Hopefully the guys are making better headway with Ethan, but at least we have something now. More to go on than we did before.
“We’re cool?” Brett glances at Luke.
“We’re better.” Luke’s eyes narrow on Brett. “Next time keep Harper’s name out of your mouth.”
He swallows and nods. “Right. Again, got carried away, running my mouth. Didn’t really mean it.”
Brett stands and wipes his hands on the back of his jeans. His gaze skips over me to Eli. “I’ll text you those names and let you know if I hear anything else.”
“Appreciate it.” Eli nods.
After Brett steps away, Eli meets Luke’s eyes. “Is he off the hook?”
“See what information he gives us, then we’ll decide.”
Luke draws me onto his lap. He tips my chin his way and searches my eyes. “Are you satisfied with his apology?”
I shrug. “Seemed sincere, but also sounded rehearsed. I don’t know who we can trust.”
He trails his thumb over my bottom lip. “No, we don’t know who we can trust. Yet.”
A shiver runs down my spine. It feels like we’re in a fish bowl at the party. Like everyone is waiting for us to do something or say something. I prefer to be in their rooms. Hidden away from everyone else where they can just be with me.
When he releases my chin, I rest my head on his shoulder and take a sip of my water. I’m ready for the party to end.
CHAPTER 12
Protecting the Future
Jack
I only had to show one file before Ethan started singing like a canary. Unfortunately, he doesn’t know as much as we’d like. He’s heard rumors. Everything he’s passed on has been to a different person. No one he mentions is useful.
He doesn’t know who he’s helping. Just that someone wants to take us down.
It’s like a puzzle and he doesn’t even hold a whole piece. The person or people behind it are savvy or paranoid. Or both.
“Come on, Ethan.” Caden leans in closer and stares into Ethan’s eyes. “You sounded so confident of yourself to our girl.”
I hit the recording again. His voice comes out of my phone.
“You don’t have to worry about them for long.”
“Man, I don’t know what to tell you.” Ethan looks away and shrugs. “I was fronting, trying to get some. I had two pretty girls on the hook. Wouldn’t you do whatever it took to get them alone?”
I shake my head. Bad move. That’s Caden’s girl he’s talking about.
Caden jerks forward, but doesn’t hit Ethan. Ethan flinches back with his hands raised defensively. Caden chuckles darkly as he settles back in his chair.
“For a tough guy, you sure are a pussy.” Caden glances my way. Anger still lingers in his green eyes.
“Maybe we need to convince you.” I stand and pull out my phone. “Let’s see. Alabama is your first-choice school, right?”
I glance through his hard drive I cloned onto my cloud network. He had a lot of shit on his computer and phone that a college admissions board wouldn’t be happy about.
“Fuck. Look, I’m a cocky bastard, but I don’t have a lot of options for college. They’re offering me a scholarship to play college football. Division I.” Ethan wets his lips.
“You’re fucking with my future. It’s only fair that I fuck with yours.”
