“The sooner the better.”
CHAPTER 55
The Peace for War
Harper
The driveway to Eli’s family’s house is long. The house is set back far from the main road, and there’s nothing but woods around it. When I woke up a little while ago, the guys were lost in their own thoughts.
I played a few games on my phone, trying to keep my mind off other things. It’s hard to remember everywhere might be compromised. The hope is no one knows we’re coming here, so there’s no reason for the house to be bugged, but that doesn’t mean the cars aren’t.
Caden got a device that will detect active recording devices. A guy he knows was able to get him one last minute. Caden checked the cars before we took off. So they should be safe, but what I have to tell them needs to be told to everyone.
When both cars are in the driveway, we all step out. I climb onto the trunk of Eli’s car and sit down. Luke leans next to me with his arm draped over my thigh while Eli and Caden go into the house. Nico stays in the car until we can get him settled into a chair.
He has to stay off his leg as much as possible. When Jack comes over and leans against the car on my other side, I ruffle his hair. He catches my wrist, pressing a kiss on it.
“My dad wants to meet you.” Jack’s eyes sparkle in the sunlight.
“Yeah?” I ask warily. I haven’t had the best luck with parents in this group.
“Yeah.” He smirks. “He’s a good guy. My family is nice. We can even have all the guys over at the same time if you want.”
Luke slides his hand under my knee and rubs it, stirring something needy inside me. “You’ll like Jack’s dad. Robert’s a good guy. His mom is a little intense, but she’s driven.”
“I’d like that,” I tell Jack. His father was the first to separate himself from the others. Maybe he’s an actual good guy.
Caden and Eli come out of the house and Caden quickly scans both the cars. Just in case something was off and now it’s on.
“Anything?” Luke asks, still teasing the back of my knee. It’s an odd spot, but fuck it’s doing something.
“No. We should be safe.” Caden tosses the machine into the front seat of Jack’s car and helps get Nico out.
Eli holds his hands out to me, and I take them for him to help me down. I brush off the seat of my jeans.
“I like the skirts better, kitten.” Eli smirks and brushes a kiss over my lips before opening his trunk. We each grab our bags. I take the backpack my mom gave me.
“We have an encrypted hard drive and my father’s broken computer.” I walk beside Jack as we head for the house. My insides twist, but I ignore it. “Mom said everything we need should be on them.”
He nods and slides his hand into mine, tangling our fingers. “Are you okay?”
I glance up at his worried face and force a smile. “Better now that I’m with you guys.”
“Yeah, I feel that way too.”
Eli opens the door and nods toward the entrance. “We’ll set up in the living room. Seems like the best work area for us.”
As Jack leads me in, we pass through a massive kitchen with a huge island. I shiver, remembering Caden’s island and the cost of the tour. It seems like so long ago, but it’s only been weeks.
I exhale. My head spins a little. Weeks since I became theirs. Weeks since I tried to get away. Weeks since I gave in.
I never knew any of it would lead to this. Us working to unravel the mystery of what our fathers did. It’s hard to believe that once upon a time all our fathers were working together. Even mine.
Did my dad feel trapped by them like I did? Or did he accept his fate?
The fact that he has evidence means he probably didn’t really accept it.
Jack sets his duffle by the stairs, and we both put our backpacks down on the couch. It makes me nervous to leave it anywhere out of my sight. This is what my dad died for.
