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My lips press together. The others can go free. I can either give up and he’ll let them go, or I can fight and take them down with me. Will’s already dead. Who’s to say they all wouldn’t end up in a shallow grave? Wherever the fuck we are.

It’s like my dad. No one should have to live wondering if their loved one is alive or dead. Fuck that.

“Jack goes with the others.” I narrow my gaze at Zach.

Zach shakes his head. “No⁠—”

“What good is your revenge if the guys don’t know what’s happened to me?” I step forward. “You want them scrambling looking for me, for what? So, they’ll turn a blind eye to you starting the human trafficking ring through our town again? Is that the plan, Zach? Is that your end game? Or do you want to impress whoever the fuck your boss is?”

He smirks. “I don’t need to impress anyone. I’ve been running this game for a long time. I know the ins and outs. Fuck, my first time was in one of these rooms, breaking in a whore.”

I want to vomit at that thought. That’s not something to be proud of, but I keep my mouth shut. I need Jack to go free. I need to know that he’s out there and he’ll find me. Honestly, I hope to stall long enough for the cavalry to get here.

I touch my ring and hope like hell this isn’t one of those places that dampens trackers like my dad’s shack. Though it would make sense if you’re committing illegal acts to have a blocker in place like that.

“What makes you think I’m going to bargain with you?” Zach tips his head like I’m a curiosity he wants to toy with. “I have the numbers. No one will find you here, and by the time I’m done with you, no one will ever find you.”

I need to think like Eli here. There’s too much at stake. Logic, not emotion.

Straightening, I meet his eyes. “But here’s the problem with your plan.”

He raises an eyebrow.

“If you’d just taken Jack and me, sure you might get away with two people going missing on Homecoming night. After all, we’re dating. Maybe jealousy played into it and one of my other boyfriends took care of us. After all, some guys do get jealous.”

He’s listening, meaning he’s focused on me. Good. And the longer this takes, the more time the guys have to get here, because they have to get here. I need to have that hope alive in my heart.

“But you took four couples total. Not to mention you plan to go missing after that terrible prank you pulled last night. Which won’t look good for you, especially when three of the girls who you and your friends attacked were kidnapped with their dates.”

His eyes narrow as if he’s putting all the pieces together. Because fuck, he’s backed himself into a corner and I want him to feel the crushing weight of it.

“But you had to have a plan, right?” I glance back at Tanner before facing Zach. “Or was the plan to frame a scapegoat? Someone you don’t really like and don’t have a vested interest in keeping safe.”

I glance over my shoulder at Tanner again, pointedly. I need these fuckers at each other’s throats. Penny stands in front of the two guys, but she hasn’t come closer to me. That’s good because if I need to fight, I want the freedom to do it without injuring her.

“Will wasn’t your fault,” I say quietly to Zach. “You didn’t really mean to hurt anyone. Not them at least.” I glance back at Tanner and step closer to Zach. “It’s going to be hard enough to explain all this without someone to take the blame. Everyone knows about his drug stash. They know he’s not popular anymore and has an axe to grind with my guys. And now he killed a guy.

“This could all end, and we can all go home.” I don’t move, waiting. It’s a stretch. He’s not letting me go, but blaming all this on Tanner was going to be his endgame. It has to be.

“Or we could just start with your friends.” Tanner’s voice makes me twist to see he’s grabbed hold of Penny’s arm again. “Show you exactly what we have planned for you.”

She hits and kicks him until he wraps his arms around her arms and lifts her off the ground.

“Let her go!” I can’t help it.

“What’s it going to be, darling?” Zach’s voice is close.

I spin and back away from him. He smirks at me as he wraps his arm around Jack’s neck. I’m cornered. I know it. There’s no way to really fight my way out of here. Not four guys, all bigger than me. And probably willing to punch me now. Not with my friends in jeopardy.

“Put me down,” Penny yells.

“You don’t want down.” Tanner’s modulated voice echoes in the hallway. He turns his masked face to his buddy beside him. The slender guy. I honestly don’t know who the other guys are.

“Take her underwear off so we can get this started.” Tanner gives the command and the other guy moves forward.

Penny kicks at him. My pulse pounds. I can’t let anyone else get hurt. I’m fighting a losing game.

“Stop!” I yell.