Page 9 of Their Wicked Secrets: Untouched, Vol 5 of 6

“Everything’s going to work out, sweetheart.” He rubs my back in slow circles. “Your mom is safe, wherever she is. None of us will let you get hurt. They won’t be able to get to you. I won’t let them.”

“Can this part just be over?” I whisper. I don’t want Emma to be used to see if the torture they’re devising for me will work. I want my mom to be home. Nico shouldn’t have to go into surgery tomorrow.

I don’t want to smile next to my would-be rapist, who we know has raped others before me. I don’t want to do any of this.

Jack draws in a ragged breath and releases it slowly. “I’d run away with you tonight if I thought it would work out for us. We all would, in a heartbeat. But if we don’t face down these enemies, there will be more. They’ll keep taking from us until we have nothing left.”

“What if we take them down before they can take us down?” I press my face into his shoulder and then sit back on his lap to look into his eyes. “You’ve done it before.”

He rubs the wetness off my cheeks. “It took months to take down Tanner, and he wasn’t as popular as Zach. We already have confirmation from multiple sources that he’s a predator. You, Emma, and other girls have all had bad experiences with him. Whatever he’s hiding, he’s hiding it well from everyone else.”

I rest my forehead against his. “I want to skip to the good parts.”

His chuckle is sad. “Me too, sweetheart.”

“Are you staying too?” Caden’s voice draws both our attention to the door as he closes it behind him.

“No.” Jack sighs and draws my face back to his. He kisses me, making me melt for him. When he draws away, he rubs his thumb over my bottom lip. “Much as I want to stay and play. I have to go home. There are files I need to go through.”

I lower my chin and give him a fierce look. “You need a full night of sleep.”

He sighs. “I’ll try.”

“For me,” I insist.

“For you.” He kisses me and lifts me to stand before rising off the couch.

Caden draws me against him after setting down a plate on the coffee table. “You’re always welcome to join, Jack.”

Looking over the two of us, he’s obviously torn, but he groans. “I have to go.”

I frown, wishing again that we could all stay together. Weekends are going to be the best for a while.

If we make it through next weekend, which is Homecoming.

Jack closes in on me again. “I’m ready to skip to the good parts too, sweetheart.”

After kissing me far too briefly, he does the weird handshake thing with Caden before he heads out the door. I drag in a breath and lean back against Caden.

“Want some dinner?” Caden presses on the small of my back to lead me over to the couch. “I had the chef make you a plate.”

“The one that wouldn’t make you a peanut butter and jelly sandwich?” I arch an eyebrow, prepared to dislike whatever this chef made me.

Caden chuckles. “Calm down, little nympho. That guy hasn’t worked here in ages.”

He pushes the plate in front of me, and I draw in the delicious scent of rosemary and thyme on chicken and vegetables. My stomach rumbles.

Caden goes over to the mini-refrigerator in the corner of his room and gets me a soda as I dig in. He sets down the soda and pulls out his laptop and opens the group videochat.

The cameras come on one by one. All except Jack. Caden must have texted them. Eli is at his desk working on something. Luke tugs at the white tape around his hands with his teeth. His hair is damp, probably from sweat.

Nico’s comes on, and he’s in his bed.

“How’s the knee, man?” Caden asks.

“Sore. Hopefully better tomorrow.” Nico smiles. “Fuck, that looks delicious, sunshine. I’m not allowed anything else tonight. Surgery is first thing.”

My stomach rolls, but I continue to eat. This is a standard procedure. Nothing should happen to Nico tomorrow. He’s going in for knee surgery, not anything life-threatening. But with all the talk about the hospital, I would feel better if my mom was there to watch over him. Even if she wouldn’t even be near where he’s going.