“That was never an option for you.” Her laugh is bitter. “It’s like everyone suddenly lost their fucking minds this year. You don’t even realize how much bigger than any of us this is. You want to know who told me to break into your house?”
“Yes.” I shake a little. Not out of fear, but because I’m worried about what I’m uncovering.
“My mom asked me to go with someone—don’t ask me who, I don’t know. She said I was to get caught. I was supposed to stay there until an exact time and then leave.” Sidney leans back with her hands behind her on the bench as belligerent as ever. “I didn’t ask questions because when you live in this town you learn not to question shit that doesn’t concern you.”
I chew on that for a moment. “Your mom. Who is on the board at the hospital? With Luke’s dad?”
“Ding, ding, ding. Give this girl a prize.” Sidney stands and brushes off her shorts. “I know what you’re thinking. The horsemen will protect you.”
I press my lips together. They will. I know it in my heart.
She smiles sadly. “They once promised that to me too.”
When she turns to walk away, she stops. She doesn’t turn back.
“Don’t tell anyone besides them what I’ve said. I don’t know what the big picture is, but I know I need out of this town more than ever. I won’t trade my future for their secrets.”
CHAPTER 32
The Dinner
Luke
I stalled after practice as long as I could before I head to Harper’s house to pick her up. Dinner is necessary. We need into my father’s laptop. This is for all of us, but Harper and I will take the brunt of the abuse. If he makes a move toward her, I’ll kill him.
But he’s more cunning than to come directly at her.
He has a plan. We just need to outwit him.
I knock at the door. Harper’s mom is home and I need to show Jennifer I respect her and her rules. She doesn’t need to know I fucked her daughter in the girls’ bathroom at school.
Jennifer opens the door. Her brow furrows when she sees it’s me. “You don’t have to knock. You practically live here.”
I smile and dip my head as I walk in. “Just trying to be respectful.”
She lets out a littlehmphbefore walking over to the sink. “Harper says you two are having dinner with your dad?”
I meet her wary eyes. “Yes. I won’t let him hurt her.”
Her eyes soften, but there’s a hardness to her words. “I’m sure he won’t.”
Before I can ask what she means, Harper hurries into the kitchen. She changed from that short tease of a skirt into a pretty dress that flows around her long legs. My mouth goes dry and my heart beats a little harder.
“You look beautiful.” It comes out of me without a second thought.
Her smiling brown eyes lift to mine and I swear my heart squeezes so hard I can barely breathe. She walks to me and puts her hand on my chest. My heart resumes beating at her touch.
“You look very handsome.” She has a soft pink lipstick on that makes me want to devour her.
Jennifer clears her throat. “When should I expect you two home?”
I lock down all my feelings, knowing they can be used against me. Not by Jennifer, but I can’t slip up in front of my father. “Hopefully by nine.”
Jennifer nods and Harper slips her hand in mine.
“I’m ready,” she says.
I turn my gaze to hers and lose myself in her softness again. Fuck, I need to get a handle on that before we sit down with my father.
