Chapter 7
Chapter
Seven
DECLAN
D ad’s face looks back at me through the screen while I tell him about the latest note given to Harper while she was in class. His expression mirrors my own as I read him the note calling her a whore. He takes a moment to process everything, turning in his chair to look out the window of his office.
“I can’t figure out if that means he was the one who released the video or if it’s a future threat,” he says.
“I mean, does it matter in the end? He’s harassing her. Scaring her. I’m losing my mind trying to insulate her from all this.”
“Can you find the boy who handed her this note? Does she know his name?”
“I’ll ask.”
“Good. Get me the name of the professor, too. I’ll call the dean and see if they have cameras in lecture halls.”
“Cy said he saw two in the back corner when he looked around. Hopefully they were working and maybe caught someone.”
“How is everything at home?”
“It’s been quiet, no threats or letters have shown up.”
“That’s not exactly what I meant. How are things with Harper and you guys?”
“Oh.” I cringe a little inside, not really interested in talking about this with my dad. “Fine.”
“Are you being safe?”
“Yes.” I barely suppress a sarcastic retort.
“Does she need to see a physician for anything? Birth control? Antidepressants?”
“She’s got prescriptions for both from Olivia.”
“Good. You’re all too young to slip up and have a baby.”
“You and Mom weren’t much older than I am when you had me.”
“Different times, different circumstances.”
“I guess. Is there anything else?”
“Your grandparents called. They’d like to see you when you play at Northrup.”
My mom’s parents still live in Connecticut, pretty close to Northrup University, one of our conference rivals. “Of course. I’ll make sure to take the time to see them.”
“No flying.”
“No promises.”
“Declan.”
“Dad.”
The sound of the door to the mudroom opening is the perfect excuse to get off the phone before this call devolves into an argument. “I have to go. I’ll talk to you later.”
“We will talk about this later.”
“Uh huh. Bye.”
“Goodbye.” He hangs up with a click right as Harper and Emerson, along with Cy trailing, walk into the room.
Harper surprises me by coming straight to me and wrapping her arms around my waist. I pull her tight to my chest and kiss her forehead, dragging her sweet scent into my nostrils. She loosens her hold, but I don’t, I’m not ready to let her go.
“Who were you talking to?” she asks.
“Dad.” I drop my arms and let her step back. “I wanted to fill him in on what’s happening.”
She shrinks into herself. “What did he say?”
“He’s reaching out to the school administrators to see if the cameras in the lecture hall caught anything.”
She looks down and nods. “I’m going to go take a shower before dinner.”
As soon as she’s out of the room, the three of us turn to each other to strategize. She won’t want us to intrude but fuck that, she needs protection, and she’s got the three of us. Plus Banks. Am I jealous that he is still the one she runs to for comfort first? Yes. But I’m not blind to the fact that he knows her best and that knowledge is invaluable to the three of us.
“I’m going to call Banks; he should be involved in this conversation.”
Both Emerson and Cy nod in agreement.
“Hey.” Banks answers on the second ring. “What’s up?”
“Harper got another letter.”
“Fuck. At your house?”
“In class.” I cast my eyes from the phone up to the guys. “We’re sitting here brainstorming ideas of how to protect her since this guy is getting so bold.”
“Ways that she won’t be opposed to,” Emerson adds.
“Truthfully, I don’t give a fuck if she’s opposed to it or not,” I say.
“Agreed,” Cy says.
“She’s not going to want any added attention, so regardless of your intent, she’s going to be annoyed.” Banks sighs into the phone. “Did she seem scared when she got it?”
“She seemed more in shock than anything,” Cy says. “How was she at the stables?”
“She acted normal. Maybe a little quieter than usual but nothing extreme,” Emerson says.
“Annie is her baby, she’s never happier anywhere than with her horse,” Banks says. “It’s good that she worked today to take her mind off it.”
“I think we should start accompanying her to classes, not just walking her to them.”
Cy looks at me. “Will they let us do that?”
I shrug. “Does it matter? I’m sure they’ll let us do whatever we want for the right price.”
“She’d hate that,” Banks says.
“What if we hired a bodyguard for her?” Emerson asks.
“She’d really hate that.” Banks shoots the idea down. “Did you talk to the person who gave her the note?”
“I didn’t, but she and her friend did. He said it was passed to him from behind, and he didn’t see where it came from.”
“We need a class roster, so we can ask everyone if they know anything.” I make a note to ask Nolan to break into the school system and get it for us. Fuck knows they won’t just hand it over the easy way.
“I’ll be out there to spend the weekend with her next Saturday,” Banks says.
I share a look with Emerson. “That’s great. We have an away game in Connecticut that we’ll leave for Friday afternoon and won't be home until Sunday afternoon. But the next weekend, Cy has to leave for a night. It will be good to have you here to keep her safe.”
“If I were you guys, I would frame it as a choice for her. Either she gets a bodyguard she doesn’t know, or one of you stays with her all the time just until this guy is found. She’ll choose you without a doubt because she’s not comfortable with strangers. Then when she calls me to vent about it, I’ll subtly support your decision.”
We spend a few more minutes hammering out details and schedules and just after Banks gets off the phone, Harper comes into the living room. She’s wearing a pair of leggings and my Trinity soccer hoodie. It makes me want to peel her pants off and eat her pussy until she screams.
“What have you all been talking about?” she asks, taking a seat beside me.
Emerson and Cy look at me to break the news.
“We were trying to figure out what the best way to keep you safe is.”
“Without asking for my input?” Her hackles rise.
“No, we do want it.” Cy is the first to break. As usual.
“Which is why we have two ideas. Either we hire a bodyguard for you temporarily?—”
“No.”
“Or one of us goes with you to classes.”
“Or none of them.” She looks between the three of us. “I don’t think it’s that big of a deal that I need all three of you always hanging around. You have lives. You have classes.”
“None of that matters if we don’t think you’re safe.” Emerson leans forward. “I can’t focus on bio chem if I’m worried some guy is stalking you through campus.”
“I can’t focus on practice,” I add.
She folds a leg up and rests her chin on her knee. None of us speak while she sits and thinks. “I’ll agree on one condition.”
“Anything,” I say, shocked at how easy this was.
“You guys can’t freak out when I go see my dad.”
“What?” We all three roar at the same time.
“It’s already settled. The week before fall break, Cillian is taking me to see him. I honestly think he’s behind all the weird letters, so I’m going to confront him.”
A red haze drops over my vision at Dad knowing this but leaving it out of our conversation. I don’t care that he’ll be with her. Scott Flynn is the worst human alive. I’m sure he can hurt her without even trying.
“No.”
She cuts a sharp gaze to me. “Excuse me?”
“I said no. N. O.”
“I hate to break it to you, but I’m an adult. I don’t even have to wait for anyone to go with me. I’m taking your father because he’s an attorney and I trust him not to be a hothead that will just make my dad close up. I want answers, and this is the best way to get them.”
“It’s too dangerous.”
She scoffs at me. “It’s federal prison. I doubt I’ll even be in the same room as him. There’s probably a glass partition between phones or something.”
There could be a brick wall between them, and I’d still worry. From what I can see, his favorite pastime was hurting the women he was supposed to love and protect. The thought of him having access to her to do it again makes me sick.
“Fine.” She can think she’s doing this all she wants. I’ll speak to Dad and convince him to change his mind. In the meantime, we can use it to our advantage by letting her believe we’ve struck a deal.
“That easy?” Her brow furrows as she looks at me confused and suspicious.
Emerson and Cy exchange a look and then both give me a nod. I’m sure they have an idea of what I’m planning. One of the best things about our situation is having the two people who know me best right here with us. We can speak without ever uttering a single word and be on the exact same page. It’s invaluable.
“Declan,” my grandmother calls out my name as I emerge from the stadium.
She envelops me in a hug, her perfume a bittersweet reminder of childhood memories that included the one person I miss most. I hug her back, jarred at how she feels like skin and bones in my arms. Concern swells within me as we let go of each other and I turn to hug my grandfather. The only thing that quells my fear is how they both still have the glow of good health when I release him and step back while they greet Emerson.
“You two look good.” The observation comes with the gruff voice of my grandfather.
“We do our best,” Emerson says.
“Ready for dinner?”
“Always,” I reply.
We settle into the back of their limo, taking every opportunity to stretch our legs out on the drive back to their house. It’s always nice to be around my mom’s side of the family, even if it comes with bittersweet memories. I reach into my pocket, running my fingers over each of the beads of mom’s rosary. A secret smile plays over my lips as eventually my fingers feel the smooth ribbon I stole from Harper the first time we met. Nothing makes more sense than having something from both of the women who have meant the most to me stowed away in my pocket.