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“Zach talked about a boss lady for his drug business.” I wait for his reaction.

His expression is blank, but his lips thin. “Fuck.” The word is soft.

It’s too much of a coincidence. If I know Zach, he would give up whoever he could to get out of trouble. Especially if his parents can’t do anything to help him this time. It’s possible that my mom could be the boss lady they talked about.

Maybe if everything else hadn’t been going on and Harper hadn’t been in danger, the link would have been clearer. Or maybe I just didn’t want my mom to be involved in any of this.

CHAPTER 49

The Night Attack Formation

Harper

I’m almost asleep in Jack’s arms with his even breathing lulling me deeper and deeper when the door opens and closes softly. My breath catches, and my heart accelerates as icy cold dread seeps through my veins.

We locked the door.

One footstep and Jack, who I thought was asleep, jumps off the bed and tackles the person into the door with a thud.

“Fuck, Jack, stop. It’s me.” Eli!

I reach for the lamp and flip on the light. Jack’s eyes widen as he meets Eli’s. They’re crumpled in a pile on the floor next to the door.

I get out of bed and hurry over to check on them. “Are either of you hurt?”

Eli grabs my hand in his hair. His eyes focus on mine. “He didn’t hurt me, but he would have.”

Jack sits back on the floor with his knees up. His arms rest on his knees. “What are you doing here? Why didn’t you call first?”

Eli leans his head back against the door. “Phones are compromised. I didn’t want to go and join the sausage fest at Caden’s. Nico doesn’t have Harper in his bed.”

Eli shrugs, but there’s pain in his eyes.

I move on my knees until I’m between his legs and cup his jaw. “What’s going on, Eli? Why are you here?”

He releases his breath and focuses on me. “My mom was arrested tonight. Dad filed for divorce. He’s down at the station trying to sort everything out.”

“Wait, your mom is in jail because your dad filed for divorce.” Maybe I was more asleep than I thought, because none of that made sense.

Eli smiles, but it’s not cocky like usual. “Coincidence, kitten.”

He slides his hand behind my neck and draws me to him. With his nose against my neck, he drags in a deep breath. “I think my mom is the boss lady. William Foster has her laundering money with her business, and to save their own ass, one of those fuckers turned her in. My bet is on Zach. He has the most to lose as the guy leading the charge.”

My heart flips. “I’m sorry, Eli.”

He cocks his head like he can’t figure out why I’m sorry.

“This has to be hard on you.” I’ve met his mom, and she doesn’t strike me as the maternal type, but she’s still his mother.

“Fuck, it makes sense,” Jack says, drawing my attention. “I mean, she went to high school with the original horsemen. She married your dad and had an affair with William Foster. He said she’d go down if he went down and mentioned how much she made on her interior design company.”

It fits, but that doesn’t mean it’s an easy pill to swallow when it’s Eli’s mom. I turn back to Eli.

“What do you need from me?” I push his hair off his forehead.

“I just want to hold you, kitten.” Eli tucks my hair behind my ear. “My house is empty, and the press has set up camp for when my mom gets out on bail. Which, if anyone can do it, my dad can make that happen.”

I search his eyes to see if he needs more and nod. “We were almost asleep.”