Page 17

My younger brothers are fighting downstairs in the living room again. I can hear Mom yelling at them from the kitchen as I watch another drug house surveillance video. I’m finished getting ready. All I have left to do is wait for Brandon to pick me up.

I can’t wait for college next year. A place of my own without having to worry about my brothers or my mom. Harper isn’t the only one with dreams of getting away.

Watching these videos of hot guys playing video games is about as boring as it sounded, but if it helps Harper and the horsemen, fuck it. That girl is the only thing that made coming to this crazy town tolerable.

And if I find a way to prevent these assholes from stirring shit tonight, I’m all for it.

The guys in the video start shit talking each other. At least that part is entertaining sometimes. I glance in the mirror to make sure my makeup still looks good.

“Samson wants some more of that new diazepam.” Trace looks over his shoulder at someone off frame. I straighten at the medicine name. They’ve been careful to keep it to vague terms on most of what I’ve watched.

Zach walks onto the screen. “We have oxy. I can give him ninety, but it’ll cost him. That shit is hard to come by. They weren’t able to get any out of the hospital last week. We should get a new shipment next week.”

“Marcus wants more Adderall. He needs enough for exam week for the nerds.” Alex laughs. “There’s demand for party drugs too. If we can get fentanyl on this shipment⁠—”

“There’s no way.” Zach shakes his head. “I can ask for other stimulants and depressants, but fentanyl is hard to come by.”

“I’ve got some buyers who would pay good money for it. They’re willing to pay double.” Alex shrugs. “But if we can’t get it...”

“I’ll check with the boss, but she doesn’t like to switch up the shipments too often.” Zach looks at the screen of his phone. “We might have a slow month because she’s gotten wind of someone poking around.”

Fuck. I pay attention in case they have more, but they start discussing the game again. Fuck. This is it. This is proof. I pause and pull my phone out. Fuck. I can’t text any of the guys or Harper. Not with them being watched and recorded. I doubt Harper’s phone is even on.

“MacKenzie!” Mom’s voice is harried. “Brandon is here.”

I check my dress one more time and put the time and file number in my phone. I’ll see the guys and Harper in about an hour. The most important thing tonight is making sure my bestie has a good dance, keeping anyone like Tanner or the Cheermonsters from fucking with that, and making sure no one but her guys lays a hand on her.

If I see anyone even heading in her direction, I will kick them in their junk so hard they can taste their nuts. Grabbing my clutch, I straighten before heading down the stairs.

Brandon smiles when he sees me. “Gorgeous as ever.”

He takes my hand and pulls me in for a chaste kiss. Sparks light through me. That simple kiss is just for my mom. She’s already suspicious and keen to ground me for the littlest infraction lately. She hasn’t caught on to me sneaking out or Brandon sneaking in. Yet. It’s only a matter of time.

“Let me get a picture or two so you can get on your way.” My mom shoos my brothers and holds her phone up.

Brandon and I pose for her photos and then leave with a promise to send her more pictures. I’m still anxious to get the information to Harper. This is the first clip where they actually talked about drugs.

“Do you think we can stop by Jack’s before heading to the school?” I ask as we step outside.

“We need to swing by and pick up Penny and Nat, then Will.” Brandon rubs his hand over the small of my back. “I’m sure you’ll see Harper when we get there.”

“I was hoping to see her before. It seems wrong that the first dance we get to attend together, we aren’t actually going together.” I pout a little.

Brandon tips my chin up and smiles down at me. “At least she gets to go to this one.”

I return his smile and feel heat fill me as his gaze drops to my lips. “Yeah. Okay, let’s go.”

Penny

“Maybe I should just stay home tonight,” I say as Natalie and I wait for Brandon and Kenz to pick us up. “You promise you won’t leave me alone with him?”

Nat smiles. “Honestly, if you don’t want him...”

She trails off with a smile that makes my insides flip.

“You want Will Frank?” I can’t hold back the incredulousness from my tone.

She shrugs and smirks. “Maybe you haven’t noticed, but Will’s kind of a hottie. I’m not saying I want to pull him into a closet and get to know him better like some of the guys at school, but it definitely wouldn’t be a hardship to kiss the guy.”