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Is it safe? That’s the question I want the answer to. Yes, Luke’s father wants something from me still, but he has Luke embedded with me to find out what I know. Which is still not a lot.

Maybe with Zach and Tanner gone, things will calm down.

Especially with the FBI and DEA crawling all over everything.

I still have the card Agent Perkins gave me. If I find something about my dad’s disappearance, would they be interested in following up on it? I meant what I said to Nico. I could let it go so their fathers wouldn’t be implicated.

Do I need justice? Does my mother?

“What’s on your mind, kitten?”

I glance up and meet Eli’s curious eyes. “Just thinking about my dad.”

He nods, but doesn’t say more. Someone’s probably still listening to us.

“Can we talk at Nico’s today?” I don’t care if I’m giving something away. But I want to be sure we can talk freely. It’s time we got some answers.

Luke nods. “Anything you want, princess.”

CHAPTER 47

The Crucial Piece

Harper

The day goes by without incident. After school ends, the others walk me to the car with Nico. I get my round of kisses that make my toes curl before I drive us to Nico’s house.

“What do you want to do today?” I grab his backpack out of the backseat, but leave mine in the car. There wasn’t any homework today. Even the teachers seemed a little shell-shocked by the weekend.

“We could watch a movie or a show.” Nico leads the way to the door and waits for me to open it for him.

I make a face at the thought of more movies and he laughs.

“Okay, not a movie.”

“I think I’m all movie’d out.” I shrug.

“Honestly, me too.” He smiles, and his eyes sparkle with mischief.

My blood heats. We could definitely use the alone time to our advantage. After all, he’s doing better. I’m doing better. We could do better together.

When I shut the door, Sarah calls out, “Nico?”

“It’s me and Harper, Mom.”

My cheeks flush. I forgot his mother would be here.

Sarah comes out of the kitchen and takes one look at me and covers her mouth with her trembling hand. Her eyes well with tears. “Oh, dear, I’m so sorry to hear what happened to you. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.” I force a smile. Most of the teachers were the same today.

“Can I give you a hug?” She holds out her arms.

I nod and walk into them. Sarah always smells like my childhood and home-cooked brownies. She holds me tight, like she’s afraid I’ll fall apart if she lets go.

“If you need anything, you let me know.” Sarah’s blue eyes shimmer a little when she pulls back and looks me in my eyes, but she’s not crying. “This town. I’ve never liked small towns. But Mark grew up here, and after college, he got a job here. It made sense. And now, all this is happening.”

“You didn’t want to come back?” It seems like a logical question that wouldn’t send up too many red flags. Nico told me his father wanted to move them back for work so they’d have more time together as a family. Though once they got here, Mark apparently went back to his old ways with Ashley’s mom.