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I try to let it go, to stop struggling to remember, but as we move down the hallway to the stairs and kitchen, I can’t stop wondering what happened to me.

CHAPTER 33

The Witness Examination

Harper

The day gets even more surreal when I step into the kitchen and see my mom opening cabinets and slamming them shut.

She looks up when we walk in and blows her hair out of her eyes. “Find me a cutting board in this excessively large kitchen.”

Luke guides me over to a couple of stools. Nico follows us while the others start looking through the cabinets with my mom.

When Jack holds up the cutting board triumphantly, Mom smiles.

“Cut the strawberries, please.”

He nods and grabs a strainer full of strawberries and a knife. He has some bandages on his neck. What’s that about?

Mom drags in a breath and comes over to where I sit. She tips my chin up and studies my eyes before feeling down my neck like I’ve complained of feeling sick.

“I’m fine, Mom,” I say out of habit.

She shakes her head and feels my forehead. “You don’t look fine.”

“I’m alive,” I offer.

She blows out a breath. “Yes, you are. Don’t let strange men inject you with god knows what.”

I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t let anyone inject me with something. But who knows if someone I loved was threatened.

“I don’t remember most of the night,” I admit.

She pauses, and it’s almost like she’s sorting through my medical file in her head. “You might get flashes, and some of the memories might come back.”

She goes back to the waffle iron and opens it, taking out a perfect waffle. There’s already a bunch on a tray she pulls out from the oven.

“Where do we eat in this place?” Her gaze falls on Caden.

He smirks and leads the way through to the dining room. She places the waffles on the table, while Eli brings in the plates and Jack puts down the strawberries and a can of whipped cream.

Luke doesn’t leave my side.

Caden picks up the can and shakes it. “Our cook would hate this.”

He winks at me and tips his head back, squirting some whipped cream into his mouth.

“Save some for the waffles.” Mom shakes her head, scolding him like he’s a naughty toddler instead of a beefy football player.

Caden grins and sets the can on the table. He holds out a chair for me.

I drag in a breath and sit down. The fog seems to be dissipating. I still feel bone tired, but I’m not falling back to sleep standing anymore.

Mom takes the seat next to mine and Jack sits on my other side. He takes my hand and holds it on his leg. My guys have always been affectionate with me. Maybe not so much in front of my mother, but it’s not alarming to me.

Which is good.

I’m trying to dissect what they’ve told me so far in my head. My gaze lingers on the bandage on Jack’s neck and the bruises on his arm. Obviously, the drugs are what kept me asleep and are giving me the hangover effect currently. Other than that my muscles are a little sore and achy and my feet hurt.