Page 67 of Their Wicked Secrets: Untouched, Vol 5 of 6

“What’s up?” I glance both ways before crossing the street.

“Need to fill Nico in on what’s happening.” Luke’s tone is distracted. “If I’m ever down because of an injury, I’d hope you guys keep me in the loop.”

I nod, but we’d be the ones taking care of him. Nico has a mother who loves him and a father who has hopes for him. That’s more than most of us have. Except for Jack. Though Jack’s dad used to be part of the horsemen of that generation.

“We need to figure out when Sean went missing so we can check Jack’s dad’s bank statements.” It feels wrong to say that, but we don’t know who we can trust. “He’s the one who told Sean about the meeting. It could have been a setup.”

A stone falls in my gut. Jack’s dad hasn’t just been there for Jack. He’s been there for me, taking me in when my parents were away. Telling me he’s proud of me whenever he can. Showing up at games and making sure I know he’s there for me too. Something my own father can’t seem to do.

Setting his phone on his lap, Luke sighs and runs his hand through his hair. “I can’t picture Jack’s dad betraying Sean, but our fathers aren’t the same as us. They did what it took to make money and power. They didn’t have each other’s backs. What if that was his only way out?”

The words aren’t anything I haven’t thought before but hearing them out loud makes a tremor roll through me. The adults we can trust are slowly winding down to one woman. Who’s currently being hunted.

“Do we have an idea of who Jennifer might trust to keep her and Harper safe?” I ask. Not going to lie but keeping Harper at my house has been nice. Even if I was nervous about my parents finding her, I know she’s safe in my arms.

But Jennifer has a good head and won’t put Harper at risk.

Luke rolls his head to me. “No clue. This town is even worse than I thought it was.”

“We’ll get out.” I keep my eyes on the road. For once, I’m not sure we will.

Harper

I’m mentally not ready to go to school today. Kenz stayed with me and Penny last night at Caden’s. We took turns making sure she was okay and getting her to drink water to help flush the drug out of her system. We don’t know if that was the right thing to do, but it seemed logical.

After we all passed out, someone must have snuck in and carried me back to Caden’s room. I woke cuddled between Caden and Luke. It’s the best feeling in the world to be theirs. If my mom’s contact comes through, I don’t know where I’ll be sleeping tonight.

We stop at a drive through for coffee and breakfast. While Caden’s house would have provided, having three girls and an extra guy at the breakfast table would have gotten back to Caden’s parents.

They left the house to us. His mom said they had a meeting out of town. I hate driving them out of their home, but I’m grateful I don’t have to worry about them finding me now.

Ava took one look at all of us this morning and claimed she’d drive herself.

Caden passes the tray of coffees back to me, and I give Penny and Kenz theirs. Luke passes me the sack of breakfast sandwiches next.

“Thank you.” Kenz unwraps her sandwich and takes a bite before moaning. “Fuck, I needed this.”

Penny pushes her sunglasses up her nose and sips her coffee. When I offer her a sandwich, she covers her mouth.

“Not yet,” she whispers.

I rub her arm and meet Luke’s eyes as he watches me from the front seat. This could have been him this morning. Strung out after being high for hours. Who knows what he might have done with Sidney in that state.

My stomach turns. It wouldn’t have been his fault, but it would have cracked something inside me until I could find a way to reconcile it. But that didn’t happen. Penny took one for the team.

Of course, none of us knows what happened in that dining room while Luke was in the hallway with his father. Maybe it was all a sham to make us trust Penny.

I glance at Penny as I sip my coffee. She seems genuinely ill from the drugs. I don’t believe she’d do that to get in deeper with us for popularity. But she might do it to prove her loyalty to Luke.

Both girls wear clothes of mine from Caden’s dream closet. It’s the only time Penny’s eyes lit up this morning. Fortunately, we’re all about the same size. Penny has on jeans and a black t-shirt. Her blond hair is pulled into a low ponytail.

Her somewhat vacant stare remains fixed on the outside world. I don’t know what she’d do for popularity, but what she told us means she’ll do anything to have family.

Kenz nudges me with her arm. I turn, and she nods toward the front of the car. We’re almost at the school. Fuck.

The fields across from the stadium are being set up for tonight’s carnival. I’m not ready for this. Not ready for Zach to lead me around while I pretend to be okay with him touching me at all.

Maybe I should have told the principal about Zach’s attempted rape. A shiver rolls through me. The guys don’t trust anyone in authority, and I’m beginning to understand why.