“Ava is likely moving back.” Caden rubs the back of his neck. “Which means I have to be here. I can’t leave her alone in this house. We don’t know why they’re targeting you, but she’s been a target before. I’m not letting her get hurt again.”
“I understand.” My gaze holds his green eyes. “I wouldn’t expect anything less.”
“Do we know what prompted this?” Eli asks.
“Hazing at the school got bad.” Caden shrugs. “She decked a girl who probably deserved it. It’s not going away. So...”
“Your father is happy with your progress.” Eli moves on to Luke.
“Jack, put the nanny cam in my room while Dad is home and then cut the feed to this room.” Luke’s words rumble through me.
“On it.” Jack’s eyes go to the side where his other monitor is.
“He’s happy for now. He wants me to go through all the computers in Harper’s house and any flash drives.”
I can see Luke’s smirk in the camera.
“There’s nothing to find.” Jack doesn’t even turn to face us as his keys click. “I’ve been through it all. Unless what he wants is a recipe for apple pie?—”
“It’s really good apple pie,” I feel it necessary to interject.
Jack shakes his head and grins. “It’s not there.”
Luke blows out a breath. “That means we need to find the evidence your father hid.”
“What evidence?”
Luke turns the office chair and my mom stands in my doorway. Oh, fuck.
CHAPTER 20
The Support Ally
Harper
My first thought is thankfully all of us are clothed and no one is masturbating on the screen. I am however cuddled on Luke’s lap. When I attempt to straighten, his arm tightens around me. I guess I’m staying here.
Mom leans against the door frame. “Good evening, boys. What’s on the agenda for tonight?”
Caden chuckles, making Mom’s eyebrow arch. I’m so dead.
Mom’s gaze comes back to mine. “What are you guys up to? I assume you’re talking about Harper’s father? What evidence?”
“Maybe we should start at the beginning.” Luke lifts me onto my feet. “We can go downstairs where we can all sit comfortably.”
When Luke stands behind me, he puts a hand on my lower back.
Mom sighs and gestures toward the stairs. “Bring the peanut gallery.”
I grab my laptop and disconnect the charger. We’re silent as we walk down to the living room. Mom takes the chair and Luke and I take the couch like we did earlier. I set my laptop on the coffee table so the guys can see the three of us.
“Is this connection secure?” Mom raises an eyebrow at the screen.
“Better than.” Jack leans back in his chair. “I wouldn’t ever risk being spied on.”
Not with what we normally do on webcam. I swallow. Please don’t go there. Please don’t ask.
“Is this why there’s a picture of Harper naked going around school?”
