Chapter 20

Chapter

Twenty

EMERSON

A fter six straight hours of studying in our blissfully silent house, I hear the telltale sound of Cy’s footsteps coming up the stairs. He’s kept himself pretty scarce this weekend, and I’m determined to find out why. So, I hastily close my laptop and cross my room to the door.

“Cy.” I intercept him just before he disappears into his room.

“Hey.” He turns at the sound of my voice. “I didn’t even realize you were here.”

“I’ve been studying.” My eyes catch on his knuckles when he tucks a piece of hair behind his ear. “What happened?”

“I forgot to tape before going at the bag.” He pulls his hands back when I move to check them.

“Let me see.”

“They’re fine. Just cut up.”

“Let. Me. See.”

He relents after a short standoff. I’m the most easygoing of us, but I’m also the most stubborn when I need to be. All his knuckles are scabbed over, but a few of them are also swollen and bruised.

“Come with me.” I start walking to the stairs. “When did this happen?”

“Friday.”

Spinning at the bottom of the steps to face him, I barely contain my irritation. “You let your hands go like this for two days?”

I don’t understand why he would risk injuring himself like this. His hands will be his livelihood eventually. This isn’t the first time, so I’m stocked with everything I need, at least there’s no sign of infection.

Between the three of us, I’ve found it’s best to be fully prepared for any injury at the house. We’re all athletic, and Dec and Cy both tend to be hotheaded, leading with their fists instead of their brains. So, I have multiple ice packs, all types of bandages and disinfectants, and even some splints.

“I’ve been busy.”

“Clearly.” I wrap an ice pack in a towel and set it on top of the angry joints. “What triggered it? Another nightmare?”

“No. I actually slept really well the night before.” He leans back against the counter and looks at me with something akin to guilt on his face. “I slept in Harper’s room.”

My eyebrows lift. “Just slept?”

“No, but we didn’t have sex.”

“Was she upset about whatever you did the next morning? Did you fight?”

“No, she was asleep. I noticed cigarette burns all over her side.”

It all makes sense now. “I see. Did she explain how she got them?”

“She doesn’t know I saw them. She wouldn’t let me take her shirt off while we were messing around. In the moment I just figured it was a modesty thing since she’s so shy.”

“You think it was her dad?”

“It makes the most sense.”

“Does Declan know?”

“Yeah, he walked in on me going at the bag. My knuckles would probably be in worse shape had he not walked in when he did.”

“Does he know that you hooked up?”

“Yeah.” He shrugs. “Took it better than I thought he would.”

“Good. Are you going to pursue something with her?”

“Maybe.” He thinks about it for a minute. “Actually, yeah. I’d like to. Is that okay with you?”

“You know I’m open to just about anything as long as everyone is safe, happy, and consenting.”

“I need you to keep that open mind a little bit longer.”

“Fuck.” I scrub a hand over my face knowing whatever he’s about to hit me with won’t be good.

“I have another job from my uncle. It’s in Greece.”

“No.”

“It’s the last one.”

“Bullshit!” I yell. “He says that every time.”

“This is it, truly.” He holds his hands up. “It’ll be around fall break. I think we should all go. We could rent a sailboat and explore some of the smaller islands.”

He knows sailing is my one weakness. The only hobby I have aside from soccer. It’s a dirty play, but one I can’t resist. Especially knowing that I don’t have anything scheduled that week aside from studying. Still, I can’t just give in.

“Maybe. We’ll see what Dec and Harper think. She might want to be close to her mom over the holidays.”

He glances at the clock on the microwave behind my shoulder. “Speaking of, what time are they supposed to be back today?”

“Soon. He texted me when they were on their way.”

“I’m going to take a quick shower in that case.” He tosses the ice pack to me.

“Good. You smell.” It’s a lie that he recognizes.

“You love it.”

I do, but I keep that fact to myself. As I put everything away, I hear the sound of tires on the driveway. Declan and Harper come walking through the door a minute later. Her hands are full of shopping bags, and he’s carrying both their suitcases.

“Hi,” she says with a bright smile. She looks happier and lighter than I’ve seen her.

“Good flight?” I ask, smiling back at her.

“Little scary at first, but he seems to know what he’s doing. I’m going to take this stuff upstairs. Were you about to make dinner? I can help. ”

“Sure. Here.” I walk around the island to grab the bags from her. “I’ll carry these up for you.”

We all make our way upstairs and into her room. Declan was leading the way but stopped short just before walking all the way in. I bump into his back, about to make a joke when I notice a knife embedded into her mattress with a letter lying beside it. It’s identical to the last one.

“What the heck, guys. You make a better wall than a doorway.”

I turn to try to block her view but I’m too late. I watch helplessly as all the blood drains from her face. She drops the bag she was carrying and pushes me to the side when I try to block her again. When I look over at Declan, his jaw is tense, and his expression is hardened.

Harper walks over to the bed and grabs the letter. She opens it, her eyes skimming each line. Wordlessly, she hands it over to me, probably avoiding Declan as he looks like he could commit murder at the drop of a hat right now.

I flip it open and read the message .

Darling Harper,

I do not approve of what you’ve been doing. No wife of mine will be whoring herself out before our wedding. Stop now or risk the consequences.

Harper goes to pull the knife free, but Declan stops her. “Don’t touch it. I’ll put it in a bag to test for fingerprints.”

“Oh.” She looks between us. “That’s a good idea. Should we call the police now?”

“I’m going to call someone better.” Declan already has his phone out and is stepping into the hall. I barely hear him greet his cousin before he shuts his bedroom door.

Harper looks up at me, and I can see how hard she’s trying not to show fear. I open my arms to her, inviting her in for a hug if she wants. Without hesitation, she lets me wrap her up in the comfort of my embrace.

“What kind of creep does this?” she mumbles against my chest. “And why does he think we’re getting married?”

“Did your father ever say anything about you marrying someone from the church? Maybe one of his associates?”

“No.” She pulls back and shakes her head. “But he wouldn’t have consulted me anyway. If he was planning something, he’d just spring it on me last minute.”

“Sawyer, Nolan, and Lake are coming down first thing tomorrow.” Declan slides his phone in his pocket as he walks back in. “They said to leave the room exactly how we found it.”

“Where am I going to sleep?”

“My room.” Declan’s tone brooks no argument.

“I’m going to call Banks,” she says as she warily looks between us.

We grab her bags and carry them into Declan’s room. I can hear her voice carrying as she paces at the bottom of the stairs. Declan’s eyes are full of turmoil.

“Did you notice anything weird around here this weekend?” he asks.

“No. I was on campus most of yesterday, but nothing was out of place when I got home. Then today I’ve been locked away in my room. I did have music playing, so maybe I wouldn’t have heard someone if they came in. It just feels so bold to walk in here and do that. ”

“Bold to do what?” Cyrus asks as he joins us.

“Harper got another letter.”

“What?” Cy’s gaze swings in my direction, then Declan’s. “At your dad’s house?”

“No.” Declan motions for him to follow.

The temperature of the room drops by twenty degrees as soon as Cyrus sees the knife in the bed. “What the fuck!” he roars. I barely block him from going for it.

“Don’t touch anything. Dec’s cousins are coming down tomorrow to help us.”

“How did this happen?” Cyrus seethes. “We’ve been home this weekend. I don’t understand.”

“I know.” I put my hands on his shoulders and lean down to look in his eyes. “We’re going to get it figured out though.”