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Jack reaches for the box over my shoulder. “May I?”

I nod and meet his smile with one of my own. He lifts the delicate chain out and lays it around my neck. It’s cool against my heated skin.

My fingers touch the pendant as he clasps the necklace. “It’s beautiful. Thank you.”

“Not as beautiful as you.” Jack presses a kiss to the nape of my neck, and a little shiver of desire races through me.

I draw in a breath and look up at the ceiling to prevent the tears that want to fall. This is a lot.

“You deserve so much more, Harper.” Caden stretches his hand out to me, and I slide my fingers into his. “Tonight is not going to be easy to get through, but we won’t let them win.”

I nod, feeling his determination in my soul. I believe them. Everything in me wants to believe that nothing bad will happen to me. That Zach is just fucking around and didn’t really mean any of it. It’s just him trying to be a big shot.

But this city isn’t for the faint of heart, and sometimes even good things end. Like my parents’ marriage. That sadness in my mom’s eyes at the quarry earlier fills my heart. This town can take everything from me in a heartbeat.

I don’t let it get to me. Not here. Not now. We laugh and chat as we eat our dessert, and then the guys escort me out to the limo. I’m tempted to do something to distract myself in the limo from thinking about what will happen when we get to the school.

But I also don’t want to arrive rumpled and looking like I just had sex. Though I’m severely tempted by each of them. They all look delectable tonight.

The high school is bright, and so is the carnival happening across from it. I’m sure the lights will be guarded tonight so no one can tamper with them. What other trick could Zach have up his sleeve?

We pull up, and the guys help me out. Then the limo takes off. The doors to the school are open and music spills through them. Some students loiter in the hallway outside the gymnasium where colored light pours onto the floor.

I don’t recognize any of the kids out here. They look young, like freshmen, maybe. They almost back up as we walk inside, most likely scared of the horsemen. I hold on to Luke’s arm as we make our way into the gymnasium.

I’ve been on the decorating committee once before. Freshman year. It seemed safe because it was after school, and the horsemen definitely weren’t going to be there. It was fun, but I never got to see the end results.

With all the girls in their pretty dresses and the guys dressed in suits or nice shirts and pants, the transformation is amazing, almost magical. Off to the side, there’s a photographer taking pictures. At the other end are refreshments.

Jack leans in to my ear. “Don’t drink or eat anything.”

I furrow my brow at him. Though I can’t imagine eating anything else after that dinner.

He chuckles. “Someone always spikes the punch, and you never know what you’ll get in the food.”

Huh. Guess I wasn’t missing much by not coming to the dances.

Luke leads me forward into the darkened space. There’s a DJ booth inside the room and the dance floor is crowded with people moving to the latest pop hits. The other half of the room is decorated with large round tables surrounded by chairs. There are quite a few people sitting and chatting.

My gaze stalls on a blond head. Tanner stands against the folded bleachers with Angela pressed up against him. His gaze collides with mine and he smirks at me. There’s a dark shadow of a bruise on his jaw.

Caden steps between us and gives Tanner the middle finger.

Luke guides me over to the tables, with the others following us. He turns me and drapes his arms around my waist. He lowers his lips next to my ear.

“If you need anything, ask one of us. We can get you drinks that are safe.”

I grab his tie before he can straighten and say into his ear, “Thank you.”

His lips brush my ear. “When we’re done with this, I’m going to fuck you and then watch you ride each of my friends’ cocks while you suck mine.”

My panties dampen, and he pulls me in close so I can feel his hardness against my stomach. I tug on his tie, and he chuckles, his chest vibrating against mine.

“Promise?” I whisper.

“Always, princess.” He draws away, and all I want to do is drag him back to the limo and make him prove it to me.

“Harper!” Penny’s voice startles me out of Luke’s darkening gaze.