Page 58 of Dare To Break

Oh, god, what do I do? He’s waiting for my answer. It’s not like he’s done anything bad to me. I can stop anytime I want. I’m in control, even if he’s the one giving the instruction.

The pressure to answer grows as the seconds tick by.

“Green,” I call out into the dark, caving to the need to see where all this goes.

A beat later, the phone in my hand vibrates.

Unknown number: Keep this cell with you at all times. Good night, Kitten.

I stuff the new phone, my old one, and the note into my fanny pack, add the blindfold and then zip it up.

I rise from the bench. “Good night.”

There’s no reply to my soft call.

I pick my way along the path in the dark, and I don’t stop until I can see the security lights casting the building in a shadowy white glow. A quick check to make sure there’s no one watching, I sprint across the grass toward my dorm. It doesn’t take long for me to slip inside and up to my room.

When I enter my room, closing the door behind me, I’m caught off guard by the bedside lamp that snaps on.

“Where have you been?”

Flushing, I meet my roommate’s questioning stare. “I—I went for a walk.”

Lacy arches an eyebrow. “After curfew?”

“I couldn’t sleep.” I try not to cringe at the excuse.

Her expression softens. “You went out to see Miles, didn’t you?”

My laugh sounds fake to my own ears. “Am I that obvious?”

“I’ve done it plenty of times to see Brad. Just be careful. Security isn’t very forgiving if they catch you.”

“I will. I promise.” I kick off my sneakers. “I’m sorry if I woke you.”

“It’s fine. I was reading a book,” Lacy waves one of her romance novels at me. “But lights-out kind of makes that difficult.”

I grab the cotton shorts and baggy t-shirt I use to sleep in and carry them to the bathroom. “I won’t be long. You can turn out the light.”

The second I’m in the bathroom with the door locked, I unzip my bag and find the new phone and the note. There are no more messages waiting for me. I leave it on the side of the sink. Tomorrow morning, I’ll take it with me to class. The note that came with it will find a place in my little jewelry box with all the other dares.

What will tomorrow bring? Will I get another dare, or will he make me wait?

I close my eyes and try to recall the sound of his voice.

“Good girl. One minute to go, Kitten. You’ve done well. Get ready to play again.”

Quivering, all I can think about is what he might have in store for me next.

Chapter 38

Eli

“What the fuck?” Kellan meets me in front of the bench once we’re sure Arabella isn’t going to turn around and come back. “You were supposed to drop the box and leave, not have a full conversation with her. What were you thinking?”

It’s a good question. What had I been thinking? She could have removed the blindfold at any time. She could have recognized my voice. Despite myself, I’m intrigued that she didn’t do either of those things. It’s almost as though she needs to play this game.

Reading her diary has given me a little insight into her innermost thoughts, her desires, and her desperate need for affection from her mom. I’ve read it from cover to cover more than once. And every single time I discover something new, something I missed on my first readthrough. I’m still confident that she knew her mom planned to get my dad to marry her. That she was aware of my dad’s money and status. I still believe that she is as money hungry as her mom, but I think her motives are very different.

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