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Darius nods. “Thanks.”

I want to say, fuck, man, we owe you, but not in front of the dipshit in the backseat. Instead, I look out the window and rub my knuckles. I rode to the hospital with Jack and then got the keys to the car from Kenz.

It took everything I had not to go searching for Harper. Because if I did, I never would have been able to leave her again. Nico is with her and so is her mother. I glance at my phone.

No updates. I let out a breath and will the car to go faster.

“My friend raided the farmhouse. They took Zach Gray into custody. He’s at the police station.” Darius’s voice is low, like he’s only saying this to me, but Alex perks up in the backseat, clearly listening.

“Penny cut Tanner up pretty good for trying to kill her date,” I say.

I rub the back of my neck. They wouldn’t let us in the room, which was probably for the best. I would have finished Tanner for her without losing a wink of sleep. Or held him down so Penny could slice him up to her heart’s content.

Maybe gave her some tips about where to stick the knife in and twist.

That fucker deserves to die. But I’ll be happy to watch him rot in prison.

“None of them will get out soon.” Darius pulls my attention back to him. “The charges are long. And they found drugs at the house. My friend said they even sent the syringe they injected Harper with to the lab to analyze what was in it.”

I smirk, wondering if Alex is crapping his pants yet. “Isn’t there some law about causing a panic in a public place? I’m sure others were hurt during their raid on Homecoming.”

Darius nods and turns down the road that leads to the hospital. “Automatic five years in this county. Coach plays golf with the judge. The judge here is tired of the police blocking shit from coming to him. He’s got a real need to fill up the prison system and is just waiting to make a name for himself with a huge case like this one.”

“Career making.” I chuckle and turn to Alex. “Sounds like you’ll be getting all the sex you want soon enough. Free rent. Three meals a day. Gym access. Living the life.”

Alex keeps his gaze out the window, but he looks very uncomfortable. He’ll be singing before Darius even asks a question. Good.

Luke

I sit next to Penny in the back of the ambulance. She’s not hurt, but she looks rattled. I wish they’d let her wash his blood off her hands, but I get it. They need more pictures and evidence.

“Is Harper okay?” she asks softly.

Jack told me about Penny stabbing Tanner, which made it possible for him to knock out the big guy and for Harper to escape. Penny saw an opening and took it. I couldn’t be more proud of her.

Running a hand through my hair, I release a breath. “I don’t know. She’s at the hospital asleep, but we don’t know what kind of drugs he gave her and how long they’ll stay in her system.”

She nods and looks at her plastic-wrapped hands. Her dress has blood stains on it. She’ll need a change of clothes. They’ll probably give her scrubs.

“Do you want me to call your mother?”

She shakes her head. “No. Mom’s crap in a crisis. She’d just try to take all the attention.” Her eyes widen, and she meets mine. “Not that I want attention.”

I bump my shoulder against hers. “I don’t think that. But we should probably call Dad.”

“Why?” There’s legit fear in Penny’s eyes.

“Because he can fix this.” I gesture to her hands and lower my voice though the EMT is busy on her phone at the other side of the back. “You stabbed a guy and continued to attack him even when you had an opportunity to flee. He has defensive wounds.”

With each word, Penny grows more pale.

“This is the one thing our father is actually useful for.”

“What if he doesn’t want to help me?” Penny’s eyes are watery.

“Then we’ll figure out what to do, but he’s claimed you as his daughter. That means something in his messed-up world. We should capitalize on that.” Even if it means I need to be under his thumb again.

Penny is who I would have been without the guys. Surrounded by users. Maybe her friends aren’t all bad, but there’s the possibility they all have motives. She doesn’t have what I have, and if it takes me going back to my father’s house to give her that, I will.