Page 61 of Their Wicked Secrets: Untouched, Vol 5 of 6

That tone. He’s pissed but doesn’t want to alarm the girls. My hand shakes, knowing what he’s going to do. I catch my hands together in front of me and squeeze my traitorous hand.

I turn and meet his eyes, holding his gaze, because he only has me one more year. And there’s no way I’m going to bend for him. Ever.

“You have room for dessert.” My father gestures to my chair. “We wouldn’t want to disappoint our guest.”

Sidney grins. She’s seen this song and dance before. My bruises and scars that I wasn’t always able to hide from her. She never cared enough to ask, and I never confided in her. Not like with the guys. Not like with Harper.

I drag in a breath and turn to take my place.

My dad continues to eat his dinner and talks quietly to Sidney about her grades. Penny’s attention is on me. There’s concern in her eyes. Fuck, she needs to learn to hide that better.

Hide any weakness my father will clutch onto and use against us.

The minutes tick by before my dad signals that it’s time for dessert. The servers bring out chocolate cake and set a piece in front of all of us.

When I lift my fork, I want to get this part of the night over with, but Dad says, “Wait. The three of you are staying in tonight. We should have a treat with our cake.”

A server comes in with glasses of maybe sherry. The wine glasses are small and the liquid dark.

“A peace offering from Sidney’s mother.” My father’s eyes dig into me. They set the glasses in front of each of us. “Luke, I’d like to speak to you in the hallway.”

I set my fork down and rise, laying my napkin alongside the plate. Penny swallows, but smiles at Sidney.

I walk away and my dad follows me out into the hallway. Once the door is closed, he eats up the space between us and pushes me back against the wall. I clench my fists. I’m bigger than him now. Stronger too, but I have to stay here. And knowing my father, he’d have me arrested and not charged, just to fuck up my life.

“You will do better, son.”

“Better at what?” I cock my head.

“That’s your future wife sitting in there. The money they have combined with ours would make us unstoppable.”

I press my lips together. Harper is hearing this. But she knows that I’m hers.

“You can fuck your little plaything with your friends, but when the time comes to grow up, you need this girl at your side. We need this family on our side.” My dad thumps me against the wall again. “That means whatever she wants, she gets.”

I could leave. Right now. Be gone. I could stay at Harper’s house or even at Caden’s with the two of them. No one would question it, but that would leave Penny here alone with him.

Even if I don’t trust her intentions, Penny is the closest thing I have to family. Harper would never forgive me if Penny got hurt because of me.

“I’ll eat your dessert and toast whatever the fuck you want me to,” I concede that, but that’s the end of it.

My father picks some fake lint off my shoulder. “Good.”

He steps back and leads the way into the dining room. He didn’t press for more, which puts me on edge. I didn’t fully agree to his terms. He’s smarter than that. There’s a reason he wanted me out in the hallway.

I study the waitstaff and then check on the girls. Penny’s eyes widen and she looks at my drink, pointedly.

“Have you heard anything from Harvard?” my father asks when he sits. He shakes his napkin out with a flourish before laying it across his lap.

I take my seat and look at my glass. “Nothing yet. It’s still early.”

“I’ll need to call my contact to double-check they have your information correct.” He sits back in his chair and studies me.

Forcing my body to relax, I lean back and smirk. “I’m sure they have everything they need. And if I don’t get in, I’m sure you’ll buy my way in.”

“That’s ridiculous. There’s no way they would turn you down.” He hasn’t reached for his drink yet, but I know when he does he’s going to make a toast and force us all to drink. Did Sidney do something to my drink?

Is that what Penny’s look is for? If there’s a reason to be wary, I can’t knock over the glass like I did before. Not without taking a beating. I don’t want Harper to have to watch that.