“Where is he?” I ask Finn.
“They had to go, but I’m here and so is Porter,” he says.
My heart starts pounding in my chest, my palms begin to sweat, and my stomach turns. “Where did they go?”
He looks at me, grinning. “You know I don’t know and even if I did, I wouldn’t tell you.”
It’s getting harder to breathe, it feels like something is wrapping around my throat and cutting off my airway.
“They went to find my father?”
He doesn’t confirm it or deny it. “You’re safe.”
Yes, I am safe, but Zane isn’t. I start breathing heavily and rush to the living room. “I need to go. I need to get him,” I say, pulling at my shirt this feels like it’s strangling me.
“Harper, you can’t go,” he says.
“No! I need to go now,” I scream.
The front door flies open and Porter runs in. “What the hell?”
“Porter, take me to him. Please, I need to go,” I say, tears filling my eyes. “Please, hurry.”
They look at each other and back at me. “Harper, he’ll be back soon.”
“No, stop saying that. You don’t need to come, just let me go. I’ll go, I’m going,” I ramble, looking for my keys.
He’s gonna die. My father is going to smile while he kills him. I need to get there. I need to stop it. He’s going to take away the only person who loves me. I’ll be left in the world alone. I can’t handle the thoughts. It’s too much.
“Where are my fucking keys?” I yell.
“Your car isn’t even here,” Porter says. “Come on, sit down and relax. He’s going to be fine. Nothing bad is gonna happen.”
I push his arm off of me and step back. “You don’t know that. You can’t make a promise like that. Don’t treat me like some naive girl. I know exactly what is happening and I know how it ends.” The tears start and I can’t stop them. “Please, Porter, take me to him.”
“Harper, I can’t,” he says, his voice full of pity.
Fucking pity. Just what I need right now. My world is about to fall apart and he knows it. I can see it in his eyes. He’s holding secrets, things I can’t know. He looks at Finn and they share some sort of a sad expression. I step back again and shake my head.
“Is he dead?” I sob.
“Fuck, no. He’s not dead. If anyone is dying tonight it’s your father. I’m sorry,” Porter says.
The sobs are tearing through me, making it hard to stand. “I’m not,” I manage to get out. After a few minutes I calm myself enough to be able to speak again. “I need to talk to him. I need to hear his voice.”
Porter pulls out his phone and walks away. I stare at his back as I feel Finn’s eyes boring into the side of my head. I ignore him though and wait on Porter. I need to tell him to come home. I need to know he’s coming home.
“Do you want some coffee or something?” Finn quietly asks.
“No,” I rush out.
“I’m sorry, Harper. We’re just making sure you’re safe.”
I turn to look at him and I see his sorrow. “I know, Finn. I fucking hate you for it right this minute, but I know.”
Porter grabs his phone and holds it to his ear. I didn’t think my eyes had any more tears left, but they prove me wrong and roll down my face. He turns around and walks toward me, handing me the phone.
My hand is shaking as I grab it from him. “Zane?” I scream.
“Babe, relax. Take a deep breath and listen to me.” His voice is so calm, so reassuring.
“Come home, please. I can’t lose you,” I sob.
He’s quiet for a second and I’m about to scream when he clears his throat. “Harper, you aren’t going to lose me. I told you to trust me, you need to do that. I’m coming home.”
“Please, baby,” I cry.
“Fuck, you’re killing me here, babe. I’ll be home soon, please believe me. I need to go, but I’ll be home soon. I fucking love you.”
“I love you,” I sob as the line goes dead.
I throw the phone at Porter and run to the bathroom. Everything I’ve ever eaten in my life comes up. I stay against the toilet far longer than I should, especially with Porter and Finn at the door. I finally come out and push past them. It’s not their fault this is happening, but I need to take it out on someone.
I sit down on the couch and pull my knees to my chest, wrapping my arms around them. “I’m gonna lose him,” I whisper, as one last tear rolls down my cheek.
Chapter 21
Zane
After I hang up with Harper, I’m fucking gutted. I don’t even know the girl that I just talked to. Harper has always been so strong, so determined, so fierce. She never let emotions get the best of her, hell, she buried them. She was a force to be reckoned with. But, the girl I just talked to, she’s broken. Her emotions are tearing her apart. She sounds defeated, beaten, destroyed.
Over the last few hours shit has gotten worse. I was ready to lock everyone down, get ready for war, but Brooks is against me. When they all got to my house, I was certain we’d all be on the same page. It wasn’t the case. Half the club was for it, half wasn’t. Brooks said it ultimately comes down that Harper and me are the ones in danger. We’re the ones Kingsley wants. He doesn’t want to put everyone on edge. I tried to fight it, because it’s not really just us. Homes that had nothing to do with us were broken into. Still, not everyone saw it my way.
So, here we sit. Watching Club Kingsley with our dicks in our hands. It’s a fucking joke. He’s not just going to walk outside alone and give us enough time
