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Nico

We’re sitting in Jack’s basement when Cameron comes to tell us the news.

“Zach Gray is dead.” Cameron sits on the edge of an armchair with his legs spread and his elbows on his knees as he looks at each of us. “I know you were all hoping to bring him to justice.”

He continues with how we’ll still be able to get the others and Tanner, but it doesn’t really matter. Couldn’t have happened to a better guy, in my opinion.

Harper leans against my shoulder as we all just sit with the news. I can’t say that I didn’t expect this outcome. He barely survived the prison beatdown. What we all know is you don’t go up against William Foster unless you have a death wish.

I glance at Luke, but he’s watching Harper closely like this might be the thing to break her. As much as I worry about it too, I don’t think Harper can truly be broken. Not unless one of us were to do something stupid, which that person would then have to answer for to the other four. I rub her shoulder as I hold her against me.

“Will this affect Mom’s case?” Eli asks. We all appear a little shellshocked.

Cameron releases his breath and runs a hand through his hair. “It shouldn’t. I’m sorry, but they have her backed against a wall, and unless she wants to start naming names...” He shrugs.

Eli’s mom is going down for this. She won’t name names because she doesn’t want to end up in a body bag. Harper reaches for Eli’s hand, and he takes hers.

“Do any of you have any questions?” Cameron straightens. “I know this isn’t the outcome anyone wanted, but sometimes these things happen.”

Caden snorts. “It’s the best outcome William Foster could hope for. Not only can Zach not accuse him of more, but anyone else who might have thought about it will choose silence as well.”

Cameron shakes his head, but it’s the truth. It would take something huge to bring William Foster down.

“I think we’re good, Dad.” Eli stands and gestures to his dad. “I’ll walk you out. Once we’re sure Tanner is staying put, we’ll go back to sleeping in actual beds.”

Cameron nods and tells everyone goodbye before Eli leads him upstairs.

“You good, sunshine?” I ask, tipping her chin so our eyes meet.

She smiles softly. “Yeah. Like Cameron said, I didn’t wish him dead, but I’m not disappointed by it.”

“He really was a horrible person,” Jack says.

Harper shifts her attention to him. “He was never smart enough to make the moves he wanted to make. He made so many mistakes.”

Jack smirks and comes over to sit on Harper’s other side. “I’m just glad he didn’t think through taking me with.”

She takes his hand and leans her head on his shoulder. “Me too.”

CHAPTER 57

All Hallows’ Eve

Harper

I pull open the door. A zombie, witch, and doctor on the other side yell, “Trick or treat!”

I hold out the treat bowl for them and wink. “Take two.”

“Thank you,” they say in chorus before running back to their parents on the sidewalk.

I close the door and set the bowl on the table before heading back over to the couch. Luke tugs me down onto his lap this time. Caden hits play on the horror movie we’re watching. Jack hands me the popcorn.

Nico settles on the floor in front of me, and I slide my hand into his thick hair. Eli walks in from the bathroom and narrows his gaze on everyone since they moved when he and I got up.

When he sighs and sits in the armchair, I can’t help but smile.

Mom, Luke, and I have been back in our own house for a couple weeks. Tanner’s still injured and not exactly a threat, and with Zach gone, things seem safe.