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“No, they didn’t.” She turns to glance at me before turning back to Will. “I meant what I said.”

His smile grows. “Then I’ll save you a dance?”

“Always,” she says.

We walk to the other room, and the nurse glances at me. “She needs to undress and have an exam.”

I nod and meet Penny’s brown eyes. “Are you going to be okay if I go check on Harper?”

She smiles, and tears roll down her cheeks again. “Yeah. I think I’m going to be great.”

I step out, and the nurse closes the door behind me. I drag in a breath and turn around as they’re wheeling Tanner from his room to the elevator on a gurney. His eyes are closed, but I can’t help the hate that wells in me.

I’ll go to hell and back to protect Penny from any litigation he might consider. With that in mind, I pull out my phone and step outside to take in some fresh air. I dial his number.

“Foster.” My father’s voice is gruff because I’m calling from an unknown number.

“I’m at the hospital. Penny was kidnapped and attacked tonight. She also stabbed a guy, but he’ll live.” I keep my emotion out of my voice.

“You need help?” It’s like I’m offering him an in, which in a way I am. Unfortunately, this is what my father is useful for.

“It wouldn’t look good if your daughter serves time for assaulting her kidnapper.”

“I’ll call the mother and be down as soon as I can.”

“Thank you.” This is the one thing we need him for.

“There’s always a cost, Luke.”

“Understood.” I hang up the phone and stare up at the dark sky for a moment. I was out, but now I’m tangled back up. If it gives Penny a chance, it’s worth it, because she gave Harper a chance.

“Hey.”

I lower my gaze at Caden’s voice. He walks toward me from the parking lot and runs a hand through his hair.

“Hey.” I drag in a breath.

“You seen her yet?”

When I shake my head, he nods.

“Come on.” He puts his hand on my shoulder and guides me back into the hospital.

I’ll find a way out from under my father’s thumb, and this time it will be permanent.

CHAPTER 29

The Baseline Cost

Jack

“No concussion.” The tech turns to my mother, who is between patients. “And no broken bones.”

Mom thanks him and turns to look me over. I’m in a set of scrubs after they took my clothes and did their examination to make sure they captured any evidence. The nurse took pictures of all the spots I was hit. My wrists. My knuckles. They took blood and asked if I wanted to have a sexual assault forensic exam. I declined because, unlike the others, I was knocked out, not drugged.

I feel like I would be able to tell if they’d done something to me.

I was with Harper for most of it, so I don’t think anything happened to her. But I’m not sure how long I was unconscious and wouldn’t put anything past Zach Gray. My stomach twists just thinking about it.