Page 22 of Their Wicked Secrets: Untouched, Vol 5 of 6

“Did you talk to her?” I meet Eli’s eyes.

“As long as what I have planned goes through, she’s ready to do what needs to be done.” Eli glances at Harper. Her eyes widen. “What you said to them drove a wedge.”

We gave Harper the ammunition she needed to make Sidney back off. That included a conversation where Sidney tore down her followers. Harper didn’t even have to pull out the big guns and only played that conversation for Sidney, Ashley, Hannah, and Emma, but it was enough to shake her power.

She glances at her hand and then over at the table where Sidney dines alone with the basketball team. “Good.”

“We have tonight and tomorrow before the festivities begin with Homecoming.” I draw my attention back to Harper and brush my fingers over her jaw. “Tonight, we’re going to go look.”

She swallows because the plan is to go to the quarry. We discussed it briefly last night but didn’t set anything up because we needed to figure out what was happening with everyone else. See if we can find anything that might look like a sign. And we have every intention of taking Harper with us.

We intend to communicate with the friend on the computer too, but after we go to the quarry. We just have to figure out the safest place to talk to them. Also, maybe they know something about Jennifer’s whereabouts.

Harper’s eyes soften as she meets mine. “Okay.”

The lunch bell rings, and we all rise to head to our next class. Caden puts a protective arm around Harper, because we all know what’s going to happen next. Moves and countermoves.

Zach is casual as he makes his way over to me. Caden and Jack continue on with Harper as Eli and I fall back, making sure she’s safe, away from this asshole.

“Nice with the camera work on Tanner.” Zach falls into step with me and we walk toward the back of the crowd. “The soft focus reminded me of some of the old Playboys my old man keeps locked up as collector items.”

I arch an eyebrow at him. Eli keeps an eye out for his crew as we stop next to the doors to the cafeteria. I lean against the wall and wait for Zach to say what he needs to say.

“Tanner is a bit of a trip, isn’t he?” Nothing about Zach’s body language tells me he’s nervous. He’s confident. He thinks he can handle me the way he handles Tanner.

“He’s not a person of interest,” I comment when the last person leaves. “Though some say you get along well with him.”

Zach chuckles. “Just because I talk to the guy at a party doesn’t mean I do what he does.”

I rub the side of my mouth. “Are we talking about the videoing women when they aren’t aware or...”

Zach glances around. “Don’t think I’d be stupid enough to stash anything in a locker at school. Tanner’s an idiot for a lot of things.”

I nod. “You might want to decide who you keep as friends, Zach.” I step away from the wall and smirk. “And who you want as enemies.”

Zach nods his head in acknowledgement. “I know who my enemies are.”

“So do we.” I walk away from him. Eli closes in beside me as we make our way to our lockers. Harper leans back on the locker with Jack standing over her. Whatever he’s saying makes her cheeks flush with color.

She glances my way, and I hold out my hand. She touches Jack’s jaw and pushes up on her toes so their lips meet. He smiles down at her and has all her attention for that moment.

I’ll get my time, but there’s something special about being in that moment with Harper. That’s something I’m willing to share with my brothers. Something we all need.

She flashes a smile at Eli and trails her hand across Caden’s stomach before stopping in front of me and taking my hand.

I don’t say a word as we all fall into step and head to our next classes. They all break away from us until it’s just me and Harper. When we reach the door, I push her against the wall and close in on her.

Her smile is wicked as she rests her hands on my shoulders. “What now, Death?”

“You picked me.” I lean down and graze my lips over hers, feeling the sparks ignite between us.

“I did.” Her fingers toy with the ends of my hair.

“Makes me want to reward you.” There’s so much shit going on around us that these moments mean the most to me. When it’s just me and her and the rest of the world can go take a flying fuck.

“I thought I was the one who’s supposed to reward you?” She cocks her head and arches an eyebrow.

I want to distract her from the madness swirling around us. I want to drown in her soft sighs and smiles. She needs to be safe.