Page 96 of Their Wicked Secrets: Untouched, Vol 5 of 6

She lets out a frustrated huff of air.

“She means sleep, Jack.” Eli has on his boxers and leans against the sink, watching the two of us. “Not sit next to her and work on your computer or phone all night.”

Guilt tightens my stomach. All the things I need to do weigh on me, crushing me. What if everything I need to protect Harper is on my drive, and I just haven’t discovered it yet? When I open my mouth, Eli shakes his head.

“You need sleep, fucker.” Eli walks into my bedroom and starts dressing. “Not an hour or two, but a whole night. Tomorrow is the bonfire. If Zach has something planned, we need you on high alert. Not halfway there.”

“Everything else can wait, Jack.” Harper rests her hand against my heart. “I need you fully charged.”

With a wink, I smirk. “I’m always charged for you.”

She shakes her head, but smiles softly. “I need you, Jack. All of you.”

“Nico said they called you a walking zombie.” Eli finishes tying his shoe and straightens. “They think you’re one of our weaknesses. So let’s not play into their hands. Look like a zombie at school. Carry energy drinks, but don’t drink them. Let them believe what they see, and maybe they’ll underestimate you.”

I nod. What he’s saying makes sense, but... “There’s so much still to be done.”

“Then we get more help.” Harper turns to look at Eli and presses back against me. I wrap my hands around her waist. “We talk to my mom about our ‘friend’ and see if she thinks we can trust them with more.”

Eli’s eyes narrow and he closes in on Harper. “We know our friend is there for you, but we can’t be certain they’ll be there for all of us. We can give them some information to work on, but we need to decide as a group what they can and can’t know about.”

I think of all the information I have to get through. The encrypted files from William Foster’s computers, the data from Harper’s father’s computer, and the images from the tree camera. We still have a few more videos from Zach’s stash house to get through. Fuck.

When I meet Eli’s eyes, he gives me a knowing look.

“Okay, we’ll get more help.” I blow out a breath. “Kenz volunteered to help go through things.”

“We could also ask Penny and...” Harper makes a face as she tries to think of anyone else.

“Not her friends though.” Eli touches Harper’s jaw. “I’m certain at least one of them is in William’s pocket. All her friends seem to be on her side, so maybe it’s something that’s been going on for a while and they really are her friends now. But we can’t trust anyone that William has a hold over.”

“So should we not trust Penny?” Harper asks.

Eli takes in a breath. “I think she’s proven who she’s loyal to, but it might have been an act. Maybe give her something she can’t take to William Foster.”

I nod. “See you tomorrow?”

Eli grins. “Want our girl to yourself?”

“If we’re going to sleep, we might need to change the sheets first.” I glance at the bed.

Eli chuckles. He leans down and kisses Harper. “See you tomorrow, kitten.”

“Good night.” Harper leans back against me, letting me take all her weight.

I wrap my arms around her towel-covered body.

Eli claps me on the shoulder. “Sleep. We need all of you.”

I nod, and he heads out the door. I lead Harper over to the bed and sit her on the edge while I go lock my door. We’re both only in the towels, and I want to sleep naked with her tonight.

We won’t every night, but tonight, it will help me unwind.

I turn off the overhead light and nod at her. “Stand up.”

Harper stands and I draw off the top blanket, tossing it into a corner. Thankfully, I have layers. I’ll put the blanket in the wash in the morning.

“Fresh bed.” I smirk and gesture to the sheets and blanket under the top one.