Page 1 of Double Dare

CHAPTER ONE

DARIO

My body shakes as I walk up the cathedral-like steps with some beef-head holding on to my arm tightly. Like I would run. I may be a lot of things, but stupid isn’t one of them. Fucking the Youngbloods over is a death wish, and I very much like living—even if it is in agony like right now.

With my latest high finally wearing off, my supply bone-dry, and Adrian making it known to every dealer I get nothing, maybe I would rather be dead at this point.

The shakes. The vomiting. The pure fucking misery. Death almost seems like a better option, but if I croak, then all of this would have been pointless.

If it wasn’t for my bitch-ass sister, I wouldn’t even be in this position.

Double dare.

Probably the worst idea I’ve ever had.

It was just a silly game we used to pass the time of being locked inside and homeschooled, but it quickly morphed into more. It turned into pushing each other’s boundaries and seeing how far we could get without being caught. We should have stopped it when it got to the point of theft and arson, but the adrenaline high we got from the acts was too good. Hell, we should have ended it when we convinced dad’s slimy-ass lawyer to draw up a legally binding contract stating if we didn’t follow through, our inheritance would go to the other party, but we didn’t.

And then she dared me to leave town.

I knew what leaving Port Howe meant, but I still did it because being cut off from Dad’s constant flow of cash for a few years wouldn’t compare to losing my entire inheritance when I finally hit twenty-five. I thought I could do it and thrive on my own, but alas, here I am, being hauled up to Adrian’s house because I got involved with the wrong shit and fucked up.

I fucked up big-time.

When we make it to the top of the steps, the roided-out dickhead opens the door and pushes me inside, finally letting go of his hold on me. “Wait here and don’t steal anything,” he mumbles before disappearing to the left.

I roll my eyes behind his back and rub the tender spot on my arm as I look around. I knew this place was massive just from seeing it from the outside, but it seems even bigger now that I’m behind its doors.

The marble floors are polished so nicely I can see my own reflection, thick red drapes cover every window, and gold accents adorn every wall and table I see. By the looks of this place, I’d say Adrian has a fucking gold fetish. Or he has more money than he knows what to do with. Probably the latter.

Shoes tapping against the floor pull me from my thoughts and have my head snapping to the left. Dickhead number one leads the way as dickhead number two—a new man who I haven’t seen before—follows, and Adrian tails behind them slowly, looking unbothered and angry at the same time. His presence alone is enough to put me on edge and wonder if this fucked-up plan I concocted in my head on the way here will even work.

I’ve always been told it’s harder for people to tell me no in person because of my chiseled cheekbones, mysterious eyes, and devilish grin. And it was my hope that Adrian would be persuaded by those exact things, but maybe I was a fool. Because putting myself in front of him just means he won’t have to look for me to kill me. I’m presenting myself to him on a silver platter.

“Oh, Dario,” he starts as he parts the two guys and steps in front of them. “I was really hoping the next time I saw you, it would be for a simple transaction, but that’s not what this is. Is it?” He tips his head with a smile—and not the friendly kind.

It’s the type of smile that promises torture and pain.

“Listen.” I hold my hands up. “I’m not going to try and deny what I did. I fucked up, and I get that, but I have a way to make it up to you.”

He glances at both men before looking back at me. “You killed my best runner, Dario. There is nothing you have that could make up for that.”

I shake my head vigorously. “I didn’t know he worked for you. I swear.”

He crosses his arms over his chest. “Oh? Then who did you think he worked for? Because I’m pretty sure no one runs that much dope in this area other than me, and everyone knows it.”

I bounce my eyes around the room, trying to think of an answer. I knew he’d see right through my lie, but my dumb ass still tried it.

Silence envelops us, and cold sweat starts to pour from my skin as I try and think of something—anything—to say. When my mind fails to help me, he reaches behind him and pulls a gun from the waist of his pants.

“I don’t have time for games.”

As he pulls the hammer back, I drop to my knees, squeeze my eyes shut, and present him with the only thing I have that I think might interest him. “My sister. You can have my sister!”

When there is no reply, I open one eye and see him staring down on me with narrowed eyes. “You’d give me your own blood to pay a debt?”

I nod quickly. “She’ll do whatever you ask. Fulfill any fantasy, cook, clean. It doesn’t matter. Whatever you ask from her, she’ll do it.” He lowers the gun from my head, and I let out a sigh of relief.

“I do need an alibi tonight.”

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