Page 50 of Dare
Darepulls me into his arms as soon as I’m through the door. “Are you okay?”
“Shouldn’tI be asking you that?” I laugh, relieved to see he’s all right.
“Hasanyone tried to contact you? Talbot? His father?”
Confused,I step back. “I doubt Talbot’s talking to anyone since you broke his jaw. Andwhy would his dad? What’s going on, Dare? How did you even know who he was? Inever told you who hurt me.”
Justusretreats to the door. “Yeah, I’m going to let you two sort this out. Call me ifyou need anything, Rockem Sockem.”
Daredoesn’t seem to hear him. His hand runs through my hair. “Let me get a showerand I’ll explain everything, okay?” He looks exhausted. I can’t imagine a nightin jail is pleasant.
“I’llmake you something to eat,” I volunteer before bringing my lips to his. Tensiondrains from him, his shoulders relaxing as our lips and tongues soothe eachother, washing away the events of the last twenty-four hours.
Heleans his forehead against mine with a sigh.
“Everythingwill be okay,” I murmur, and he nods. We both know I’m lying. We have no way ofknowing how things are going to turn out, but for the moment, we can pretend.
Hisfridge is only stocked with beer, water, and condiments, so I run next door tograb a container of chili from my freezer, a box of cornmeal mix, and a quartof milk. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from living alone, it’s to freezethe leftovers if you don’t want to be stuck eating the same thing for days sothey won’t go bad. It occurs to me as I’m juggling everything while trying toopen the door it would’ve been easier to have him come to my place, but I kindof want the option to escape, depending on what he has to tell me.
Thechili is heating on the stove and the cornbread is in the oven when he returns,rubbing his hair with a towel. The warm clean smell of steam and soap driftsthrough the apartment. “What are you making? It smells fantastic.”
“Chiliand cornbread. Do you ever keep food in your place?”
Anoise escapes his chest, a cross between a huff and a laugh. “I will be now.”Sitting at his small kitchen table, he hikes up the leg of his sweat pants,displaying the tracking anklet fastened around his ankle.
“Shit.House arrest? For how long?”
“Untilthe trial.”
Thechair scrapes the floor as I sit across from him and lean my chin on my hand.“I’m so sorry, Dare. I never would have had you come if I knew there was goingto be trouble.”
Heblinks, surprised. “I beat the shit out of a guy and you’re apologizing?”
“You’rein trouble because of me. Big trouble.”
Hishand darts across and grabs mine. “First, you didn’t tell me to kick thatpsycho’s ass. I got myself in trouble. And second, I’d do it again.”
Thetimer beeps and I busy myself doling out bowls of chili and slices ofcornbread. Dare grabs two bottles of water and sits down across from me. Hetears into the food like he hasn’t eaten in a week while I pick at mine.
Daresighs. “I’ve been watching them.”
“What?”My elbow bumps my water bottle and I catch it just in time.
“Talbotand his father, and Victoria to a lesser extent.”
Mymind is stuffed with questions. “What do you mean watching? And how did youknow who to watch?”
Leaningback in his chair, he gazes at me. “It wasn’t hard to find an article onlineabout your attack, babe. Montgomery did a good job of burying everything, butnot good enough. Once I had Talbot’s name it wasn’t hard to figure out therest.”
“But…why?”
“Becausethey hurt you and they need to pay for it. I learned a lot more once I starteddigging around. Those two should be the ones in prison.”
“Youshould’ve told me.”
“Iknow. I didn’t want you to get involved. Nothing I did will ever get tracedback to me.”
Myeyes dart up to meet his. “What did you do?”
