Dare Series Collection - Shantel Tessier Page 0,387

chimes in.

Oh, he’s paying right now. Cole hates being ignored. He hates being outplayed. And he knows that even on my bad days, I can take him on.

As we get farther into the tunnel, it gets darker. The white lights that run along the ceiling become red ones that hang on the walls. Smoke fills the confined space, covering our feet as if it’s coming from the floor, making visibility nonexistent.

The red lights begin to flash, and then everything goes completely black.

“Son of a bitch.” I hiss, coming to a stop.

“This better not be like last time.” Demi sighs. “Brynn, is this supposed to happen?”

“I’m not sure. They always change it up, and this is my first time this year.”

“It said at the end,” Demi growls. “It can’t be over already …”

You hear the smoke machine hiss as it lets out more smoke, and a cold chill runs up my back. Blue lights come on, lighting up the narrow hallway. Brynn gasps and jumps back as we spot men now lined up against the walls. Five on either side. They’re all dressed in black cloaks with hoods on. A black mask covers their faces, and they stand perfectly still.

One of the guys with our group runs into the back of me, shoving me forward.

“Hey, watch where you’re going,” I snap, looking over my shoulder.

The guy throws his hands up and smirks at me.

Squaring my shoulders, I begin to walk forward. One of the guys in a cloak jumps out at me, his hands hit my shoulders, and he shoves me backward. “What the …?”

I hit the guy behind me, and his hands grip my hips. “Don’t fucking touch me!” I shout.

“Hey, you ran into me,” he starts, but he doesn’t remove his hold on me.

Demi grips my arm and yanks me free. “Bastard,” she hisses.

“Fucker,” I mumble.

“You signed the waiver that they could touch you,” the guy calls out.

“Them. Not you,” I snap.

We come to the end of the men lining both walls on either side of us, and the tunnel takes a hard curve to the right. The scene changes from smoke and blue lights to dark green bulbs and chains hanging from the now very low ceiling. I go to push them out of my way, but they don’t budge. I look down to see they are pulled tight and bolted to the concrete floor. You have to turn sideways from left to right in order to maneuver your way through them.

Something touches my thigh, and my head whips around to see the guy on my ass. I shove him in the chest.

“Hey …” He stumbles back.

My eyes narrow on him. Is he drunk? “I’m not going to tell you again to quit fucking touching me.” This guy is really testing me. And today is not the day.

He licks his lips, and his brown eyes fall to my thighs. I’m wearing black yoga pants with a white T-shirt that has an open shark mouth on it that reads eat me in red. Deke got it for me for Christmas. I have no makeup on, and my hair is up in a messy bun. I did not come out tonight to impress anyone. I’m out with my girlfriends because I’m pissed at my husband, and this guy is about to get my foot up his ass. “Hey! I’m talking to you!”

His brown eyes make their way up to mine. “I know, but with a body like that, I can’t resist.”

This motherfucker! “You—”

“Come on, Austin.” Demi interrupts me and grabs my hand. Then she whispers in my ear, “Let’s lose them.”

Brynn takes my other hand and pulls me out of that scene. Their laughter carries down the tunnel until it just stops.

We come to an opening; the narrow passage widens to what looks to be the original concrete walls of the tunnel. With stuff written on the wall in fake blood. You’ll die here. Don’t look behind you. Hell is waiting for you.

I snort at the last one. If only they knew that I married the devil.

A hand grips my ass, and my teeth grind. I’ve had enough. I spin around, lift my hand and go to slap the motherfucker, but he’s faster. He catches my wrist, and his fingers tighten. I look up into a set of familiar blue eyes. “What the fuck, Cole?” I shout and yank out of his hold.

He says nothing. I look around, not seeing the three jackasses who were behind us, but I do