Page 21 of Their Wicked Secrets: Untouched, Vol 5 of 6

Into that vacuum, Zach slid. From what I’ve heard, he took charge at the parties like they were his to rule. We need to fix that. Which means I need to do something to bring the balance back to us.

That means controlling the variables. Friday night after the game, the party will potentially be at Caden’s. His parents have been in town for a while. Hopefully that will end soon.

Caden sets down two lunches, and Harper kisses me before sliding into the chair next to me. The kiss was casual, almost an afterthought, but it burns on my lips.

I would tear down everything we’ve built if it meant keeping her safe.

Everything we worked for would mean nothing if she gets hurt because of us.

The lunchroom is full and the conversations have picked back up. Students glance at our table and Zach’s, wondering when something is going to happen. Eli comes in a side door and eases into his seat.

He nods, letting me know Tanner is definitely off campus. Good.

“Now, Jack.” My words are soft, but Jack begins typing on his phone. Phones buzz and ping all over the cafeteria. Conversations stop as they pull up the video.

We worked hard to edit the video in a way to disguise the woman, but she graduated last year. Eli sent a quick message to her to let her know it was coming out and even sent a copy for her to approve.

She’s the one who told us what Tanner was up to. That he recorded her and others without their knowledge. That he then used those movies to push them to do more, so it wouldn’t be leaked. She asked us to delete his cloud file of her. We made sure the copy was corrupt if he ever went to check on it, but she also wanted to help bring him down.

We knew the day would come that we’d need ammunition. But we didn’t want to harm anyone innocent in the crossfire. High school is brutal as it is.

There’s a tag at the end of the video.

REASON ONE

People whisper behind their hands to each other as they probably try to guess the identity of the girl in the video. Some girls pale as they try to determine whether that was them.

Jack pushes another text.

Unknown:

She’s aware of this video, but wasn’t when it was made

This isn’t the only video

Some girls visibly relax. Sidney glares at her phone before glancing at me. I don’t meet her gaze. I’m waiting for Zach’s reaction, but he just laughs and jokes with his buddies.

It doesn’t matter. We need people to be aware of what Tanner is capable of. The reasons he’s no longer allowed to participate in our society.

I nod to Jack to send the next text.

Zach’s phone is the only one that vibrates. Harper slides her hand into mine, but I keep my gaze on him as he reads it.

Unknown:

If we tell the principal to check your locker for drugs, what would he find?

Zach’s gaze narrows on his phone, and then he meets mine. I smile and lean back in my chair. It’s a warning shot. If he wants to play with our girlfriend, we’ll take everything away.

I don’t know if he has drugs at school. If they’re prescription drugs, he might have them in bottles labeled specifically for him. Drugs of any kind aren’t typically allowed at school, but I’m sure they’d make an exception for him. Or his parents would make sure there was an exception.

Zach smirks and leans in to show Sidney the text. Her eyes widen, and she darts a look at me before leaning in to Zach and whispering something in his ear.

Ashley stands and walks away from the table.

“Hey,” Trace calls after her, but she throws back the middle finger before disappearing out into the hallway. Trace resumes his conversation with the others.

Emma and Hannah follow after her.