“Leave, Tanner.” I return my gaze to him, knowing we only have seconds before the others realize there’s someone else here. No one needs to get hurt. “I’m fine. I’ll text you later, but you need to go.”
Jack looks down at me with confusion. “No, you won’t.”
Tanner chuckles, but an edge cuts through it. “Yeah, Harper. You can’t have your own mind. Not when the horsemen own you.”
This is just a pissing match so far. “Just go before?—”
“Tanner Lewis.” Eli’s voice is smooth as molasses as he comes to my other side.
My eyes close. Too fucking late.
Eli’s hand finds my hip and tugs me back behind him and Jack, closing the gap between them, shutting me out again.
Is this some macho thing? I roll my eyes. I’m surprised they don’t just hump my leg in front of him to prove I’m theirs.
“Tanner was just leaving.” Maybe I can still make this go away before anyone else gets here. I move toward the door to unlock it. “Come on. Let’s go inside before my neighbors come over to see what’s happening. You guys can measure dicks some other time.”
I push open the door and cross my arms over my chest. On the step, I’m at least closer to chin level on the guys.
“She’s right, you should leave.” Jack finally is being reasonable. More car doors slam.
My heart pounds harder. Even two against one aren’t the best odds when they’re the horsemen. But five against one… I know how overwhelming all of them can be.
Jack chuckles darkly. “I’m guessing you have ten. Nine. Eight.”
I turn to see Caden and Luke walking toward me, with Nico behind them.
“Seven, six.”
“What happens if I don’t leave? What else could you possibly take from me?” Tanner holds his arms out to the sides before dropping them and the fake smile. He steps forward into Jack’s space. His voice is quiet, but I hear him loud and clear. “Be careful, Hill, or I’ll take something of yours.”
Tanner’s gaze meets mine.What the actual fuck?
“She’d never choose you over us.” Jack shakes his head and steps back in front of me, crowding me against the door. “One. Should have left when you had a chance, asshole.”
“What are you going to do? Beat me up? Four on one? How fucking original.”
“Not me.” Jack’s arm cages me behind him as Caden roars past us.
“You motherfucker.” Caden’s fist slams into Tanner’s face.
I let out a small shriek and jolt forward to do… what I’m not sure. Jack holds me firm. Nico and Luke are quick to pull Caden back before he can get in another swing. Were they surprised by the first one or did they let it happen?
Caden tugs to get free. His lips are curled and his eyes focused on Tanner. Tanner is bent over, but he straightens.
“Leave, Lewis.” Luke almost shouts the words as he strains to hold Caden back.
Tanner rubs his jaw. His hand comes away with some blood, but he laughs bitterly. “Or what, Luke? Seriously. I have nothing left for you to take. You all want to get in a shot? We’re eighteen, fuckers. I could go to the police station right now and file charges. Put your beast in jail.”
I gasp and cover my mouth.
Eli slow claps. “Great idea, Tanner. Here’s another great idea. Leave before we let Caden loose on you. He never reported what you did, but I guarantee the statute of limitations hasn’t run out. Go ahead to the police. We’d love to talk to them. I’m sure they’d love to look through the videos on your cloud account.”
All of their words confuse me. What happened between these guys? Jack has me pressed against the door while Caden is still struggling to get at Tanner. Eli is so calm, like none of this fazes him.
“Cool down, Caden,” Nico says softly. “He’s not worth it.”
I shove past Jack, who clearly wasn’t expecting me to do that. I step between Caden and Tanner. “Please leave, Tanner. Or I’ll call the police myself.”
