Page 38 of Don't You Pucking Dare

"What took you so long? Are you taking me home?" I ask.

He shakes his head, avoiding eye contact with me.

"Then where are you taking me?" I ask.

"You didn’t come to the game," he says, his hand gripping the steering wheel tightly.

"Are you going to punish me?" I whisper, watching him under the passing lights.

He plays it cool, still not glancing at me. "We’re going to the mansion."

"Doesn’t Jack live there? I don’t want to go there."

His jaw clenches. "I thought we had an understanding, Lola? I thought I made it clear––"

"So what I didn’t come to your stupid game, Brody! Your crazy ass friend pulled a gun on me tonight!"

He’s grinding his teeth and then he spits, "After you sat on his fucking face like a whore. You chose the wrong fucking guy, Lola. And now you’re going to suffer the consequences."

"What do you mean suffer the consequences? Where are you taking me?" I demand, sitting forward so he’ll look at me.

"Just shut the fuck up and do as I say. If you disobey, I can’t promise your safety."

"My safety? What does that mean, Brody?" I scoff. "Brody!"

He ignores me until we reach the mansion. He pulls a black piece of fabric from his pocket and says, "Turn around."

I realize it’s for me. "You’re not blindfolding me. No fucking way."

"Don’t make me hog tie you," he warns.

I stare into his eyes, and there’s nothing there. No intensity. No anger. No lust. I don’t like this look on him, so I turn around and let him tie the blindfold around my eyes because I’m scared of what will happen if I continue to give him a hard time. He ties it as tightly as possible around my head, and I curse under my breath. I’m blind.

He whispers into my ear, "Be a good girl, Duchess, and I promise to give you whatever you want."

I lean back into his face. "Whatever I want?" I grab his face and kiss him with my tongue. I force his into my mouth and suck sweetly. He tastes like mint. "Be a good boy, and I’ll give you whatever you want."

He pulls my face to his and his kisses are hungry, and aggressive, turning me on. "Wait here. I’ll get the door for you."

"Such a gentleman," I praise seductively, not questioning why I’m blindfolded. I’m sure he probably just doesn’t want me to see a part of the mansion.

He opens the door and grabs my hand, leading me up a set of stairs. He locks his car and then he holds my hand as we walk through the place. Then the lights disappear and he’s leading me down steps into a dark room. It smells musky.

"Don’t say a word," he whispers into my hair, and I do as I’m told because now I’m afraid that he’s taking me somewhere I don’t want to be. "Put your hands behind your back. Trust me."

I listen because I’m completely helpless, and in some sick sense, I do trust him. I’m also terrified when he starts tying my hands behind my back. He gently touches my shoulder, and the feel of his hands relaxes me. I don’t know what I’m expecting from here on out, but he said if I listen to him, he can guarantee my safety.

Chapter 16

I guide Lola through the tunnels, her steps uncertain beneath the blindfold. Her trust is almost touching— she has no idea she's walking into her worst nightmare.

The chamber opens before us, filled with silent figures in masks. Red for the elders, black for pledges like me. Jack hangs from the ceiling beam, barely conscious from our earlier conversation. All according to plan.

I sit Lola in the best seat in the house and then remove her blindfold. Her breath catches as she takes in the sight. It must be like something from her darkest dreams—masked men in an underground chamber, Jack strung up like a sacrifice. I lean close, lips brushing her ear. "Not a sound, Duchess."

Her eyes stay locked on Jack. Good. She needs to understand what happens when someone crosses the Reapers. When someone touches what belongs to me.

"Welcome to our darkness, Duchess. This is what happens when you play games with monsters."

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