Page 118 of Their Wicked Secrets: Untouched, Vol 5 of 6

“No, not bait.” I touch Caden’s thigh. “They’re going to be watching me, protecting me. The goal is to never let him have a shot at me, but if they don’t let him try his plan, we’ll be looking over our shoulders for the entire year. It’s exhausting.”

“I work Saturday night.” Mom’s brow furrows.

“The guys have me, Mom. They won’t let anything bad happen to me.” I reach for her hand and take it. “Jack isn’t on the court. Neither is Nico. We’re aware.”

“I don’t like this, Harper.” Mom shakes her head. “We could leave right now. Disappear without a trace. Start a new life.”

“No.” Caden shakes his head. “This doesn’t end with Zach. Both of you are on William Foster’s radar, and you know he’ll do anything to find you. This won’t ever be over, and you’ll have to keep running. Unless we face it now.”

Mom squeezes my hand. “I hate that you’re right. But I need you to keep me in the loop. I need to know my daughter is safe.”

“Of course.” Caden runs his hand down my back. “We won’t rest until we bring him down.”

“What else?” Mom looks at me like she can tell other shit happened. Mom sixth sense maybe.

“Kenz, would you mind giving us a moment?” I hate asking her to leave, but this is about my dad.

“I’m pretty sure that jewelry case is calling my name.” Kenz winks at me before heading that way.

“We went to the quarry,” I say softly, making sure no one is around.

Mom’s lips pinch in disapproval.

“There was a tree with your and Dad’s initials.” I swallow. “There was an old trail cam there. We were able to get the photos it took, and we’re going through them, but it’s slow. It may be nothing.”

She blinks a few times as she processes what we found. “Is this what you wanted our friend to look into?”

I shake my head, but I’m not willing to tell her more right now. Plausible deniability.

My mom takes a deep breath in and glances around us. The clerk must be in the back and no one else is in the store with us. Does she understand we might have the key to unlocking my dad’s disappearance? Or is it really just a trail camera that someone set up?

She nods. “Let’s get you back to school.”

There’s a pep rally at the end of school today. So with the shortened periods, it feels like there’s no time left before we’re heading to the gymnasium. Luke has my hand, and Jack walks behind me as we enter the gym.

When I try to turn to climb the bleachers, they drag me onto the floor with them. The football players all have a place to sit and so does the Homecoming Court. Fuck. I’m really sick of being considered popular.

Jack kisses my cheek before going over to sit with the football players.

Part of me wants to drag my feet, but I know it won’t stop the inevitable. I have to sit next to Zach two more times and then never again. Hopefully.

Luke leads me out to the grouping of eight chairs. It’s tempting to just take the seat next to him, but that’s reserved for Sidney. Luke stops at the empty chair that Zach will sit in.

“Remember what he says, princess. I want to know every word. He may let something slip.” Luke presses his lips to my temple, and I lean into him for a second.

I doubt anything Zach tells me will have any purpose but to make me upset. It’s kind of like Tanner in art class running his mouth because he can. It doesn’t matter though. Tonight the king and queen will be announced, and we’ll be done with this. Sidney and Luke will win like they do every year, and I’ll have my guys to protect me at the dance.

And hopefully dance with me. In my new dress. That I can’t wait to wear.

“Thinking of me, darling?” Zach drops into the seat next to me and manspreads into my space.

“No.”

The principal walks over to where we all sit. Well, everyone except the Cheermonsters. “Stay after this for ten minutes so we can discuss tonight please.”

He walks over to the podium. The gymnasium is loud as everyone chats with their friends, while the principal gets ready.

“What do you think, Harper?” Zach leans back in his chair like he doesn’t have a care in the world. “Did we win? Are we going to be king and queen together? We’ll get to share a dance.”