Page 1 of Dare
Prologue
Dare
Ican’t believe what I’m hearing. My little sister, Leah, sits across from me,tears trickling down her cheeks. She’s eighteen years old now, but I’ll alwayssee her as the little girl who followed me around. Since the day she wasborn—two days after my fifth birthday—I’ve looked out for her, protected her. Itried to keep anything bad from happening to her. I failed.
“When,Leah? When did he hurt you?”
Herhands fidget in her lap and she stares at the floor. “Every time I went tovisit. You know, when he and aunt Gena would babysit for me.”
“Whydidn’t you tell me, or Mom, or someone?”
“Hesaid if I told, everyone would be mad at me, that I’d break up the family. Ithought Dad would never forgive me. I tried to tell Mom, but…she didn’t believeme.”
Itsuddenly makes sense why she’s telling me now. Dad died two years ago, and Mommoved us away. We haven’t seen his brother, my uncle Howard, since the funeral.“Mom invited them to come and visit. They’re supposed to stay a week! I can’tavoid him that long. Please, can I stay with you until they leave?”
Mylittle sister has just told me our uncle sexually abused her for years, and mymother knew. All I can see is red. How the hell did I miss this? I spend mydays and half the nights tracking sexual predators and I didn’t see what washappening right in front of my face. “Is he at Mom’s house now?”
“Yes.”She sniffs and sits back on the couch. “He smiled at me. This creepy fuckingsmile like we have some special secret. Please, Dare, I can’t stand to bearound him.”
“Ofcourse you can stay here.” She’ll probably be staying permanently now. No waydo I want her going back home with Mom. I wrap her in a hug. “I don’t want yougoing back there. Stay here and I’ll go get you some clothes and anything elseyou need for the week.”
“Thankyou.”
Darkcircles ring her eyes. “Go lie down in the guest room and take a nap. You lookexhausted.”
Nodding,she heads for the bedroom, and I grab my keys. I should call Landon, or any ofthe guys and get a plan together for how to deal with this. I know I should,but all I can see is my golden haired baby sister being abused by that monster.I’ve never had a problem with my temper before, but the rage now pulsingthrough me is uncontrollable. I don’t want to control it. I’m going to kill theson of a bitch.
Thedrive to my mom’s house is a blur. I don’t know if I stopped at the lights andstop signs or blew right through them. All my focus is on finding him andmaking him pay. As soon as I hop out of the car, I see him sitting on the frontporch swing, Leah’s favorite place to read. He smiles at me, and my blood heatsto boiling.
“Derek!I haven’t seen you in forever. You sure grew up.” One look at his pocked faceand oily gray hair is all it takes for me to lose the last of my control. Myfist connects with his face over and over again, until I can barely discern hisfeatures from the blood. I feel his jaw crack beneath my fist, but it isn’tenough, not nearly enough.
Dragginghim into the yard, I can vaguely hear Mom yelling, but it doesn’t register. Idon’t talk to him. There’s no cursing or demanding answers. Anything he sayswill be a lie. I let my foot do the talking, kicking him in the ribs, and whenhe curls up, trying to protect himself, I land a few good ones on his back.
Ittakes two cops to pull me off of him, but by then, he’s an unrecognizablebloody pile in the yard. From the back of the cop car, I watch the paramedicsstrap him to a gurney and put him in the back of an ambulance. They don’t coverhis face, so I assume he’s still alive.
I’mtaken to the police station and booked, locked in a cell with a few other guyswho look like they’ve had an equally shitty day. I’m a big guy, and add to thatthe fact I’m covered in blood, and I can understand the wary glances I get fromthe other prisoners. They’re afraid.
Istay in that cell for two days until a judge sets my bail and explains thecharges against me. Attempted murder. I guess the asshole survived.
Mybest friend, Landon, shows up that evening to post my bail. He’s waiting by hiscar when I emerge from the jail, a grim look on his face. “You okay?” he asks.
“I’llbe better after a cheeseburger and a shower,” I reply, climbing into thepassenger seat.
“Youwant to tell me what the hell happened?”
“Hewas abusing Leah. She told me it’s been going on since she was eight.”
Landoncurses under his breath. “I contacted Mason. He has the best lawyers,but…attempted murder, I don’t see you escaping this without doing some time,Dare.”
“Iknow. I just need to get a few things arranged before I do.”
Leahcan’t go back home to a mother who let this happen. Thanks to my hackingskills, I have plenty of money, some from legitimate work, but more stolen fromcredit card thieves online. I have no problem stealing from thieves, especiallythieves with bank accounts totaling in the millions. I’ll pay up my rent forthe next year and Leah can live in my house while I’m locked up.
Thestate wastes no time taking me to trial and though the jury wouldn’t come backwith a guilty verdict on attempted murder, they find me guilty of aggravatedassault. The judge sentences me to five years, which means I could be out inthree with good behavior. It’s worth it.
Leahis safe living in my house and going to a nearby community college. Landon willkeep an eye on her while I’m locked up. Her abuser is permanently confined to awheelchair, paralyzed from the waist down.
Iknew that last kick to the spine was a winner.
