“I have everything she needs.” Caden kisses her shoulder and his eyes meet mine.
Meaning she doesn’t have to go into her room at all. That’s good.
“Do you know where she might go, kitten?” Eli strokes his hand down her arm.
She releases a breath and straightens. Her eyes focus on mine for a moment before she turns to Eli.
“I don’t know.” She draws him in close and whispers in his ear, close to mine. “She might go to the cabin. It’s hard to find and blocks cell phone signals.”
“She wouldn’t just leave you, princess.”
Her gaze swings back to me. She threads her fingers through my hair. “She wouldn’t.”
“We need to go somewhere we can talk.” Jack stands and helps Nico up.
“My mom texted while we were on our way here.” Nico stands with his crutches. “She wants me to come home. I have surgery in the morning.”
He swallows, and all of us understand. This surgery is make or break for his continued football career. He may not have had plans to go pro, but if it was offered, he would in a heartbeat.
Harper straightens and climbs off my lap. I miss the feel of her against me as she moves into Nico, wrapping her arms around him. He rests his head on hers.
“I love you,” she says.
“I love you, sunshine. We’ll find her.” He hands a crutch to Jack and wraps his arm around her, squeezing his eyes shut. “Webcam tonight. I want to be able to see you in the morning before I head in.”
She nods and breathes out as he releases her. “Have your mom send me updates.”
He smiles before he leans in to kiss her. “I will.”
“I’ll take him home and meet you guys.” Jack tosses his keys and catches them. “I’ll bring what we need.”
Harper releases Nico and gives Jack a hug. He whispers something in her ear before he lets her go.
“We should go.” Eli stands.
Harper’s eyes go wide as she stands in front of us. “Should we report this?”
Caden stands and cradles the back of her head in his hand. He shakes his head and she looks around.
“You brought your schoolwork with you, princess.” I join them and rub her back. “Caden has everything you need at his place.”
We lock the house and get into Eli’s car. This time Caden rides shotgun while I get in the back with Harper. Her gaze doesn’t leave her house. I can’t imagine what she’s thinking.
I don’t even want to think too deeply on it, but there was no blood. No evidence of a struggle. Hopefully, her mom made it out. If anyone could escape, it would be Jennifer.
Harper
We drive a little out of the city up to the place they rode bikes as kids. When Nico and I parked up here, that’s what he told me. I can’t process anything. Mom’s gone. Where? What happened?
The guys didn’t want me to go upstairs. Didn’t want me to grab my things. That terrifies me. But if they wanted to call the police, it would have had me in tears. No police. No body.
That means Mom is somewhere. And that means she’ll try to get ahold of me.
I walk to the edge of the road to the little wall that keeps people from careening down the hill. Wrapping my arms around myself, I stare down at our city.
Where is she?
Luke comes up behind me and rubs my arms. I lean back into him, grateful for his presence. None of us knows what to say. I refuse to think something bad happened to my mom. She’s just lying low. I’m waiting for Jack to see if she used our chat. Or even our new friend to get me a message.
