Dare Series Collection - Shantel Tessier Page 0,153

…” He goes on. “Celeste is pregnant.” She starts to sob. “With my child.” He rolls his eyes. “After getting Betty pregnant, Bruce had that situation fixed so it would never happen again. That rules him out. And I’m the only other guy you’ve fucked, right, baby?” he asks, pressing the gun to her temple.

She sobs but nods her head.

He goes on, satisfied with her answer. “And just like Bruce and Liam, I don’t want a child. But unlike them, I plan on doing something about it.”

“Please, Kellan,” she begs. “I love you.” She sobs.

He smiles. “You were nothing to me.” Then he shoves her forward. And she falls down the long staircase like a ragdoll. I run over to her as she hits the marble floor and slide on my knees to her side. Her head is tilted to the side and blood pours from her nose and mouth. I feel for a pulse, but there’s nothing.

“You killed her.” I begin chest compressions. I’ve never done it before, but I’ve seen enough medical shows to have an idea.

He comes down the stairs slowly, looking at me strangely.

“You killed her,” I cry out, stopping to pull my cell out to call the police.

“You are trying to save her? She killed the love of your life’s mother. Who just happened to be your half-sister’s mother as well.”

“She’s pregnant,” I say frantically. My hands shake uncontrollably. “The baby didn’t do anything to you.”

“Oh, but it will. That’s why it’s got to go.” He grabs my hair and yanks me back from her. My cell falls to the floor. I twist and turn in his grip as he drags me across the marble floor in the grand foyer.

He yanks me to my feet, and I’m gasping for a breath when he slams my back into the wall. He wraps his hands around my throat and leans in. “You’ve been playing a game all along, Austin, but it’s been my game. My rules. And now it’s over.” He shoves me away, and I slide on my knees, hitting the floor once again. When I turn around, he has a knife in his hand. He twirls it around. “Cole has always been fascinated with blood. And I gotta say, I didn’t understand it until I watched him smear it with his hands all over your skin.”

What? Smear it over my skin? The night in the cemetery. “How did you …?” I trail off at his laugh.

“Celeste called me when you arrived. I had Shane and Bennett take me back to my car. By the time I got back up there, Cole and Deke were already playing with you. I stood back and watched you all night. I knew you were perfect for me the moment I saw you light Jeff on fire.”

Someone had been watching me after all.

He takes a step toward me, and I crawl back until I hit the side of the staircase. Celeste’s body lying only feet from me. Her eyes still open as more blood covers the floor. “Then, when you stole the car with Cole, I tipped the cops off. I have them all in my pocket, after all. My uncle is the chief. I wanted you to get caught.”

“Why?” I demand.

“Because if you were locked up, he couldn’t have you.”

“But you hated me … you tried to kick me out of the group …”

“All part of my plan. Every time I pushed you away, Cole pulled you closer.” He smiles. “And Celeste played along so well. See, I told her the final dare. Killing Bruce. She wanted the guys and me to kill him, and then she wanted me to kill you and Cole and run off into the sunset with her and Lilly.” He snorts. “All the lies she told Cole.” He chuckles. “You. It was so fucking perfect.”

“You sick bastard,” I spit out.

He chuckles. “He and I are the same, Austin. We both used you however we wanted.”

I shake my head. “Cole would never hurt me. Not now.” Lie. He’s hurting me right now. He left me. All because he thought my father was a threat. But he wasn’t. Kellan was the one all along.

“You’re right,” he agrees with a sigh. “He wouldn’t harm a hair on your head. But I’m gonna paint these walls with your blood.” He gives me a sinister smile. “After all, his favorite color is red.” He lunges for me, and I crawl away before jumping to my feet. But he’s faster.