Page 90

I don’t hesitate to climb in next to him and snuggle into his warmth.

“Do you want to talk about it?” His voice is gentle and low. His lips brush against my temple.

Tears push at the back of my eyes. “I just need you, Will.”

“I’ve always been yours, Penny.”

CHAPTER 31

The Adjournment

Luke

There’s a knock at the door. When Eli answers it, I run my thumb across Harper’s cheekbone. She hasn’t woken up, leaving us in a holding pattern at the hospital until she does. The nurses come in and try to wake her every fifteen minutes or so, but she hasn’t responded. After the last time, Jennifer left to check on something upstairs.

Eli turns and gestures to me. His expression is stony. I’m sitting on Harper’s bed, my hand stroking her hair. Reluctantly, I stand. It’s harder to leave her now than it ever has been in the past.

When I walk out, my dad stands there, attempting to look casual. The door shuts softly behind me. He’s here because I asked him to come help Penny. That doesn’t mean he gets to have anything to do with me or Harper.

“How’s Penny?” I ask, guiding the conversation.

He glances toward Will’s room. “She’s in the clear so far. Between Cam and me, we should be able to get them to not press charges. I know Lewis’s parents. They’ll do what I ask.” His cold eyes meet mine. “She’ll need a ride or a phone before you leave.”

“I’ll take care of her.” After all, she’s still staying at Caden’s with us. When will he get to what he really wants? To gloat over the fact that I’m once again under his thumb.

“You’re covered?” he asks with his eyebrow arched.

I narrow my eyes at him.

“Of course.” Like this is my first rodeo. I’ve been managing myself for a long time. We’ve talked to the FBI agent and are scheduled to go back in later this week to do follow-ups to our statements. We were careful about what we told them, but we’re not the ones who attacked the school.

My father glances at the closed door. “How is the girl?”

Harper.

“She’s alive.” Part of me wants to rage at him, because he’s a part of the drug trade in this town. But it’s useless to argue with him. Zach may have acted on his own, but it’s possible my father knew. There are very few things that happen in this town that he doesn’t know about. If I find out he had anything to do with Zach coming after Harper...

A pulse of hate goes through me, raw and unfiltered. I took his abuse my whole life, but if he did this to Harper, I don’t know what I would do to him.

“Good. We’ll talk later.” He walks away from me.

Can’t say I’m surprised he didn’t mention my debt.

I run a hand through my hair and return to the room. Guess I’m still in a holding pattern where he’s concerned. I won’t bring up owing him, but that’s how he is. He wants me always second-guessing myself.

If he wants something from me, he’ll have to ask.

“All good?” Eli asks.

“Just wanted to let me know he was leaving and that Penny might need a ride or a phone.” My gaze falls on Harper’s slight form. So fucking vulnerable, but strong. My insides are a twisted knot with this waiting.

I want to curl up with her, but there’s not a lot of room in her bed or this room. What I really need is for her to wake up. To open those eyes and show me none of those drugs took her away from me. She’s still my Harper.

She could have died from what Zach injected into her. My stomach clenches at the thought. There was a risk we could have lost her to trafficking tonight, but she would have been alive. I would have gone to the ends of the world to find her. I could have saved her.

But we never considered death.

Death has a finality that makes me want to chain her to my side so she doesn’t have a choice but to live with me forever. But how do I tie her to me knowing my father is still a part of my life? Knowing he’ll always have a hold on me until I find a way out from under him? I’m sure the internship will be back on the table.