“I researched and bought a few audio jammers for us.” Eli leans back in his chair. “We’ll need to be able to talk without being heard once we get back. And there are other things we don’t want recorded.”
When his eyes meet mine, a little jolt of heat sparks through me, but now isn’t the time. I’m just glad he’s thinking about things like that.
“Once we know where the bugs are,” Luke says, “we should use them to our advantage.”
“We won’t know who put the bugs there.” Jack sets his laptop to the side. “It could be our fathers, Zach and his crew, Tanner, Sidney, and the others. For all we know, there could be people we don’t even know about gunning for us.”
“Like Brandon Walker?” Luke says.
I turn with my brow furrowed. “What?”
“Walker farm was mentioned.” Jack rubs his jaw. “The basketball guys were talking about it.”
“Brandon doesn’t live on a farm.” I try to think of him mentioning a farm. My heartbeat quickens. They’re blaming my friends again. Brandon isn’t really a close friend, but he’s Kenz’s boyfriend. How long before they start pointing the finger at her again? “Neither Brandon nor Kenz ever mentioned a farm.”
“Found it.” Eli looks up from his laptop. “Walker farm is an old name. The Walkers owned it in the early 1900s, but it was sold to Zach’s family in the late 80s.”
I release my breath.
“Good to know.” Caden smirks. “I was going to beat on Brandon a little to see if he would tell me anything.”
“No beating up Brandon.” I can’t imagine how Kenz would feel about that.
Luke tips my face his way. “We can’t rule anyone out, princess. Not even your bestie’s boyfriend. Brandon seems like a good guy, but we aren’t going to risk you by having a blind spot.”
I want to be stubborn and tell him he’s wrong, but how would I know? Do I trust Kenz? With my fucking life. But Brandon? I trust Kenz’s judgement and she’s been with him for two years. But otherwise, I don’t know him that well. I don’t think he wants to hurt me though and he’s never mentioned any beef with the guys.
“We don’t know if he’s involved.” Nico straightens a little. “But the guys are right. We can’t eliminate anyone at this point, so everyone is a suspect.”
I release a breath. “Fine, but I don’t like it.”
“Noted.” Luke releases me. “What do we know?”
“Zach’s crew is planning on doing something to Harper at Homecoming.” Eli sets his laptop to the side. “Sidney worked it so Harper is on the Homecoming court.”
“You don’t think my little nympho earned it.” Caden smiles at me, but I just shake my head.
“It’s possible.” Eli studies me with his head tipped to the side. “We did put her on the map and she has been dressing to be noticed.”
I arch an eyebrow. “That wouldn’t get me the girls’ votes, which I’d need to get on the Homecoming court. It’s definitely a setup like Ashley told you.”
Eli shakes his head. “I’ll see if she has more information now.”
I swallow, not liking being indebted to a Cheermonster for anything. “Did you arrange what she needs?”
Eli nods. “She’ll get exactly what she wants, but not from me.”
His eyes soften, and I give him a little nod of acknowledgement. We’re good. He’s not going to try to find what he needs outside of me, and I’m willing to continue to explore my limits with him. Like how he bound me and whipped me.
My ass still stings with a dull aching throb, but the bath helped mute it. While it was happening, it was intense. And when he fucked me after... My insides buzz at the memory.
“We need to get our fathers to back off.” Luke slides his hand on my thigh, and I inhale sharply at the sparks lighting me up inside.
“Give them what they want.” Jack nods to my dad’s computer.
“Absolutely not.” I try to stand, but Luke’s hand keeps me where I am.
“Not the computer, sweetheart. Give them some information.” Jack leans forward with his elbows on his knees. “We can talk to your dad’s friend and find out if he has something that will take them some time to figure out. It doesn’t have to be actual information or anything important.”
