Chapter 52 #2
“The girls and Kenz are the ones with access to Harper.” I pull my hand reluctantly from Harper’s jaw. “We need to figure out who might be giving our enemies information. Who all knew about our Grant mission?”
“The guys who helped us watch him.” Luke names off the football players’ last names. “Rivera, Carter, Parker, Cook, Walker, and Johnson.”
Harper squeezes my hand at Parker and Walker.
“Parker was sure we’d be done with her after fucking her.
” I try to think of what else to add to that.
“He’s stupid enough to give someone information, but he’s not a mastermind.
And Brandon Walker? He’s a good guy generally, but we can’t discount he might know everything Kenz knows.
It wouldn’t be the first time a guy got nervous because we’re around his woman more. ”
“He better not have a reason to be nervous,” she mumbles under her breath.
I smile and look down at her. “Something to say, kitten?”
“Again, Kenz and even Brandon have been my friends for years. I can’t see either of them betraying me.”
“Except,” I point out, “Brandon already betrayed you once when he told us he took Kenz’s cherry.”
“Ew.” Harper makes a disgusted face. “Don’t call it that.”
“Even if he hadn’t updated the list, we knew you were the last available virgin in our class.” I tap her on the nose. She just arches an arrogant eyebrow.
“We need to figure out if we have a mole or someone just stupid enough to give away any information we give them.” Caden glances around at all of us. “And we need to keep Harper safe during the game.”
“She should come with us.” Luke rubs the back of his neck and looks serious about his statement. Like she could just come ride on the bus with us because we say so. We’re lucky no one realized she was in the locker room with us at the last game.
“I’m sure Coach would love to have her sitting on the bus with us.” Nico rolls his eyes.
“It’s not entirely stupid.” Jack sighs and leans back. “The assistant coach sometimes drives. I can ask if he could bring Harper to the game.”
“Fuck, Jack.” Caden looks pissed. “You ended that shit.”
“It’s not like that.” Jack turns to Harper. “Coach Turner and I had a fling before school started and before we knew I’d be on his football team. But that all ended when we found out.”
Caden scoffs. We all knew there was something there, but we don’t push each other for that kind of information. If it had become necessary to know, Jack would have told us.
“He texted me once in a weak moment, and we both ended it shortly after. I didn’t go to him then because I was with you.” Jack takes Harper’s hand. “It could have been a loophole, but I honored our arrangement to the intent, not the wording. I don’t want him. Not when I have you.”
She nods and cups his jaw. “We’re good, Jack.”
“If he drives her, we’d know she got there.
He might even let her stay in his office until the game starts.
Then she can go up to the stands and watch.
He did let me know he heard some jocks talking about her during P.E.
class.” Jack’s gaze bounces between us all.
“It’s an option unless you want her riding with the wannabes. ”
Caden grunts, clearly unhappy. He watches Jack like he wants to haul him outside and knock some sense into him. Maybe there’s more to this fling than Jack is letting on.
“Or maybe I just stay home?” Harper offers. “You’ve got it rigged with a security system. I’m sure you all have links to it.”
“We’d rather be close enough to stop something from happening then watch it happen and be powerless.” I squeeze her hand. It’s odd. I’ve never really held a girl’s hand before, not unless I was leading her into the bedroom or somewhere else to fuck her.
Harper blows out a breath. “What if I drive myself or Kenz comes with?”
“One, tire. Two...” Caden’s eyes narrow on her. Jack and I aren’t the only ones still suspicious of the best friend.
She arches an eyebrow and crosses her arms. Or at least, she tries to cross her arms, but I don’t release her hand. She glares at our linked hands, but I lift them and brush my lips across her knuckles. Her eyes soften with that warmth that makes something almost hurt inside me.
“Jack, check with the assistant coach. If he’s driving separately, he might be a good option to make sure she gets there in one piece.
” Luke’s voice is commanding. “Now, how to flush out a mole, and then we need to figure out how to deal with the major players. I don’t like that Zach walks around unpunished for what he tried with Harper. ”
“At least he’s not spreading it around.” It could be much worse. It’s a challenge, but he’s not really following through on it. The guy who broke in was about Zach’s size, but also Tanner’s. “Was it just her virginity Zach wanted?”
“That’s the question. Is he finished or is he just waiting for another opportunity to strike?”
Harper rests her head against my shoulder at Luke’s words. A little shiver shakes through her. Whatever we do, we need to make sure she’s protected. There’s only one Harper, and she’s the only one for us.