44. The Demilitarized Zone
The Demilitarized Zone
Harper
Tingles of anticipation spark along my spine as my guys walk into the living room. Luke leans in to say something to Eli. Eli’s gaze flicks to me before he heads off into the house. I stop paying attention to Kenz and Penny talking over me and Nico.
My gaze locks on Caden, and he grins mischievously, lighting the fire he always sparks. Tonight I’m theirs. We get to sleep together in Caden’s bed without worrying about parents or any of the other noise in our lives. It’s a taste of the freedom college will give us.
When Luke and Jack move my way, I get caught up in Luke’s eyes again. His energy is so much larger tonight. I don’t know what it is, but fuck, am I drawn to it.
Jack moves to help Nico stand as Luke stops in front of me. He holds out his hand. At first, I thought it was juvenile or controlling the way he always took my hand.
But Death doesn’t hold hands with anyone but me.
And every time I take his hand, it’s like he’s claiming me all over again. There’s this charge that zips through me like electricity as I slide my hand in his. He helps me stand and draws me into his arms.
I press my cheek against his beating heart and close my eyes as I drag in his soft, seductive scent. The whole world could crash and burn around me, but as long as I’m in his arms—their arms—I’m safe.
“Where are we going?” Nico asks Luke. Nico’s hand caresses my hair, and I draw in another breath, catching the scent of rain blending effortlessly with Luke’s cologne.
“We need to talk.” Luke draws me away from him and wraps his arm around my shoulders, steering me through the party. His arm is heavy and possessive on me.
We pass a lot of people. More than the previous parties. When we head up the stairs, I glance back to see Jack and Caden helping Nico up the stairs. Nico’s lips tighten. He’s getting sick of being taken care of.
His dark eyes lift to mine, and they soften. He shakes his head and gives me a crooked grin as he lets the guys help him. Nico always liked doing things himself when we were kids. Refused my help at every turn, but loved helping me, or taking over.
We get to the door of the bedroom we met in last time we were at Jason’s. Luke opens the door, and again it’s empty. He leads me over to the bed and turns me toward him.
He takes the back of my neck in his hand, sending tingles firing all through me as I lift my gaze to his. His grip tightens, and his mouth is on mine. I open beneath him, letting him in as I grab his shirt in my fists to hold him here with me.
The door shuts. The world could explode around me, and I wouldn’t care as long as Luke continues to kiss me. I press in against him as he deepens the kiss. His tongue rubs against mine and all I can think about is climbing up on him or dragging him down on the bed with me.
I want so much more from him.
The door shuts again.
“It’s not like I have things to do.” Ashley’s bored voice washes over me like a bucket of ice.
I draw away from Luke, but he holds me close and searches my eyes as his thumb rubs my jaw. Even ice couldn’t put out the fire he ignites in me. I’m glad he stopped tonight before hurting Zach. Somehow it feels like that would have created a larger problem for us.
He steps back and turns to face Ashley.
“You wanted to speak to us?” Luke sits down on the edge of the bed and pulls me down next to him. Eli walks over and sits on my other side. Nico and the others sit in the small seating arrangement to the side of the bed.
Ashley stands with her hip cocked and her arms crossed. “Sidney’s mental, but we all knew that. I need to know the plan, so I know when to step up.”
“It’s already begun.” Luke leans back with his hands propped on the bed.
“She won’t win tomorrow night.” Eli nods to Caden who stands and brings over a chair for Ashley.
She glances at Caden before taking the chair. “Right. I still think they have plans for tomorrow night. If this was their only plan, this was a stupid plan. Why leave so many witnesses? Why create so much chaos? They had to know they’d be caught.”
Eli nods and leans his elbows on his knees as he looks at her. It’s interesting—the difference between the way Luke looks at Sidney and the way Eli looks at Ashley. I tip my head as I study him.
Eli respects her. There’s no love between them. At least, not from Eli’s side, but he definitely respects her. I don’t think a lot of people warrant that from him.
“With Sidney out, the crown will likely go to you.” Eli clasps his hands. “I’m not sure you wouldn’t have gotten it without Sidney being eliminated.”
Ashley arches her eyebrow.
“You’ve always been more of an equal with Sidney.” Eli smirks. “You allowed her to take the lead. You could have easily taken her spot any time you wanted to. So why didn’t you?”
Ashley narrows her eyes. “Why didn’t you? Everyone acknowledges that Luke leads you, but it just as easily could have been you, Eli.”
He nods.
“Sidney wanted it more.” Ashley glances at Luke. “It’s not the same as with you guys. Everyone knows Luke leads, but you’re all equals. Sidney needs to stand out. To be more. She wants to lord it over everyone. It was easier to let her have it. To not fight.”
Ashley shrugs.
“Until she went cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs?” Jack asks.
Caden chuckles.
Ashley turns to look at them. “She’s always been obsessed with Luke. About being a Foster. About ruling not just the high school but the town. Maybe her mom fed those dreams to her from birth, but I don’t think Sidney will ever let it go easily. She doesn’t care that you don’t love her.”
“Do you know why Zach is involved?” I ask.
Ashley sighs and her fingers tighten on the arms of the chair.
“I don’t know what’s going on in his head, but Sidney picked him for a reason.
It seemed like she just wanted him as a boyfriend.
Someone to raise up like we told you, but she...
” Ashley runs a hand over her hair and slides it down her long ponytail.
“Fuck. I’m not sure when she got it in her head that you were in her way.
Maybe she’s always thought it, ever since they claimed you.
She believed you’d be like the others and just go away after they were done. ”
I swallow. Eli’s hand rubs my back as chills race through me. “How does she want to get rid of me?”
Ashley looks at me like I’m stupid because she knows I know. There are too many links for me not to make the connection.
“Zach wants to rape me.” I straighten and meet her dark eyes. “He wants to do what he did to Emma to me.”
“Most likely, but I wouldn’t put it past them to take you off the board entirely.” Ashley leans back in the chair.
Fuck, he could kill me. Or worse, sell me into a life worse than death.
I flash back to Mom telling me about the trafficking that used to happen.
It’s possible it still happens. And if Zach is part of the drug trade here, he might have access to the trafficking as well. A shiver crawls down my spine.
“Sidney unleashed something evil, and I don’t think even she has a way to put him back in the box. She just wants you ruined to the point they won’t want you anymore. Zach wants this over with. Whatever beef he has against you guys, he’s done waiting. And you make a decent victim.”
“Obviously.” Eli tightens his fists. “What more do you have for us? Besides Zach is after us.”
Ashley narrows her eyes at Eli again and crosses her arms. “You still haven’t explained how we’re taking Sidney down.”
“What more do we need to do?” Luke smirks when I look at him. “She’s no longer on the court.”
“She’ll just say that she won, and it’s bullshit.” Ashley arches her eyebrow.
“She’ll get suspended from school and probably be taken off the cheer team.”
Ashley laughs. “It’s like you don’t go to this school.
Sidney’s mom has been in your dad’s pocket for a long time.
She’s invincible. She’s making calls right about now to make sure no charges stick to her daughter and that Sidney faces no consequences.
I half expect Sidney to show up to the dance tomorrow. ”
Eli pulls out his phone and texts someone.
“You’ll need something more to get her ass off the squad too.” Ashley leans forward. “Coach Strauss loves Sidney. Like seriously, it’s a thing. Sidney can do no wrong.”
“Sidney’s been doing drugs.” Nico smiles. “Not even her mother can get her out of drugs. Neither can her coach.”
Ashley rolls her eyes. “From what I understand, she’s taking date rape drugs for Zach so he can fuck her when she’s unconscious.” Ashley’s eyes meet mine. “Pretty sure he’s searching for a good cocktail for you.”
Nothing we didn’t already know, but a cold chill goes through me. It’s one thing to consider the guy would do something like that and another to know he’s experimenting for me. What is he looking for? Does he want me aware the whole time or eager for it? Does he want me to remember or forget?
Mom’s talked to me about those drugs and what they can do to you. We’ve had discussions about rape and date rape and consent. But knowing it and living through it are two different things.
“Most of those drugs don’t stay in your system very long, and I’m sure she’d just say she didn’t know this was happening to her.
Suddenly, she’ll be a martyr and an anti-date rape activist. She’ll even get her nails done in that nail polish that tells you when someone’s fucked with your drink.
It won’t take her down. It might even make her more powerful. ”
I blow out a breath and look at Eli, but he’s still occupied with his phone.
“Is he giving her something to take the edge off?” Nico asks.
We all look at him.
He shrugs. “A lot of those drugs are used as sleep aids. They can have a hangover effect. So if she’s using something to get by during the day, that might be in her system. And it probably isn’t just caffeine.”
“Unless they only use it on the weekends.” Luke leans forward and rubs his hand over my thigh.
I automatically take his hand and hold it. His fingers interweave with mine and I feel warmer.