Page 43 of Don't You Pucking Dare

Amanda's perfectly glossed lips curl. "At least my daddy didn't have to buy my way in here."

I glance at Brody. Did daddy buy his way here?

The tension between Brody and Amanda crackles like static. There's history there— I can see it in the way they trade barbs with practiced ease.

"Come over to my room," I hear myself say to Amanda, surprising everyone, including me. "I'll show you exactly what makes me special to Brody Black."

Amanda mimes gagging, which would be more effective if her eyes didn't flash with real hatred. I answer with my middle finger.

Brody leans close, his breath warm against my ear. "Stay out of trouble, Duchess." He taps my composition journal. "My number's in here. Use it if Jack comes sniffing around."

"Oh," he turns around and leaves an envelope with my name on it. The same style as the Reaper party invitation from before. He winks. "See you there, Duchess."

He leaves with a casual apology to Professor Schweig, which makes me wonder if he’s not all that bad.

"You and I need to talk," I turn around and tell Amanda. She rolls her eyes as Professor Schweig calls for attention.

"Lola." He gestures to the front. "Show us what you've been working on."

My fingers tremble slightly as I lift my cello from its case. The wood feels warm against my skin, familiar in a world that's become anything but. I close my eyes, letting the first note build in my chest before drawing my bow across the strings.

The piece starts soft, questioning, before building into something darker. Every note carries echoes of last night— the underground chamber, the masked figures, Brody's careful cruelty. The melody twists and turns, fighting against itself like my own conflicted heart.

When the final note fades, the room stays silent. Professor Schweig stares at me like he's seeing something new.

"Well," he says finally. "I believe we've just witnessed the birth of something extraordinary."

I walk back to my seat and Amanda dramatically clears her throat.

"Thoughts?" I turn around and ask.

She leans down, so only I can hear her. "I don’t give out information for free."

I meet her determined expression with my own. "What the hell do you want?"

She whispers, "An in with the Reapers."

I smile because does she have any idea what they’re about? I observe her. Bitchy but still in this music class like this is the start of her popstar music career.

"Sure. Yeah. I can do that."

Chapter 18

The ice welcomes me like always, my slapshots echoing through the rink. Noah slams another freshman into the boards, harder than necessary. Coach Jacobs loses his shit, but I know that look in Noah's eyes. Something's fucked up in his world, and he's bringing that edge to the ice.

Jack keeps his distance from me like he should. I’m not here to make friends.

Back at the mansion, I review the chamber footage. My fists connecting with Jack's face, the precise moment he goes limp. Fast forward. Lola stumbling in, blindfolded and beautiful in her fear. Another skip. Me fucking her senseless and her saying she’s loves my dick. Skip. Her strapped to the chair, completely at my mercy. This is beauty.

I isolate that last clip, saving it separately. Rick Kemper needs to understand exactly what's at stake. His precious daughter, bound and helpless in the Reapers' domain. Phase two begins with showing him how close we are getting. Yet, I beginto doubt if my first manila envelope sent him a message at all. I’m starting to sense he might not give a flying fuck about his daughter. Either way, this is fun. Lola’s just a pawn in something bigger than her, and I’m the lucky bastard who gets to play with his meal.

My brother, Jackson's name lights up my phone. He can wait. Right now, I'm crafting his revenge frame by frame, cutting together the perfect nightmare for Rick Kemper's viewing pleasure.

The footage plays again. Lola in that chair, not knowing her terror is just the beginning. Some girls you fuck. Some girls you break. Lola Kemper? She's going to be my masterpiece.

Her music class will be the last visit from me. I will no longer mingle with her day to day life, not until Rick Kemper gets this message very clearly. Distance is a weapon when wielded properly. Let her think I can't stay away, then vanish. Make her ache for my attention until she comes crawling back like the whore she is.

The ice helps quiet these thoughts. My skates cut clean lines as I line up to score for our this big game against our out-of-state rival. It’s been days since I last saw Lola, and I have no doubt that her inner thighs are trembling at the thought of me. The girl has dark secrets, and as the villain in her story, I smile, knowing the darkness is going to come out and play. Good things come to those who wait.

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