Page 51

“What? No?” He almost jerks back but remembers the blade against his flesh at the last minute. Shame.

“Then tell us how to get there and what their plan is.” Caden smiles. “And then you’re going to talk to Coach Turner about what you and your buddies are up to at that drug house, or I’ll completely shred your knee and you’ll never be able to play basketball again. I’m angry enough to make the damage permanently debilitating. How would you like to walk with a limp for the rest of your life? I can make sure even the best drugs won’t take away that pain.”

“What’s it going to be, Alex?” I smirk. “You can be scarred and useless or you can come out ahead when your friends take their fall. Your choice.”

He stares off toward where the van disappeared, and then his shoulders slump. We have him. I just hope we get to Jack and Harper before it’s too late.

Luke

“Fuck!” I kick the flattened tire of my car. Someone let the air out of all four tires. The other vehicles we brought are the same. Including Mike’s and some of the other football players’ cars. Anyone that might have helped us.

I glance at my phone and look at the car trackers we planted. I hit a button and my burner phone dials a number.

“Yeah?” Eli says.

“Ask Darius for his keys.” Somehow I doubt Zach would have figured the coach would be on our side and willing to give us his keys.

“Done.” Eli hits end.

“Man, my old man is going to be pissed.” Mike runs a hand through his hair. While his tires are flat, it looks like the air might have been let out instead of a slash in the side wall like mine.

“You need help. Name it. We’ll take care of you.” I pat him on the shoulder.

“What else can I do?” He inhales and looks around.

“Make sure everyone is okay here, would you?”

Nodding, he stares at the school and all the students gathered outside. Some are walking toward their cars, but the principal calls them back. He apparently wants to get to the bottom of this.

Not my problem. My chest aches, not knowing what’s happening to Harper while we deal with this shit. Time is against us.

“Yeah, I got you. Make those assholes pay.” His eyes flash with fire.

“I intend to.”

The coach’s car pulls up next to me. Eli rolls down the window.

“You good?” he asks Mike.

“Yeah, man.” Mike drags in a breath as I slide into the backseat.

Nico pulls his knee closer to him. He flinches with pain again.

“You could stay here and help out.” I don’t want Nico to get injured more, but I also know his answer before he says it.

“No.” His expression is probably as deadly as mine.

I give him a single nod. We’re on the same page. He knows what this might cost him. We all do, but she’s worth the price. We’re not going in completely blind or handicapped. We’ve played capture the flag for years as kids and even at camps. Together we’re a seamless unit who knows how to communicate with whistles and gestures. We’ll get Jack and Harper back, no matter what it takes.

There’s no other option.

Jack

I keep my eyes closed and my breathing even when I wake. My hands are bound behind my back, and my body bounces lightly on the floor of what I assume is a van. I don’t know where I am or where Harper is, but maybe they’ll drop information if they think I’m still passed out. There are voices around me, and I focus on them.

I need to know if she’s with me or if they’re taking me away from her. There’s something soft against my knee, but I can’t open my eyes to see what it is.

“I don’t get why we need to wait,” Trace Masters speaks.