Page 2 of Double Dare

He isn’t speaking to me—he’s thinking out loud—but I answer anyway. “She can be your alibi. No problem.”

Maybe it’s fucked-up that I’m banking on Danica’s stubbornness—knowing shewilldo whatever he asks if a dare is involved—but I want to live. I don’t want now to be my demise.

He scoffs. “You know this debt can only be paid with a life.” It’s a statement, not a question, and he leaves no room for argument.

I close my eyes again and suck in a deep breath. I know I shouldn’t, but then again, she should have never made me leave town. “You can have hers.”

He squats down, resting his forearms on his knees, letting the gun dangle between them. “You’d give her life for yours?”

I don’t even give it a second thought. “In a heartbeat.”

Running his tongue across his teeth, he smiles, then moves his hand holding the gun to my head. He taps my skull with the barrel lightly. “You’re a sick fuck, you know that?” he laughs before snapping back to his full height quickly. He tucks the gun back into the waist of his pants and looks at one of the men beside him. “Get him an invitation to the gala.”

Beefy nods and disappears again with Adrian’s command.

I drag myself to my feet and stand on wobbly knees as I wait for him to say something else. When he doesn’t, I give him the only thing I have. “Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me. I won’t make this easy for her, and if she runs, all bets are off.”

I shake my head. “She won’t run.”

Another scoff accompanied by a slick smile. “We’ll see.”

I almost regret offering Danica in my place just by seeing that one simple smile, but if there is one thing she and I both are, it’s selfish. If she was in my shoes, she would do the same, and I can’t say I would blame her. On top of that, she fucking owes me right now. I wouldn’t be in this predicament if she never dared me to leave town.

Life is vicious and cruel, and neither she nor I need a reminder of it. We’ll do what it takes to survive—family or not. I just hope she’s strong enough because I refuse to put myself back where I am now—in the path of Adrian’s wrath.

When the man returns, he hands me the invitation Adrian ordered him to fetch. It’s on thick red card stock with the details elegantly scrolled in black ink. With it in my hands, I take that as my cue to leave and turn on my heel.

“Oh, and Dario?” Adrian calls from behind me once I have the door opened. I turn over my shoulder and meet his eyes. “Tell her to wear red.” I nod and exit before he can change his mind.

With the door closed behind me, I start down the steps, taking them two at a time. It’s time to let Danica know I’m back in town.

CHAPTER TWO

DANICA

“Danica!” Dario yells as he storms through my front door with a weird pep in his step.

I jump up from my spot on the couch, throwing my book down, and squeal as I run to him. “Where the fuck have you been?” I know it’s pointless to ask since I’m the one who made him leave, but we agreed he could visit. I didn’t want him out of my life—just out of Port Howe to do what he wanted.

His dark hair is longer, and the stubble on his chin is thicker. His frame seems to be slimmer too, and I swear I can see his dilated pupils from here.

“Here and there,” he chuckles. “But I figured it was time to come home and give my favorite little sister shit.” He ruffles my hair as I wrap my arms around his thin waist.

“You’re three minutes older. That hardly counts, asshole.” I push him away and grab his face between my fingers. “And you look like shit. What’s going on?”

Dario is my twin. Ever since birth, he and I have been inseparable, but last year he left Port Howe because I dared him. After that, our relationship changed. He didn’t seem to care about picking up the phone to call or visit like he said he would. It hurt realizing how bad I hurt him when all I was trying to do was help him.

That’s all I feel I’ve ever done for Dario, honestly. My entire life has been spent covering for him when he would sneak out, taking the blame for the broken vases from playing football inside, and even making sure the only thing Daddy did was cut him off financially when he left and not physically hurt him like he wanted.

But Dario doesn’t see it that way. I think it’s because he resents me even if he won’t admit it. And that’s something he and I share—our pride. We don’t admit when we’re wrong, we don’t show feelings, and we never back down from dares.

Ever.

Double dare. No truth. It’s always beenourgame. Stupid, maybe, but when you grow up isolated because you’re homeschooled and constantly under your father’s—or the nanny’s—thumb, you find ways to entertain yourself.

The game is simple with only two rules. We have to agree to play—no throwing out dares just because—and youhaveto follow through. If you don’t, you forfeit your inheritance.

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