Page 32

We laugh and move together in time to the music, holding each other’s hands. Brandon stays behind Kenz while Jack remains behind me. This was always one of my favorite songs to freestyle to in the dance studio.

The studio isn’t the same as this though. This is fun and spontaneous.

This is what I missed out on. Moments like this when happiness just wells from deep inside me. To dance with my friend and not care who’s watching. I’m sure the other Cheermonsters are here somewhere. I don’t think they’re enemies anymore, but they’re definitely not friends. Ava and her guys and Zoey. Penny, Nat, Vicki and Izzy.

I want to see all of them and share how happy I am with them.

Right now, all that matters is that my best friend and I are on the dance floor shaking it like there’s no tomorrow. The song flows into another fast one, and we don’t stop. I don’t ever want this to end.

CHAPTER 13

The Closed Game

Eli

I lean back in the chair next to Luke as we watch Jack dance with Harper. She looks so fucking happy. We’ve been careful to feed into that happiness, because the way things go down tonight could turn disastrous.

We don’t know Zach’s full plan, but what we know isn’t great. The house that Art spoke about on the old Walker property isn’t easily reachable. We didn’t have time to go out and check it out either.

I’d feel better if we had. Maybe if we’d placed a few cameras around the property, we’d have more information. We need something more than what we have. It feels like we’re flying blind.

Luke glances down at the burner phone. Little dots light up the map, showing us exactly where the assholes are. Of course, it’s only their cars. And most of those cars are currently in the parking lot of the high school.

Zach’s is still by his house, but that doesn’t comfort me. If he’s smart, and we know he isn’t stupid, he wouldn’t use his own car in this.

“The extra guys from last night are on lockdown at their houses.” I run a hand over my smooth jaw. I made sure to shave before I left the house. Otherwise, my jaw would be covered in scruff by now.

“Good. We have confirmation?” Luke asks.

I nod. Luke glances from his phone to the dance floor as the music changes.

Jack tries to lead Harper back to us, but she tugs him the other way as Kenz and Brandon join them. When she dances like she doesn’t have a care in the world, the heavy weight of responsibility settles on me.

She’s in danger because of us. We have to protect her at all costs.

I don’t want that carefree, happy look to change. But Zach wants to take her away from us.

I can’t let that happen.

“What’s our plan?”

Luke drags in a breath. “Protect her the best we can. Make sure Zach gets taken down and is out of the equation.”

That’s the hardest part. Eliminating him as a threat. We might be able to do what we did to Tanner, take away his social status, but there’s no guarantee he won’t strike back harder.

I swallow the bile that rises at my next thought. “What if to take him down we let him step across that line into actually proving he’s a criminal?”

I glance at Luke’s tight face before glancing at Caden and Nico on the other side of the table. They’re far enough away that they can’t hear our conversation. Which is good. Neither of them would ever go for a plan where Harper got put in harm’s way. I don’t know that I can stomach it, but if it’s the only way...

The others might not be open to considering it, but Luke is calculating like me. I can see he’s considering it, even if it leaves a foul taste in his mouth.

Luke shakes his head. “It’s too risky.”

“But if he doesn’t take his chance, he’ll haunt our steps this whole year. We need a reason to take him off the chessboard. If he kidnaps her and/or drugs her, then we have a crime. If he just comes close again like last night, we have nothing.” Maybe some stalking, but unless he escalates, we’ll sleep with one eye open for the rest of the year.

While I love having Harper with us constantly, she needs her own space too. Seeing her having fun with her friend reminds me of that. We can’t be everything to her. She needs her mom and Kenz and any other friends that might be worthwhile.

“I’d kill him first.” Luke’s words are low, but the conviction is unmistakable. His cold blue eyes lift to mine, and I see some of his father in him. The side that would do anything to win. At least in Luke’s case, he’s doing it out of love and not greed. “There’s no world where Zach wins. No world where he gets to lay one finger on her. It’s not an option.”