Page 47 of Dare
Itry to prepare myself for anything. For her to start getting dressed to leave,or ask me to go, but what I get is more than I dared to hope for. “I don’t wantyou to go back to prison.”
Achuckle of relief escapes, and I lay back, pulling her onto my chest. “Neitherdo I.”
“Butyou could. You could get caught. If someone finds a body…”
“Thebodies are…they don’t exist anymore. They can’t be found. We’re careful,extremely careful. Outside the group, Zoe is the only one who knows the truthabout ISH.”
“ISH?”
“InSafe Hands. It’s what we call ourselves.”
“Ilike it,” she says, as if she’s judging wallpaper or something.
“It’sokay to be freaked out.”
Sherolls onto her side and props her head on her hand. “I guess I should be, huh?”
“Butyou’re not?”
“Theworld is a fucked up place and life isn’t fair. I know that from experience.You’re trying to make it better, safer, at a humongous risk to yourself. I’dsay it’s noble, if I didn’t think it’d make your head even bigger.”
“You’resomething else, Ayda Brooks.”
“Besides,it goes well with my side job as a bounty hunter slash vigilante.”
Laughing,I play with her hair. I’ve never given a squirt of piss about a girl’s hairbefore, but my fingers can’t seem to resist hers. “Yeah, do you take down thebad guys with your ballet moves?”
“Thentie them up with my leotards.” She peeks up at me and dissolves into giggles.“Would it be weird if I said this has been the best Christmas I’ve had in along time?”
“Metoo, darlin’. Me too.”
* * * *
Aydaknows everything and she didn’t run away screaming. Saying I feel relievedwould be a huge understatement. I talked to the guys, prepared to deal withtheir anger since I didn’t exactly get their okay to tell her about ISH, butthey aren’t concerned. I trust her, so they trust her.
Thedance competition is today. Holding Ayda’s small, soft hand in mine, I let herlead me into a sea of pastel hell. Leotards and tutu clad children and adultsare everywhere, stretching and warming up. “Wait here, I’ll be right back,” shesays, disappearing into one of the dressing rooms.
Iget a few wary looks, but I’m not surprised. I stick out like a dick on a cakeamong all these dainty, graceful people. Ayda returns with a boy in tow. A manI assume must be his father follows them.
“I’llbe right there in the front row beside Ms. Lisa,” she tells him, pointing to afew empty seats. “You’re going to be amazing.”
Hisface is tight as he nods, forcing a smile. “I’ve got this.”
“Yes,you do.” She gives him a quick hug, then leads me to our seats.
“Hey,Lisa,” she greets the woman just taking a seat beside us. “Ryan’s prettynervous.”
Thewoman smiles and shakes her head. “I know, but he’ll be fine once he getsstarted. I have a sixteen year old student that looks like she’s going to pukeany minute. If anyone is going to lose it or freeze up, it’ll be her.”
“We’veall been there.” When Lisa smiles at me, Ayda exclaims, “Oh, sorry, I’m beingrude. Dare, this is Lisa. She owns the dance studio where I’ve been givinglessons. Lisa, this is Dare, my…”
Shepauses, unsure what to call me, so I stick my hand out. “Ayda’s boyfriend.”
“Niceto meet you. Good God, woman, where have you been hiding this guy?”
Aydalaughs, a cute blush pinking her cheeks. “I like to keep him to myself.”
“Idon’t blame you.” She turns to me. “So, do you have any brothers?”
