”

***

“Where did he take that photograph?” We’re sitting in the car outside Jace Black’s house.

“On the drive here. If you zoom in, you can see the road sign.” I reach across and expand the image.

“Do you think she did more than flash them? Is that why she was so late getting here?”

I think back to how she looked when she finally turned up at the house. Pale, tired, and a little shaky. I put it down to coming to the house and knowing I was there, but what if there was more behind it?

Tension zipped through my body. If they fucking touched her, I’m going to kill them … slowly.

“You know you can’t just walk into his house and beat him to death, don’t you?”

“That’s why you’re here.”

“Look, Eli, I love you and all that, but I’m not walking in there and beating him to death, either. There are way too many witnesses.”

I roll my eyes. “Go and fucking knock on the door and see where he is. He won’t be home. He never is during the holidays. Find out where he is, and we go there.”

“Ahh, that’s a good idea. I’ll do that.” Kellan throws open the door, and heads toward the house. A quick conversation with whoever answers it, and he’s back. “He’s down at the stables.”

“Perfect.” I set the car back into motion and drive down the road that’ll take us to the stables. I know which ones he’ll be at. My mom had horses at the same place. She’d been friendly with Jace’s mom, and we often ended up stuck together as kids.

Me, him, and Evan spent most of our free time together … until we didn’t.

I find a parking space out of the way, and climb out, pulling a ski mask out of my pocket.

“You don’t want him to know it’s you?”

“Oh, I definitely want him to know it’s me. I just don’t want anyone else to know. Go and find him. I’ll wait back here.”

Chapter 119

Arabella

I’m wary of bumping into Eli when I make my way downstairs. He came back to the house a few days ago with bloodied knuckles and wearing a scowl.

Whatever happened, it left him in a bad mood. I’m sure, if he could find a way, he’d blame me for it, so I’ve been avoiding him as much as I can, desperate to stay out of his volatile orbit. Kellan has been friendly the few times we’ve spoken, but I’ve kept our interactions brief.

I find Elena in the dining room putting the last few touches to the elegant floral centerpiece for the table. A full glass of red wine is beside her.

“Bella, you’re a few minutes early for dinner. No one else will be down for at least ten more minutes.” Raising her glass, she takes a sip.

Now she’s opened a bottle, I know she won’t stop. She won’t be sober for long, especially without any food in her stomach. I can already foresee the mess she’s going to make over the dinner table. I’ve seen it a million times before in the past.

The question that’s been niggling at me for years finds its way to the surface. A question she’s refused to answer all the times I’ve asked before. It’s stronger this time, demanding answers. A possible escape route from the situation I’m in.

I join her at the table. “I want to know about my dad.”

---