Chapter 27
The Trojan Horse
Harper
Jack and I are the first out the door. His car is the first out of the driveway. I text Mom and Fran from the car, needing to warn them so Bob doesn’t show up with his bat.
Me:
Just a warning the guys are coming over to hang with me for a bit. Mom knows about them. They’ve been at the house before
Just some homework and TV to keep me company
Then they’ll go home
Most of them. I’m not about to tell my Mom two of the guys are staying the night. Likely in my bed. I chew on my nail lightly as I wait for Mom’s reply. I don’t know how this is going to work. My bed doesn’t come close in size to Caden’s massive bed.
Luke and Caden were in it for an hour on my birthday. The last time Mom worked nights, Luke and I snuggled in it. But it’s not exactly large enough for three. Not to sleep.
“You shouldn’t chew on your nails.” Jack drives almost as carefree as his personality. One hand on the steering wheel and the other on his thigh. Some alt rock station plays softly in the background.
“Mom has the neighbors watching the house. So I had to tell them you guys are coming over.” I drop my hand on my lap, but my foot taps while I wait for her reply.
What if she says no? It’s not like the guys actually care what parents say.
They’ve snuck into my house before. But if Bob or Fran notices, they might think someone is breaking in and call the police.
“Your mom is cool, Harper. You’ve got nothing to worry about.” Jack focuses on driving. I almost laugh at that statement.
My mom is not as cool as she wants to be with all this. But I’ve never really tested her before. This is the first year she’s had issues with anything I do.
Even if she gives the go ahead, it wouldn’t surprise me if Fran shows up at the door with cookies and stays until the last guy leaves. All because Mom asks her to watch over me. That would be so embarrassing.
My phone buzzes in my hand.
Mom:
Okay, don’t let them stay too late. It’s a school night.
Me:
Not a school night. Tomorrow’s Labor Day
Fran:
If you need anything, just call or text.
If anyone gets fresh, Bob has his bat ready.
I snort a laugh and cover my mouth. Bob facing off with any of the horsemen would be like David and Goliath. Bob is only a little taller than me.
A smile quirks the corner of Jack’s lips as he glances my way. “What was that?”
“A laugh?” I drop my hands in my lap again. Still smiling at the image.
“What was it for?” Jack turns and his blue eyes sparkle in the dashboard light. He’s got this smile and lightness to him that makes it easy to forget he can be just as dark as the others.
“My neighbor offered to send her husband over with a bat if you guys got fresh.” I smile and lift my phone. That’s when I notice a bunch of messages I received during dinner.
“Fresh? Damn, sweetheart, we plan to get more than fresh. I’m sure I could talk him down.” Jack turns onto my street, but I’m only half listening to him.
On my phone, there are the usual chat messages from Penny and the girls about their shopping trip and a party. But there are a bunch of texts from Tanner. Why would Tanner be texting me?
Jack pulls the car into the driveway before I can look at them. When he stops the car, I put my phone down. Nerves scatter through me. It can wait until later. I don’t want to get caught looking at another guy’s texts. Who knows what sort of punishment the horsemen would inflict.
I squirm in my seat as heat floods me.
“First ones here. Yes! Hurry, sweetheart.” Jack climbs out of the car. “I never get you alone.”
Glancing behind us, I don’t see any of the others’ cars. Not even headlights. How fast did Jack drive? I grin at his eagerness.
He opens my door, and I get out. As I’m digging for my keys in my purse, Jack wraps his arm around my shoulders, drawing me tight into his side.
“Any cake left?” Jack tugs me toward the door.
“We just ate.” I laugh softly and pull out my keys. When something moves in the shadows near the door, I startle. Jack’s arm tightens around me.
“I guess you’re fine after all.” Tanner steps forward with his hands in his pockets. His shoulders are hunched like he’s trying to appear harmless, but he’s still a tall, built guy. Nothing about his expression says harmless to me.
Jack stiffens next to me. “What the fuck are you doing here?”
“I was checking on my friend to make sure she’s safe. My dad works at the hospital and said her mom was working tonight. I’d hate for anyone to take advantage of that.”
Cold runs through me. That didn’t sound pleasant. It almost sounded like a threat. I lean closer to Jack.
Tanner rubs the corner of his lips. “She’s got four assholes who don’t take no for an answer.”
“Like you have room to talk.” Jack subtly shifts us around so he’s standing between me and Tanner, protecting me? Hiding me? Getting me out of the way in case he wants to throw a punch?
Tanner’s eyes narrow. “Fuck you, Jack. You don’t know shit about what went down.”
Jack takes a menacing step forward. “I know everything you did.”
“And what about what you and Caden did to Mia?” Tanner puffs up his chest like he’s preparing to fight. This isn’t the guy who I met in art or at lunch. That guy seemed sweet, almost caring. Was that all an act? Because this guy actually freaks me out. There’s something not right about his eyes.
“We didn’t do a thing she wasn’t one hundred percent on board with. Unlike you.”
While I only know the basics of the story, what they’re saying isn’t making much sense. I touch Jack’s back and feel the tension in him. I don’t have any experience with boys and fighting, but I have a feeling unless I find a way to diffuse this, I’m going to find out real quick.
“Guys.” I try to move to Jack’s side, but he puts a firm hand on my hip and keeps me behind him. I glance down at where his touch burns into me like always, but he’s also controlling me, handling me. Making the situation worse instead of deescalating this confrontation.
“I’m trying to be a friend to Harper. She needs someone willing to stand up to you.” Tanner brushes a hand through his hair and seems to take a relaxed stance, but his muscles are still coiled, still ready to react.
Jack laughs. Not the light, brilliant laugh he usually has, but dark and ominous. “I’m sure you just happen to be friends with the girl we claimed for the year. Tell me exactly how that happened?”
“If anyone understands what she’s going through, it’s me.” Tanner puffs up again. “We both know you’re going to drop her as soon as you get what you want.”
A car door slams behind me. I’m not sure how many are in that car. Fuck. I spin around. This is going to get out of hand. Especially if Tanner keeps popping off. He’s lost his damn mind. There are five horsemen and only one of him. This won’t end well for him.
“Leave, Tanner.” I return my gaze to him, knowing we only have seconds before the others realize there’s someone else here. No one needs to get hurt. “I’m fine. I’ll text you later, but you need to go.”
Jack looks down at me with confusion. “No, you won’t.”
Tanner chuckles, but an edge cuts through it. “Yeah, Harper. You can’t have your own mind. Not when the horsemen own you.”
This is just a pissing match so far. “Just go before—”
“Tanner Lewis.” Eli’s voice is smooth as molasses as he comes to my other side.
My eyes close. Too fucking late.
Eli’s hand finds my hip and tugs me back behind him and Jack, closing the gap between them, shutting me out again.
Is this some macho thing? I roll my eyes. I’m surprised they don’t just hump my leg in front of him to prove I’m theirs.
“Tanner was just leaving.” Maybe I can still make this go away before anyone else gets here. I move toward the door to unlock it. “Come on. Let’s go inside before my neighbors come over to see what’s happening. You guys can measure dicks some other time.”
I push open the door and cross my arms over my chest. On the step, I’m at least closer to chin level on the guys.
“She’s right, you should leave.” Jack finally is being reasonable. More car doors slam.
My heart pounds harder. Even two against one aren’t the best odds when they’re the horsemen. But five against one… I know how overwhelming all of them can be.
Jack chuckles darkly. “I’m guessing you have ten. Nine. Eight.”
I turn to see Caden and Luke walking toward me, with Nico behind them.
“Seven, six.”
“What happens if I don’t leave? What else could you possibly take from me?” Tanner holds his arms out to the sides before dropping them and the fake smile. He steps forward into Jack’s space. His voice is quiet, but I hear him loud and clear. “Be careful, Hill, or I’ll take something of yours.”
Tanner’s gaze meets mine. What the actual fuck?
“She’d never choose you over us.” Jack shakes his head and steps back in front of me, crowding me against the door. “One. Should have left when you had a chance, asshole.”
“What are you going to do? Beat me up? Four on one? How fucking original.”
“Not me.” Jack’s arm cages me behind him as Caden roars past us.
“You motherfucker.” Caden’s fist slams into Tanner’s face.
I let out a small shriek and jolt forward to do… what I’m not sure. Jack holds me firm. Nico and Luke are quick to pull Caden back before he can get in another swing. Were they surprised by the first one or did they let it happen?
Caden tugs to get free. His lips are curled and his eyes focused on Tanner. Tanner is bent over, but he straightens.
“Leave, Lewis.” Luke almost shouts the words as he strains to hold Caden back.
Tanner rubs his jaw. His hand comes away with some blood, but he laughs bitterly. “Or what, Luke? Seriously. I have nothing left for you to take. You all want to get in a shot? We’re eighteen, fuckers. I could go to the police station right now and file charges. Put your beast in jail.”
I gasp and cover my mouth.
Eli slow claps. “Great idea, Tanner. Here’s another great idea.
Leave before we let Caden loose on you. He never reported what you did, but I guarantee the statute of limitations hasn’t run out.
Go ahead to the police. We’d love to talk to them.
I’m sure they’d love to look through the videos on your cloud account. ”
All of their words confuse me. What happened between these guys? Jack has me pressed against the door while Caden is still struggling to get at Tanner. Eli is so calm, like none of this fazes him.
“Cool down, Caden,” Nico says softly. “He’s not worth it.”
I shove past Jack, who clearly wasn’t expecting me to do that. I step between Caden and Tanner. “Please leave, Tanner. Or I’ll call the police myself.”
Tanner turns his blue eyes on me and he gives me that winning smile of his, but it doesn’t reach his eyes, shooting chills through me.
“I’m trying to protect you from your keepers.
I promised to be your hero and save you from them.
” He licks his lips, dropping his gaze down my body.
“After all, we all know how good you taste.”
My mouth drops open. The heat of the guys’ eyes burn into me. My face heats and my stomach sinks. I don’t even think before my hand flies, aiming for his face. He catches my wrist and tugs me toward him. As I stumble, an arm wraps around me, drawing me back into a hot body with a low growl.
“Leave.” Caden’s voice is hushed and terrifying in my ear. His arm is steel around my center. I want to sink into him and let him protect me, but what if they believe Tanner’s lie?
Tanner smirks and drops my wrist. “Another time, Harper. You’ve got my number.”
He steps back into the shadows and fades away, leaving me to deal with the fallout.