Page 168 of Their Wicked Secrets: Untouched, Vol 5 of 6

“He wants more money, little nympho.” Caden pockets his phone and focuses on me. “It better be good, or he’ll just end up with another ass kicking.”

CHAPTER 51

The Spymaster

Eli

The party is far from winding down. I don’t think anyone wants to go home tonight. Not when this is slowly turning into the rager of the year. Good on Jason.

It’s easy to move through the people, but hard to find the small cluster of girls I know are around here somewhere. I check the couch where Penny and Kenz were with Harper and Nico, but it’s been taken over by some kids who barely qualify as freshmen. I swear they look younger every year.

With a shake of my head, I keep looking.

Back outside, I find the fights all but over and some teens messing around in the pool. Ashley and Hannah sit with a few of the football players on the patio. Ashley nods respectfully but doesn’t gesture me over or even get up to come talk to me.

For years, we worked together to banish the anger weighing on both of us. If she’d cut me off, I would have found another outlet, but I imagine it’s harder in her position. To trust someone to give them control of your pain is a big ask.

Especially at our age.

It’s too easy for someone to take things too far. To disregard the safety of play. To not stop when someone withdraws consent. We’ve talked. There’s something more than just her mother’s affair that drives her, but she’s about as open as I am. So I don’t know more than that.

I hope Wilder can give her what she’s looking for. Every girl I talked to who had been with him told me he respected their limits.

I make my way back into the house and finally find the girls in the kitchen, pouring more drinks and giggling. Penny’s eyes widen when she notices me. Her smile freezes and then sinks.

Making sure we’re relatively alone in here, I move to the edge of their circle. Izzy, Vicky, and Nat all stop laughing when they realize I’m here.

“Hey, Eli.” Nat swallows down her fear and gives me a tentative smile. “What can we do for you tonight? Do you need a drink?”

She starts to pick up a bottle.

“Nah, I think we’re heading out soon.” I wait and let that hang in the air.

“Cool,” Nat says. The awkwardness clings to them.

Izzy giggles nervously, and Nat nudges her with her elbow. Izzy stops abruptly.

“Is everything okay?” Penny steps in front of them, putting herself between me and them. Does she know that’s a protective move? That she’s already a leader like her brother. Yes, her following is small and not as powerful as ours, but she’s taken command here.

From what Luke’s said, William Foster may not see it, but Penny is definitely his daughter and, at the same time, Luke’s sister.

She’s helped us when we needed her to and put herself in harm’s way. Anyone’s loyalties can be swayed, but for now, I’m grateful Penny appears to be on our side.

“Are you going back to your dad’s tonight?” I know she isn’t, but we need to figure out something that Vicky will take to William that will come back to us.

Penny shakes her head and looks back at Nat. “I’m staying at Nat’s.”

Nat raises her hand and looks uncertain.

“Good. We don’t want you there alone.”

“Won’t her dad be there?” Vicky asks. She doesn’t lift her gaze to mine, but picks at her nail. “I mean, he’s her dad. Isn’t it safest with your parents?”

Penny meets my gaze, and I see the moment she realizes this is her opportunity. “I don’t feel comfortable around my dad. I’m going to talk to my mom about moving back with her.”

She drags in a breath and looks back over her shoulder at her girls. “I don’t know if I can tell my dad that though. I’m worried what he’ll think or do. I’m hoping my mom can smooth it over before I talk to him about it.”

It’s not the strongest test, but it leans into the truth, and also it’s not really something that if William knows, he could really use it against her. But it would test Vicky to see if it gets back to him.