Ethan runs his hand through his hair. “I get cash every time I give someone information about you guys. They put a burner phone and payments in my locker. They tell me who to contact via text. I’ll give you the burner phone if you don’t fuck with my future.”
At least he seems sincere. A year ago I would have smiled and told him cool and sent a file anyway. But now that my future seems more solid with Harper in it, I can’t risk it. I won’t, unless I have to. Because someone with nothing to lose is dangerous.
I’m good at what I do, but everything can be traced. I want to go to college not jail.
Nico nods. “I’ll take you to pick it up.”
“We’ll go.” I put my phone in my pocket and nod to Caden. “Make sure everything is good out there, would you?”
Caden squeezes my shoulder as he passes. “Be careful.”
Yeah, we have a guy backed into a corner with no way out. That’s when someone is at their most dangerous. It’s why I won’t let Nico go alone with him.
I tap a few things on my phone. “Just so you know, everyone at school is going to get this video if I’m not back here to stop it.”
When I hold up my phone to face him, I press play. For some reason Ethan has hours of himself masturbating on his phone. Maybe he has some spyware or maybe he uploads it to a website for money. I don’t know and I don’t care. If he keeps fucking around with Harper, I might dig a little deeper, but the surface shit was enough for us tonight.
His eyes widen.
“Fuck.” Nico shakes his head as he looks away. “Do you guys always find guys masturbating?”
I smirk, remembering Grant. “Not typically, but you know as teenagers, there’s a much greater chance.” I turn it off and meet Ethan’s unconcerned eyes. I smirk. “Don’t worry. That one’s for fun.”
I pull up a video of him smoking pot and being a complete dumbass. “This one will go to the admissions board of every college you applied to.”
There’s that fear in his eyes. He doesn’t have a small cock so maybe he doesn’t mind letting everyone at school get an eyeful. A bunch of people already did at the party. But college boards may not be as accepting or amused about the pot smoking, especially if he wants to play ball and get a scholarship.
Caden might have the physical threat down, but I love the mental games, almost as much as Eli and Luke. We’re all capable of both, just Caden leans into the physical more. I’m not sure which way Nico leans.
“Whatever.” Ethan’s shoulders sag, defeated. “This is why you got people targeting you. You’re too fucking powerful.”
Laughing, I grab his arm to haul him upright. We haven’t been nearly as involved with the politics in the high school since we’ve claimed Harper. They should realize they could have had it easy with us preoccupied, but they targeted her instead.
“If you guys would have left her alone, maybe you could have shaken up the system.” I chuckle. “But you decided to take us down by going after her? Fuck, you guys are stupid. She’s our distraction, but you guys made her our mission to keep safe by any means possible.”
Nico’s eyes meet mine and I see he understands. If they’d let us get wrapped up in her, they could have changed the power structure. Shifted it right out from under us. But they wanted to see us bleed. Not a peaceful transition.
Shots have been fired and we’re taking notice, but we aren’t backing down now. We have more to lose than we’ve ever had in the past. And we’ll do anything to keep her.
Harper
The door opens and Caden strides into the darkened room. The party is still going strong. It feels like more people joined than left. I don’t understand this, but I’m glad Kenz and Brandon had other plans tonight.
They had a date night. Which I have to admit, date nights are pretty fun. I’ve only had two, but I’m looking forward to more. Caden lifts me from the couch and slides underneath me.
The guys move away to give him room with shakes of their heads.
Caden settles me on his lap so I’m facing the party with his front pressed to my back. He draws me back to rest my head on his shoulder. “How are you, little nympho?”
“Good.” I stifle a yawn. “A little bored. Why doesn’t anyone go home?”
“Why leave here?” he murmurs in my ear. “Yeah, they get judged here, but there’s no one to police what they do.”
“You guys do.”
“To an extent. But we’re not their parents or siblings or stepparents.” He wraps an arm around my waist and I melt into him.
If I was in danger of falling asleep before, being snuggled in his arms will definitely get me there faster. He’s warm and smells delicious.
