A Deadly Bet Read online

  A DEADLY BET

  JEN COUSINEAU

  Table of Contents

  A Deadly Bet Playlist

  Dedication

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Epilogue

  Acknowledgments

  Coming Soon in 2014:

  About the Author

  A Deadly Bet Playlist

  Say Something – A Great Big World and

  Christina Aguilera

  Spectrum – Florence and the Machines

  Home – Phillip Phillips

  Hate Me – Blue October

  Broken – Seether and Amy Lee

  The Kill – 30 Seconds to Mars

  Torpedo – Jillette Johnson

  Breathe Me – Sia

  See You Again – Carrie Underwood

  Stay – Rhianna

  I Will Wait – Mumford and Sons

  Never Again – Nickelback

  Still Into You – Paramore

  Fear – Ben Howard

  Love Don’t Die – The Fray

  Hurt – Christina Aguilera

  Marry Me – Train

  White Blank Page – Mumford and Sons

  Dedication

  To anyone who’s been forced to do

  something that they didn’t want to do.

  Stay strong – there’s usually better to come.

  Prologue

  I pull up to my Dad’s house and see that I’m the last to arrive. The only place to park is across the road. Great. I have to carry all the presents in, and the road and drive look as if I could ice skate on them. Perfect. I wonder if Katie and Ben will help me with them later.

  The shades of the great big picture window are open. As I step out of my TrailBlazer, the cold air bites at my face taking my breath away. I take in the view of the yellow Cape Cod with red shutters framing each of the windows and the red door with the same Christmas wreath Dad hung every year. My sister Katie and I made it when we were kids—it took us hours, and it’s a hot mess—but Dad loves it.

  My eyes move back to the window, and it appears that they started the festivities without me. I see Katie’s daughter Lorelei who is three. She is on my brother, Ben’s shoulders as she tries to hang an ornament toward the top of the tree. Instead, she drops it right onto Ben’s head, and I see my Dad’s grin spread from ear to ear as he tips his head back in laughter. Laura, my stepmom, embraces him in a hug while standing in front of the ginormous tree that my sister Katie insists on Dad getting every Christmas. Katie and my sister-in-law Sam are sitting on the couch, probably gossiping as I can only see the back of their heads.

  My nerves of what I have to tell them dissolve as nostalgia fills me from deep within. Witnessing the happiness that they hold makes me long to go back to how everything used to be. I feel the smile spread on my face—an unusual feeling that I haven’t experienced in quite some time. I can’t help but stand there and stare. It’s a perfect moment. The last perfect moment before I ruin everyone’s Christmas and strip away their securities. Maybe I’ll wait until after our holiday celebration to tell them. Feeling relieved about my last minute decision, I start walking across the street.

  Everything changes to yellows and oranges in a flash. The heat on my face feels to be melting my skin. Before I realize what’s happening, something hits me on the head, knocking me to the ice-cold ground. What the hell? I hear a hiss and a loud, high-pitched wail of a scream. That’s when I realize the hiss is a fire that stands where my father’s house stood only moments ago. The scream is coming from me.

  The perfect moment is gone. Oh, shit. What the hell have I done?

  Chapter 1

  I’m still covered in ash, and all I can smell is smoke. I don’t even realize where I’m going until I see the sign Waupun-10 miles. I guess I should bite the bullet and tell Grams before she sees it in the news. I have no idea what to say. This is going to kill her. She’ll want to know why. What do I say to that? I can’t tell her the truth. She’d never forgive me if she knew. Maybe it’ll be better that way. Safer. For her anyway.

  I take a deep breath as I turn down her street. Everything looks so serene. Peaceful. Every house is lit with hundreds of lights. Wreaths hang on doors, Christmas icon figurines littering most of the lawns. Maybe I should come back after Christmas. Fuck it. Get it done. Bite the bullet. She’ll probably throw me out after I tell her—and then I’ll move on. As far from this place as I can possibly get. Fast.

  I pull into her drive and park next to the grey Ford. As I step out, I see a newer red Chevy truck parked in front on the road. Ahead of the red truck is a black Dodge. Perfect. Looks like the whole gang is here. This day just keeps getting better. Argh! My knees feel like jelly, and my hands are shaking. You can do this! You can do this! I keep repeating over and over in my head as I make my way up the stone walk path and hurriedly press the doorbell before I lose all courage and make a run for it. The door opens, and a familiar face smiles back at me. As soon as he takes one look at me, the smile fades.

  “V, what the hell happened?” Trey shrieks.

  I used to spend every summer here after Mom left. Dad thought it would do me good to be with a female role model. Plus, then my Grams wouldn’t have to depend on others for help for trivial tasks such as cutting the lawn and cleaning. That, and being my Mom’s Mom, he thought it would help ease her pain of losing her daughter. ‘She left her, too, Veronica’ he used to tell me. Not that I didn’t want to visit Grams’, but we made frequent trips throughout the years, and what twelve year old wants to give up their entire summer to sit at their Grams’ house away from all their friends? I knew my Dad loved me, but sometimes I thought it was just the easiest option for him, as I don’t think he really knew how to deal with me. Katie opted to go to camp every summer—camp was so not my style.

  “Hey, Trey,” I whisper. My throat feels so raw. God, I need something to drink. “Umm… I need to talk to Grams.”

  “Who is it?” I hear a deep, husky voice call from behind Trey. Chase appears in the doorway, and all breath leaves me as we stand staring at each other. His piercing jade, almond shaped eyes grow wide as he looks me over. Shit! I never even thought about what I actually must look like right now.

  “Veronica. What the hell happened?” he demands as he pushes his way through Trey and reaches for me.

  I push past them both and walk through the foyer leading to the living room. Channel 4 News is on the screen, but luckily, there is no sound. Grams must have it on mute. I look toward Grams’ rocker, and she looks so small. Oh, my God, I can’t do this. Yes, you can. Fuck. No, I can’t. I keep having this inward battle with myself. When I finally snap back to reality, I hear someone calling my name.

  “Veronica? Honey, what is it? Dear, what happened to you? Are you okay? My God! You’re filthy! And bleeding!” Grams shrieks standing face to face with me, her small, frail fingers resting on my shoulders.

  “Grams,” I croaked. “Grams, I have to talk to you. Please, sit down. It’s important,” I managed to say as level-voiced as possible. As Grams makes her way to her rocker, I see all three brothers, Trey, Chase, and Landon. They are standing
with their backs to the fireplace with their arms folded over their chests. All I see is a crowd of green eyes staring intensely back at me. I can do this. I can do this. I keep repeating to myself. I sit on the footstool in front of Grams, and grab her hands, softly rubbing my thumbs on her thin, loose skin as I try to put this all into words.

  “V.” I hear Landon’s voice pulling me back from my thoughts. Looking up and slightly to my left noticing the worry in his dark green eyes. “V, what is going on?”

  I clear my throat. God, it hurts like hell. Everything hurts. “Grams,” I start, “I have some bad news. There was… umm…” I try to take a deep breath, but it just makes me feel as if I were being choked. I cough and try to clear my throat again. I can’t say it. I can’t. It makes it all so real, so final if I say it. I squeeze my eyes shut trying to steady my breathing, ignoring the raw pain exploding everywhere within me, trying to stop the tears I feel forming at the back of my eyes.

  “Well, spit it out, dear. Whatever it is, just say it. You’ll feel better once you do,” Grams says ever so consolingly. That’s Grams for you. Always positive. I don’t know how she does it.

  “They’re all dead,” I spit out as my hand clamps over my mouth a few seconds too late. That’s not how I wanted to tell her. Shit! “I mean, umm… Grams…” I trail off dropping my chin to my chest trying to hold it together. “I’m so sorry. I’m so fucking sorry!” I yell to no one in particular. Grams’ hands jerk away from mine as she gasps.

  “Veronica! What on earth are you talking about?” she asks shocked. “Who’s dead? Why are you sorry?” I’m surprised she didn’t yell at me for cursing. She despises curse words.

  “Oh, my God, Grams. Everyone! Dad, Laura, Katie, Ben and Sam, Lorelei… all of them. They’re all dead. They… they… they were there… and then the flames and the… the hiss… and everything… everything… they are gone,” I stammered out willing myself to try to keep it together.

  Silence. I look up to see Grams’ eyes big and round with tears silently falling down her thin face. “Grams. Say something. Please.”

  “Veronica,” she whispered, “how do you know they were all there? How do you know?”

  “I saw them,” I whispered in response. “I was outside across the road. I got there late. I saw them all in the window, and then… they were gone,” I added trying to keep my voice steady. “I’m so sorry, Grams. So very sorry,” I whisper dropping my head.

  “Oh, dear!” she cries out covering her face with her hands silently sobbing. I could see her body shaking in tune with her sobs.

  “Veronica,” Chase says softly kneeling down in front of me grabbing my hands. Instinctively, I look down toward the ground. I can’t look at him. It hurts too much to look into his jade eyes—so many memories. “Veronica, what happened? You said flames, honey. There was a fire?” I can’t respond. I just keep seeing it all play in my head on repeat. “Veronica, please,” he insists while placing his large masculine hand under my chin trying to tip it up forcing me to look at him. I can’t. Just another thing I have lost from one bad decision.

  I force myself to move. I quickly stand and move away from all of them. With my back turned to them, I stare out the bay window watching the thousands of small snowflakes glisten as they make their way down to the already snow-covered ground.

  “I don’t really know how it happened. The police said they are investigating it. It was more like… like… an explosion…” I trail off. I’m suddenly very cold. Cold and tired. I cross my arms over my chest and rub my hands up and down my arms to soothe the chill setting all the way to my core. I hear my Grams’ rocker creak slowly. Suddenly, I feel her small bony hands on my arms making me jump.

  “Veronica, dear, you will stay here tonight. The boys will make sure that you are okay. We’ll talk in the morning,” she states. “Boys, she is not to be left alone. Whether it’s all of you or one of you—you see to her until morning,” she orders.

  “Yes, Ma’am,” they agree in unison.

  “Dear, are you physically okay? Have you seen a doctor?” Grams asks with concern in her voice.

  “Grams, I’m fine. I’ll be fine,” I whisper in response, my voice as hoarse as ever. God, I could use a drink.

  “Very well, then. I’ll see you in the morning,” she replies wrapping her arms around me quickly before squeezing and then pulling away. “I’m sorry. I just need to be alone and process this. Good night,” she adds as she walks out of the room to the foyer and up the oak staircase.

  I feel a gentle hand on my back trying to soothe me. “Veronica,” I hear his deep husky voice. God, he still sounds like an angel. “Veronica, why don’t you go shower, and we’ll get you some clean clothes to wear,” Chase offers. I could use a shower. I smell. I hurt. Maybe a hot shower will wash all of this day away. I don’t respond. I can’t.

  I head out of the room, turning right and down to the end of the hall to the main bath. I close the door, strip my filthy clothes off, dropping them on the floor, and instinctively, I run my hands over my belly. God, what am I going to do? Snap out of it, Veronica! You have to come up with a plan, I tell myself as I start the shower turning it to scalding hot and stepping in. I go through the motions, washing my hair and face and body. Twice actually. Out of nowhere, the sobs start deep in my chest as I sink to my knees on the shower floor. Tears free falling down my cheeks and washing away. I wrap my arms around my core as if it will make the pain stop. I would do anything to make it stop. I have to fix this. It’s all my fault. I feel myself start to shake as the sobs violently rip from my throat. “Oh, God! I’m so sorry! I’m so sorry!” I whimper, repeating it over and over again.

  I don’t know how long I stay this way. The shower curtain flies open, and I don’t even care. I can’t focus on anything except how much this hurts. I hear the water turn off, and I suddenly feel a soft towel wrap around my back and two large, strong hands pulling me up by my shoulders before enveloping me into a rock hard chest. A strong scent of manly aftershave invades my senses and makes me stagger slightly.

  “Shh… Veronica. Baby, it’s going to be okay. Stop apologizing. It’s not your fault. It was an accident,” Chase tells me trying to soothe my outburst. It’s not my fault. God, if he only knew how much it was my fault. “Breathe, baby. Feel my chest rise and fall. Match your breaths to mine,” he guides me. I do as he says. His magnificent hands rubbing softly over my back as he tries to calm me. “That’s it, baby. That’s it.”

  I freeze suddenly. I become very aware of his close proximity to me, and how naked I am. I take a step back as I swiftly finish wrapping the towel tight around me, wiping the tears that kissed my face. Chase is still standing in front of me with his hands gently resting on my upper arms, his piercing jade eyes full of concern as he stares at me. My eyes instinctively move south, taking in his masculine nose, wide, muscular jaw, and full lips. God, those lips. His jet-black hair curling just behind his ears and stopping just before reaching his eyes. He reminds me of a stallion. Strong. Beautiful. God, Veronica, focus! I clear my throat taking a step back just out of his reach. My hands instinctively hanging on for life at the top of my soft dark blue towel, ensuring to keep it in place.

  I feel the penetration of two sets of magnificent green eyes piercing through me from the doorway.

  “I’m sorry. Umm… I’ll a… I’ll be out in a minute,” I say looking down at the ground.

  “Stop apologizing, V. Here, Grams kept some of your clothes you left behind from the last time you were here. It looks like you’ve lost some weight since then, so I tried to find something with a drawstring. We can go get you some more appropriate ones tomorrow,” Landon tells me as he places the clothes on the bathroom counter. He gives me a kiss on the cheek before bending down to pick up my blood and ash stained clothes.

  “Thank you.”

  “No problem. We’ll be in the kitchen when you’re done,” he adds as he walks out the door. I look over and see Chase staring at me. His eyes turning the darke
st shade of green. Crap. He’s mad.

  “What?” I snap.

  “Are all the bruises on you from the impact and the debris from the explosion?” he asks in his interrogating firm voice as his eyes keep trying to inspect me.

  “Yes,” I respond turning away from his gaze, toward the clothes Landon gave me. “Do you mind? I’d like to get dressed,” I say, sounding like a bitch. Chase huffs in response as he turns and walks out of the bathroom shutting the door behind him.

  I walk into the kitchen wearing a black cotton camisole with a shelf bra and short hot pink shorts, and my wet, wavy honey blonde hair falling loosely down just past my shoulders. I instantly stop taking notice to how all three Summers boys are sitting at the farmhouse table looking at me, as if they are afraid to say anything fearing I might break.

  “Don’t worry. I’m not going to fall apart.” I walk past them to the other side of the kitchen. I go directly to the painted white oak cabinet to the right of the stainless steel sink grabbing a glass and filling it with water from the tap. I instantly gulp it down, swallowing the water and the cough that’s trying to force its way back up. Drinking the glass empty, I fill it again. God, I’m so flippin’ thirsty.

  I turn around and head toward the back door just on the other side of the table along the far wall.

  “Where are you going?” Chase asks.

  I slip on a pair of boots resting on the mat next to the door, and grab two coats hanging above the boots on the wall. “I need air,” I reply as I walk out the door stepping onto the beautiful white wrap-around porch. I put the dark red parka on and zip it up, then wrap the black puff jacket around my legs and make my way right to the wooden bench my grandfather built for Grams after they built the house. Sitting down, I take another drink, close my eyes, and force myself to take deep breaths. I open my eyes as all three beautiful Summers men make their way out the door and walk toward me. Landon sits down on my right and puts his muscular arm around my shoulders using his hand to push my head gently, resting it on his shoulder. Trey sits to the left of me without a word as Chase stands off to the side resting his backside on the porch rails.