Page 65 of Dare
* * * *
Idon’t know how Dare can be so calm when I’m a ball of nerves. This is it. Theday we find out whether we’re going to be torn apart for years. I expect theworst since I crossed Talbot, and he promised his father would make sure Daregets the maximum sentence.
Wehaven’t spent a day apart since the day I spent a few hours in jail, and Ican’t imagine my life without him now. I want him curled up on the couch withme every night while we argue over what TV shows to watch. I want his warm armsaround me every night, protecting me from the world. I need him. It all comesdown to today, so why is he so cool and calm when I’m about to sweat through myblouse?
“Everythingis going to be fine, darlin’. Trust me,” Dare says, squeezing my hand as wepark at the courthouse.
“Iknow. Tonight, when this is over, I’m going to give you the best blowjob you’veever had.” My remark gets the response I was hoping for when he laughs andsqueezes my hand again. I don’t want him worrying about me or how I’ll handlethings when he should be worried for himself. He never talks about prison, butI know his time there affected him, and I can see the fear he tries to hide atthe thought of going back.
“I’mholding you to that.”
Weenter the courthouse, hand in hand, and I’m surprised to see a small crowdgathered outside the courtroom we’ve been assigned. I expected a couple ofDare’s friends might show up, but everyone is here. Justus and Jeremy standnext to Landon, who is wearing a really uncomfortable looking yellow suit thatlooks like it was borrowed from the Outbreak movie. A few feet away, Mason isdeep in conversation with his brothers, Alex and Parker, their heads leanedtogether. Zoe and Leah sit on a bench, and Tucker leans on the wall besidethem.
“I’mgoing to have a word with Mason,” Dare murmurs, and I nod, joining Zoe andLeah.
“Howare you?” Leah asks, as I take a seat beside her.
“Tryingnot to throw up, how about you?”
“Same,”she replies with a sigh. “Dare says he has it all under control, but I’ve beenhere before.”
Igive her a hug and she wipes her eyes. Fighting to swallow the lump in mythroat, I twist my hands together. I have to be strong if I don’t want himworrying about me instead of his own future. Tucker places a hand on myshoulder. I haven’t seen him since our sledding day, and the sight of him allcleaned up and healthy makes me smile. He’s put on some weight, obviously allmuscle, since his days living in the parking lot.
“Hey,Tucker. Thanks for coming,” I tell him.
“Daregave me a chance when I didn’t think I deserved one. A job and a place to live.I’ve got his back.” He squeezes my shoulder. “And he’s not the only one. Lookaround, honey, he has a lot of support and so do you. Everything will be okay.”
“That’swhat everyone keeps telling me,” I say with a reluctant laugh.
Myhands tighten on the edge of the bench as another group approaches, stopping totalk just down the hall. Talbot is dressed in a sleek, clearly expensive suit,and I notice his jaw isn’t wired anymore. His eyes meet mine and he smirks, hisexpression that of a man who doesn’t have a worry in the world.
It’sthe same expression his father is wearing as he nods at passersby. He’s asenator, a former judge with powerful men at his beck and call, of course hehas nothing to worry about. He’s just here for appearances, to watch his sontestify against the man who beat him. He was able to buy Talbot’s way out ofwhat should have been attempted murder charges for his attack on me. Thisshould be a piece of cake.
Theonly one who doesn’t look confident and pleased is Victoria. She’s sitting in awheelchair, her right leg encased in plaster from her thigh to her ankle. Hereyes find mine for a brief second before she looks away in misery.
Theday I hit her, she told me that she had nothing to do with Talbot stalking meand trying to keep me away from Dare. Dare seems to think Talbot has some kindof obsession with me, too, but I know better. I was just an opportunity for himto be cruel. His girlfriend wanted me gone and he was too happy to inflictdamage on another person. He’s a psychopath, pure and simple.
Sadiecomes rushing in. “Sorry I’m late. I had to shuffle some appointments around.”
“Youdidn’t have to come!” I cry, throwing my arms around my best friend.
Shegives me a look like I may have been dropped on my head as a kid. “Of course Idid!” Victoria catches her attention and she laughs, mumbling, “Karma is abitch.”
Aman opens the doors to our courtroom a few minutes later to let everyoneinside, but a commotion at the entrance draws attention away. A group of suitclad men make their way down the hall toward us. Their clothes and demeanorscream Fed, but surely the FBI hasn’t been brought in on an assault case. Ohgod. Have they? Is this Talbot following through on his threat?
Iinstantly look at Dare, who doesn’t look surprised to see them. They walk rightpast him and make a beeline for Talbot’s group. Confused, I start toward Dare,but Tucker’s arm clamps onto mine and I’m pulled to the ground. “Gun!” heshouts, grabbing Zoe’s shoulder and shoving her to the floor, too.
Thenext few seconds seem to move in slow motion, like I’m watching it all unfoldunderwater. Talbot is shoved against a wall, his hands cuffed behind him by twoagents while three more surround the senator who is pointing a gun straight atDare. People are screaming and flooding out the exits as security tries to geta handle on the situation, eventually locking down the building.
Sadieis tucked in a corner, filming everything with her phone. “Put the gun down,senator,” an agent demands.
Montgomeryignores him, all his rage is focused on the man I love. “You! You did this! I’mbeing framed.”
Darelaughs. Standing there with a gun pointed at him, he laughs, and I feel likeI’m going insane. None of this can actually be happening. “Framed would meanyou’re innocent, when we both know you’re guilty as hell, and so is your son.But I’m happy to accept the blame for calling attention to it. Don’t worry,there are plenty of press out front waiting to see you in cuffs. I know howmuch you like being on TV.”
He’sgoading him, daring him to shoot. “Shut up!” one of the agents barks at Darebefore another inches closer to Montgomery. “This is your last warning. Dropthe gun or I will shoot you!”
Montgomerylooks at the agent as if he’s dirt beneath his shoe, completelyinconsequential. “Do you know who I am? You can’t hurt me.”
