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Sarah’s mouth opens and closes, but then she smiles. It’s a little fake. “It was what was best for our family. Nico gets to graduate with his friends, and he has you. It makes sense.”

That’s not a no though. Why did Mark want to come back? He was out from under William’s thumb. Isn’t that what the fathers wanted? To be free of William Foster? Is anyone truly free of him once he’s got you in his web?

Did William call him back because of the missing documents my father had? Or was that just a coincidence? Do I even believe in coincidences anymore?

Sarah turns toward the kitchen before I can ask any more questions. “Let me get you some snacks.”

“Thanks, Mom.” Nico gestures for me to follow him up to his room.

As I set his backpack on the chair, he rests his crutches next to the bed before lowering to sit. I sit next to him.

“I don’t think Mom wanted to come back,” Nico says softly, glancing at the closed door. “It was Dad’s idea. He said it was for work. But I don’t know. The fact that he’s back messing around with Ashley’s mom is suspicious. And his association with William Foster can’t be overlooked.”

I sigh. “It would be so much easier if we could just ask the adults what happened that night. They were there. They witnessed something. Someone knows the truth.”

I swallow because I know William knows the truth, but there’s no way I’m asking that man anything. Not that he would ever give me a straight answer. Not without wanting something in return.

Nico opens his nightstand drawer and hands me the bug detector. We don’t think anyone is trying to listen to Nico, but we can’t risk it. I left my cell phone in the glove box.

I scan the whole room the way Caden showed me. While I do that, Nico takes his brace off to do his stretches.

As Nico puts away the detector, there’s a soft knock on his door.

“Come in,” Nico says. I sit on his desk chair.

His mom comes in and smiles at both of us. She’s carrying a tray with some snacks and a couple of sodas on it. She notices Nico has his brace off.

“Everything okay?” she asks.

“Just doing my exercises.” He gestures to his brace while she sets the tray on his desk.

“Do you need anything else?” She glances at me, but I just shake my head.

“We’re good, Mom.”

Her fingers tangle in front of her, and she reminds me of Penny when she first talked to me.

“Okay, I’ll be downstairs cooking dinner. Just yell if you need anything.” She turns to me and forces a smile. “Are you staying for dinner?”

I shake my head. “No, I’m eating with my mother.”

Her smile wavers, but she manages to hold it. She nods and heads out of the room, closing the door softly behind her.

Nico shakes his head. “She’s been hovering more. She’s lonely and worried since I got injured twice this weekend.”

“I get it.” Shrugging, I stand to come back over to the bed to sit next to him. “I spent a lot of time alone before this year. You get used to it, but you never truly like it.”

“My father’s been even more distant lately.” Nico shakes his head and takes my hand, raising it to his lips and kissing my knuckles, sending butterflies catapulting through my insides. “What should we do while we wait for the others?”

I smile and go over to the door to lock it. Just in case his mom comes to check on him again. I peel off my shirt, and he reclines with his hands on the bed behind him. He watches me, sending heat raging through my system.

I strip slowly as I make my way to him. His eyes darken, and he wets his lips, but he stays in the same position. His brace is on the floor next to him.

“Do you need it on?” I kneel at his feet, naked.

“I’m not planning on standing, sunshine.” His grin is wicked as I reach for his belt and undo his pants. He helps me get them down over his hips and off. “Did you have fun last night?”

I stroke his cock and lift my gaze to his. “I missed you.”