I Dare You (Dare, #1) — Chapter no 42

CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

COLE

She turns the picture around, and I look down at it to see Deke, Eli, Bennett, and me. We were young. No older than seven. Maybe eight. There’s a girl in the picture. We’re all smiling, and Deke is laughing. The little girl looks pissed. She has her brown hair up in a ponytail, and her green eyes are narrowed in anger at the camera.

I look up at her and then back down at the picture. “Who …?” My eyes shoot back to hers, and she smiles at me.

I turn around, walking away from the girl that my mommy is making me

play with.

We don’t want her here.

I had to play with her yesterday too without my friends, and we swam.

She wouldn’t stop talking about dolls.

I fist my hands. My mommy made me apologize. But I’m not sorry. She wasted my juice. And she ripped Deke’s shirt when she yanked on it earlier while we played tag. Celeste made us let her play with us.

“Cole?” Deke calls out to me from the swing set.

I go to walk over to him, but I’m shoved to the ground. “Hey!” I turn over onto my back to look up at the girl.

She points her finger down at me. “You ruined my doll!” she screams.

“Austin?” my daddy’s best friend, Bruce, hollers at her as he comes over to us. “Did you just shove him?”

She crosses her arms over her chest. “He ruined my Barbie.” She huffs.

He lets out a growl and then grabs her by her arm. She cries out, and he lowers his face down to hers. He says something to her and then yanks her away. She softly cries as he drags her back into the house.

“That was you.” I say, looking at her wide-eyed.

She nods once, smiling. “That was me. You owe me a Barbie, by the way.”

I step into her and cup her cheek. The smile drops off her face. She was there in my closet all those years. I never looked at those pictures. My mother had them in her and my father’s closet. After she died, he threw all her stuff out so his whores wouldn’t see it, but I kept that box. I never got into it because it was too painful to see them. There are some of my mom and me, and I hated that I would never have any to show to Lilly of them together. I almost burned them so many times. “I owe you a lot of things.” I say honestly, and she frowns. Bruce had yanked her into the house that day, and I never saw her again. He had shipped her back to her mom’s. Back then, I was thankful. We hated her. She was a girl. We thought they had cooties and couldn’t play with us. But what if I hadn’t have got her in trouble? Would she have stayed with Bruce and Celeste? If so, her mother’s sick boyfriend would have never touched her. Hit her. She would have found out about Lilly eventually, and I would have had her all along.

“Cole?” She gets my attention. I blink. “I’m sorry if you’re mad I went through your box …”

“I’m not mad.” Far from it. I lean in and kiss her.

_________________________________

Things were different after I quit the group. Austin and I seemed to be in our own little world all the time. We spent every moment we could together and with Lilly. She and Becky brought Lilly to our meets. Blanche cut back, and Austin took her to school and picked her up.

We hung all over each other at school, but that was nothing new. It was just no longer for show. It was because we just wanted to touch one another.

Kiss one another. She spent nights at my father’s house. He never said a word about it and neither did Celeste. I think she’s going through some midlife crisis. Even at her young age. Kellan’s drinking a lot and fucking his way through the high school. So my guess is that whatever they had is on the rocks.

“So you girls ready for tomorrow night?” Deke asks them as we sit at our table in the cafeteria.

Austin nods, and Becky smiles. “What are we gonna do afterward?” she asks.

I place my arm over Austin’s shoulders. “I don’t know about you guys, but we are going back to the clubhouse.” We’ve spent a lot of time there

lately, and I have never been happier that I bought that run-down barn.

Becky frowns. “You can’t not party on prom night.”

“Oh, we’re gonna party,” I say, leaning over and burying my face into Austin’s neck.

Austin chuckles and pushes me away. “I agree with Becky. There are a ton of parties going on. We should go to one.”

“Why would I go to a party with people I don’t even like when I can spend the evening alone with you?” I am completely obsessed with Austin Lowes. Pathetic, right? But I wasn’t all that surprised when I was finally able to admit it to myself. The whole damn school knows it too. Good thing I don’t give a fuck what anyone thinks.

“Because it’s our senior prom, and that’s what we do,” Becky answers.

I look at Deke. “Help me out.”

“I already told Becky we can do whatever she wants to do,” he says,

leaning back in his chair.

I sigh. “Pathetic.”

Austin hits me in the ribs, and I cough like it hurt. “I think it’s sweet that he puts her wants first.”

I smile. “We both know that I always give you what you want first.”

“Cole!” she snaps, making us all laugh.

“Fine,” I say, throwing up my hands. “We can go to a party.” Becky claps excitedly. “But you’re staying the night with me.”

She leans over, kissing my lips softly. “I guess. Since you asked nicely and all.”

I grip the back of her neck. “You love that I don’t ask.” Then I kiss her

how I want. Possessively.

“Cole?”

I pull away and look up to see Bennett and Shane sitting down at the table. I guess you can say we made up, but we’re still not how we were.

“What’s up?” I ask.

“I was just doing some research, and it seems that Bruce has bought out Jerrold and Jeff’s company.”

“How is that possible?” Austin asks. “They’re dead.”

He nods. “Yes, but it seems that Jerrold had sold Bruce Jeff’s shares after he went missing.”

“How are we just finding this out?” Deke asks. “Jeff has been dead for three months. Jerrold a little over a month.”

“I’m not sure why it took him so long to take over but …” He pauses.

“But what?” I ask.

“I liquidated all of his accounts. Bruce has to know that the money is gone. When I was done with it, there was nothing left.”

“Can he trace it back to you?” Austin asks worried.

He shakes his head. “I covered my tracks, but that doesn’t mean he won’t be suspicious. Especially given how Jerrold died.”

Jerrold’s death was ruled a tragic accident. Tragic, my ass! But Austin’s father was still suspicious. Too many things were happening to people who he was doing business with. I have no doubt that he will eventually start to connect the dots. But we will be long gone by then.

“So what do we do?” she asks him.

“I’m still doing my homework. At the moment, there is nothing we can do. I just wanted to let you all know.” He nods. I look over at Austin and open my mouth when he speaks again. “Can I talk to you, Cole?” He gets up, not even waiting for my reply.

“I’ll be right back.” I sigh and get up, following him out of the cafeteria and into the empty hall. “What is it?” I ask when I see him leaning against a

locker.

“The final dare.”

“What about it?”

“We need to do it.”

“No—”

“Just hear me out,” he interrupts me.

“Austin is no longer a pawn in this game,” I growl. “I won’t use her to get back at Bruce.” Then I turn my back to him and start to walk back into

the cafeteria.

“He’s gonna kill her.”

I come to a stop and spin back around to face him. “Bennett …”

“We both know what he is capable of. And how much he hates you.” He runs a hand through his hair. “Everyone in this city knows that you love Austin.”

I swallow at that. I no longer deny it, but we still haven’t said it. We’ve only got less than a month of school left, and then she is moving with me to Texas. Her agreeing to that was better than hearing the words I love you.

After all, they’re just words. Her actions say more than they could ever mean.

“What are you getting at, Bennett?” I snap.

“I’m trying to tell you that even he knows you’re not faking it anymore.

He already tried to kill you once and failed. This time, he won’t go for you.

He’ll go for her. And he’ll succeed.”

“What do you suggest I do?” I growl.

“Let her go.”

I shake my head. “That risks putting her in danger.”

“She’s already a target, Cole.”

“I said no, Bennett.”

He sighs as if disappointed in me.

“But we can do the final dare,” I say, taking in a deep breath. “We’ll just

change it up.”

“And Kellan?”

“What about him?” I snap at the sound of his name.

“Do we bring him back in, or do we leave him out?”

The final dare was decided before Austin ever entered my life, but even now, having her doesn’t change the plan. Bruce must die. Especially since he tried to kill me. He can’t get away with that, and I can’t let him touch Austin. I’d die protecting her.

This dare was the one dare that was the exception. Just like I told her Jeff was. We didn’t need to draw this one. We knew what we were gonna do

before senior year even started.

“I don’t trust him,” I decide to say.

He nods. “It’s your call.”

I walk back into the cafeteria and sit down next to Austin. She looks over

at me. “Everything okay?” she asks.

I nod and lie. “Yeah.”

AUSTIN

“Your dress is gorgeous,” I say, looking over at Becky as we stand in my bedroom. She chose a strapless champagne mermaid dress. It shows off her thin size and flares out at the bottom. She loves to watch it flare out when she twirls.

“Thank you.” She smiles. “When are you gonna get dressed?” she asks looking at Cole’s zip-up hoodie that I still wear and yoga pants.

“As soon as I finish my makeup.” I lean over and line my lips with the deep red liner and then fill them in to match.

A hard knock sounds on my door, and I look over at it frowning. Cole never knocks, and Celeste stays clear of me. “Come in,” I say.

My father enters, and I straighten to my full height. His dark brown eyes have their usual look of impatience in them. “Becky, I need to speak to Austin,” he tells her.

“Sure, sir.” She nods once and then ushers out of the room.

I turn to face him, giving him my full attention. We don’t speak much, and I prefer it that way. I still haven’t told Celeste that the thing I had been told was that Lilly was my half-sister. And after the secret she told me, I decided to keep my mouth shout about it. My father already tried to hurt Cole once. But no one knows the exact reason. We could guess all day long, but that’s not enough. There was a time I wouldn’t have cared what happened to Cole, but things change. People change. He and Lilly have become the most important people in to me, and I refuse to give him any more power than the bastard already has over people in my life.

“I wanna talk to you about your future,” he states.

“Can’t it wait until another time?” I ask, turning my back to him and toward the mirror.

“No,” he growls. “I leave tomorrow for New York and will be gone for a few weeks. I would like to get this out of the way before I leave. It will almost be graduation when I return.”

I refrain from smiling, knowing how close we are to graduation. How close I am to getting the hell out of here.

He doesn’t wait for me to give him the green light. “What are your plans

after graduation?”

“I’m not sure,” I lie.

He sighs. “College?”

“Most likely.” Honestly, I have no clue what I want to do with my life besides be with Cole and Lilly. I’ve never been one to plan because plans never seem to work out. Life happens, and things get in the way.

“Well … where would you like to go?” he asks.

I slowly spin back around to face him. My eyes narrowed in suspicion. “I haven’t decided.” Another lie.

He nods as if he believes me, but his dark eyes say otherwise. “What about the University of Texas?” he asks.

My heart starts to pound in my chest, and I swallow nervously.

“It’s a great school,” he continues at my silence. “They’re ranked very high in swimming.”

How does he know? Cole and I haven’t told anyone except for Deke and Becky, and that’s only because we trust them. They would never tell another soul.

“Anyway.” He reaches into the pocket of his suit jacket and pulls out a folded-up piece of paper. It’s a check. “I decided since I didn’t get you anything for your birthday that I would help you out with college.”

I thought Celeste had said they got me a trip for my birthday? Doesn’t matter, I won’t be using it.

He reaches out his right hand. I just stare at the check in it. He shakes it a little. “Go ahead.”

I don’t move because I don’t know what he’s up to. The guys aren’t the only sharks in this town. They grew up in an ocean full of them.

“I’ll just leave it here.” He lays it on my bed and straightens his tie, then turns around and walks out.

_________________________________

It’s been two hours since my father gave me the check in my bedroom. I shoved it in a drawer without even looking at it. Afraid to see what he wrote on it. As far as I know, it could say anything from ten dollars to a hundred thousand dollars. Reading it would make him think I am actually considering his offer. I’m not.

“You okay?” Becky asks for the fifth time.

“Yes.” I continue to lie, running my hands down my dress.

“Red is your color,” she says, and I smile, knowing that’s how Cole feels.

“Thank you,” I say.

The doorbell rings, and Becky smiles. “I’ll go and get it.” She runs out of my room.

Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath. I need to clear my head. Forget about my father and this game he is suddenly playing with me. He hasn’t said more than ten words to me in three months, and now he is giving me money to go to college? The same college my boyfriend just happens to be going to? He knows. He has to. But how? Does he know that Lilly is going too? Would Liam try to stop her from going with Cole? I don’t see why he would.

I open my eyes to see Cole standing in my room. Those blue eyes running up and down my dress. Like before, they are still clouded, but I know what’s inside him. His heart. His soul. Cole and I may not have a traditional relationship, but I wouldn’t trade him for anything. He’s mine.

And I’m his. It’s the only thing I’ve ever been sure of in my life.

“Hey, sweetheart,” he says, coming up to me. His hand cups my cheek.

“Hey, baby,” I say, and he smiles.

“You look gorgeous.” He lowers his lips to mine. “Just like I knew you would.”

“You too,” I say, running my hands up his black tux with a red tie to match my dress. The man could wear anything and bring me to my knees.

His eyes search mine, and he frowns. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” I answer.

He lets out a long breath. “You know I hate it when you lie to me.”

I roll my eyes. “It’s nothing …”

“Austin.”

“I spoke to my father earlier,” I say, giving up.

“And?”

“And it was weird.”

“How?” he urges.

“He asked me about my future. If I was planning to go to college. I lied, but he seemed to know that.”

He chuckles. “Well, you are an awful liar.”

My eyes narrow. “He then went on to tell me that the University of Texas was a good school. Had high rankings for swimming.” His laughter dies.

“Then he tried to hand me this check.” I storm over to my dresser and yank the drawer open. I hold it up.

He walks over to me and snatches it out of my hand. Opening it, he glares down at it. “He gave you this?” I nod. “Tonight?”

“About two hours ago.” He pulls his cell out of his tux and places it to

his ear. “Who are you calling?” I ask.

“Bennett.”

“Why?”

He hands me the check, and I read over it. It’s made out to me for fifty thousand dollars. But it’s Celeste’s handwriting.

“Hey, man, I need a favor,” he says turning his back to me. “Those accounts for JJ’s Properties. I need you to check them again,” he orders.

“What is that?”

He doesn’t answer me.

“You sure?” he questions and then nods to himself. “Okay. Thanks.” He hangs up his phone just as my bedroom door swings open.

Deke and Becky walk in. “What’s taking so long?” he asks.

Cole holds up the check. “Bruce gave this check to Austin. Fifty grand to go to college.”

“That was nice of the bastard.” Deke snorts.

“To the University of Texas,” Cole adds, and Deke’s eyes narrow. “And the best part. It is a check from JJ’s Properties.”

Deke’s eyes widen. “Are you serious?”

“Why does that matter?” I ask, my eyes going back and forth between them.

“Because …” Cole turns to face me. “JJ’s Properties is the company that Jerrold and Jeff owned. And Bennett just checked and informed me that only twenty-three cents remain in the accounts. Combined.”