Dare Series Collection - Shantel Tessier Page 0,4

it. And walking away comes with a price.

That most can’t afford.

“Just please … let me go.” He swallows as the others shine their lights on him. “I won’t tell anyone …”

Their laughter grows. I step up to him, and he looks up at me. His tear-streaked face makes me sick. “Every action has a consequence,” I begin. “You can deny it all you want, but we all know why you’re here. And we believe it’s time for you to pay up.”

“What about your consequences, Cole?” Jeff yells at me, and I stiffen. “Huh? You killed three of your best friends, and I don’t remember you having to pay up!” he snaps.

I pay every day.

Deke takes a step toward Jeff, but I place my hand on his chest to stop him. “It’s okay, Deke. Let the man speak. They’re his last words, after all.”

“You’re not fucking God!” he shouts, pounding his fists into the wet ground. The earlier drizzle now falls steadier, soaking us all. I smile. Find that fight, Jeff. You’re gonna need it. “You guys can’t do this to people.”

I look around the dark, abandoned cemetery where the dead are laid to rest and then forgotten.

You can’t see the cliffs to the right, but you can hear the ocean hitting the jagged rocks below. There’s blood in that water. “Who is here to stop us?” I ask simply.

“Cole!” He growls my name. I tilt my head to the side. “I knew your mother … She would be so ashamed of the man you’ve become.”

A slow smile spreads across my face as the air around us thickens like fog. My friends take a step back from us, knowing that I’m going to need a little more room.

“Goddammit …”

“You shouldn’t take the Lord’s name in vain,” I muse.

“You shouldn’t murder people,” he snaps.

“I’m going to give you a chance,” I tell him. “A chance to win your freedom.” We both know that’s a lie. He can’t beat me. No one can.

His eyes dart from me to my four friends who still circle us. Their flashlights shining on him allow me to see. “Is this some sick joke?” he demands.

“Not at all,” I say, reaching up behind me and grabbing the back of my black t-shirt. I rip it over my head and toss it to the ground away from us. Now shirtless, I’m ready for a fight. Then I remove my flashlight from the back pocket of my jeans and toss it as well. “I hope you don’t faint at the sight of blood.” I can already smell the copper, and my mouth starts to water. Fuck, it’s been too long since I’ve had a good fight. I roll my shoulder, trying to release the tightness.

“You’re just like your father,” he shouts. “Fucking taking anything that you can get your hands on.”

I hear something behind me. A faint sound of branches snapping. But I don’t turn around. Not yet. “Get up and fight me,” I order.

Jeff shakes his head.

“He doesn’t want to play,” Shane says with a chuckle.

“I’ll let you have the first hit. More than fair.” I can’t help but smile.

I hear that sound again behind me, and it’s closer. I take a quick look—on purpose—and Jeff takes the cheap shot I knew he would.

He jumps to his feet and lands a hit on the side of my face. I hit him back with a fist to his jaw. His head snaps to the side, and I pound my other fist into his nose. His hands come up to cover it as he stumbles back. I grit my teeth when my knuckles crack as I hit him in the mouth. His teeth rip my skin open like a knife to butter.

I love it!

He falls into Deke, and he holds him up while I hit him over and over. My fist connects with his stomach, face, and head. My skin continues to split. Blood pools down my fists, making them slippery. Deke gets tired of holding him up and pushes him toward me. I swing, hitting him one last time, and he falls back to the ground.

I stand over him, breathing heavy, and sweat covers my body as the rain comes to a stop. My hands are down at my sides, and I can feel the blood dripping off them like a faucet left on—mine mixed with his.

Jeff starts to cough.

“I dare you to get up,” I growl.

“Is that … what this … is?” Jeff gasps for words. “Another dare?” He