Dare Series Collection - Shantel Tessier Page 0,343

floor like Seth did. “What have I told you before?” he asks, and I don’t say a word, not sure what he’s talking about. “If that were the case, then you would already be dead.”

I shove him away from me. I have a feeling if I hadn’t hit him, I’d be lying dead on his floor right now. “Then stay the hell away from me, Deke.”

“You came to me.”

“I came for Austin,” I snap. “I don’t need you!” I look him up and down, noticing the way his jeans hug his narrow hips and muscular thighs. How his shirt shows me his pecs and bulging biceps. I hate how attractive he is with everything that I am. The fucker just tried to kill me, but the twisted part inside me likes it. I’ve challenged him before, and he didn’t give me the Deke Biggs I wanted to see until today. And fuck, he’s powerful. Fucking ruthless. I like that. When my eyes meet his again, I say, “You served your purpose.”

His hands clench, and I realize I struck a nerve. Good.

He steps into me just as we hear the front door open followed by Austin’s voice call out frantically. “Demi?”

“Here.” I try to holler, but my voice cracks.

She enters the living room and runs to me, throwing her arms around my shoulders, shoving me away from Deke. Her green eyes look me up and down to make sure I’m not missing any body parts. “Oh my God!” She gasps when she sees my neck. “Deke, what the fuck did you—”

“She’s alive,” he interrupts her.

Cole enters much slower and looks over at me. The way he fists his hands, I can tell he’s not as pleased as Austin is that I’m still breathing.

The guys exchange a look before Cole gestures to the sliding glass door with his head, and Deke follows him out back.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Austin asks me.

I sniff but nod my head.

Sighing, she pulls me in for another hug. And I cling to her, wishing she had been my sister. I always wanted to be close with Becky, but it was just never an option. I know it wasn’t just me; she’s that way with everyone—a coldhearted bitch.

“Come on.” She pulls away from me and takes my hand.

“Where are we going?” I ask her.

“Out.”

I look over my shoulder to the backyard and see the guys standing by the pool. Deke’s head is down, and Cole stands with his arms crossed over his chest. “But Cole—”

“Fuck Cole.” She interrupts me. “Fuck them both.” On the way out, she bends down and picks up my phone off the floor.

_______________

She took me to a bar. Well, I guess that’s what some call it. To me, it looks like a run-down shack.

“He’ll find you,” I tell her.

“Most likely,” she agrees. “I’ve heard Deke talk about this place on several occasions. If he can get in, so can we.”

We enter the old wooden door and look over the small dance floor. Now I understand why the parking lot was so dead for a Friday night. Most of their customers are over sixty. An old man with silver hair is hunched over on the dance floor dancing with a woman who can’t quite get the steps right. He’s got a smile on his face, and she is laughing.

I follow Austin over to the bar and sit down. The bartender lifts a brow at us.

“Two shots of Fireball,” she orders.

“IDs?” he asks.

I bite my bottom lip nervously, but she pulls her wallet out and shows him one. He looks at it for a long second and then back at her.

“Problem?” she asks.

He sets it down and slides it over to her. “Your friend?”

“Got her purse stolen. That’s why we’re here. Drink away the shitty fucking day.”

After looking over my face as well, his eyes drop to my neck. I’m sure my bruises match her lie perfectly. I look like a girl who was beaten before robbed. He nods and turns his back to us and begins to make us our shots. I wonder how in the hell her ID is gonna get us drinks but then remember the guys giving her a fake ID when they made her join the GWS back in Collins. I read it in her journal.

“Here you go, ladies.”

She tosses her debit card on the bar. “Open a tab.”

She grabs her shot and hands me mine. Without wasting another second, she throws hers back. and hisses in a breath. “It’s