Page 15 of Escaping Our Reality

I walk down the hall and grab Lulu’s elbow. Firmly. Bending my head, I place my lips across the ridge of ear. “You need to get out of here. Now.”

It could be my imagination, but I think she shivers.

Pulling back, she opens her mouth to argue, but quickly pulls her bottom lip between her teeth when she sees the look on my face. Sensing the tension pouring from my body in huge, pounding waves, she nods.

One simple nod.

I slide my hand down her arm, taking her hand in mine. Before we can walk away, Christina snatches out, grabbing at Lulu’s shoulder.

“Hey! Cops are looking for that missing girl. You trying to bring cops around here?”

Lulu’s eyes widen.

“No, Christina, she was just kidding. Here.” I grab the baggie from my pocket and shove it in her hand. The Holy Trinity packet in front of her consumes all of her thoughts and desires, and she quickly loses interest in us, or why we’re there.

Ignoring Lulu’s piercing glare, I tug her behind me. Stopping at the edge of the living room, I take stock of my surroundings, spying Trey on the other side, next to the kitchen. Tucking Lulu against my opposite side, I wrap my arm around her, shielding her from view, and guide her across the room and out the front door. I make sure we’re halfway down the dirt driveway, behind some cars, before I let her go.

She immediately puts distance between us and then slaps her hands on her hips. It’s the first time I’ve seen her slouch and cock her leg out to the side. “What was that?”

I turn the ballcap around backward on my head. The lights of the trailer are behind us, so the only thing lighting Lulu’s face and body is the full moon of the winter night.

So fucking gorgeous.

Trash was right. She has the longest legs I’ve ever seen.

“You weren’t exactly being discreet in there. I told you those people get crazy when they think about cops comingaround. That guy who just came in? Trey? He’s the dealer, the middleman between the supplier and the pushers. At least, that’s what these losers call it—it’s like a drug pyramid scheme. Anyway, he’s the one I told you about. Hewillkill you if he thinks you’re a narc.”

“You’re just saying that.”

“I’m not! He’s killed before, Lulu. He only served four years because of a plea deal. It was technically ruled self-defense, and he got the actual time on a possession charge. But all of us around here know it wasn’t really self-defense. He murdered a guy.”

She swallows. Placing her hands at her side, she pulls back her shoulders and lifts her head. A statue again.

I sigh, tossing my hands in the air. “You can’t question these people, Lulu. I know you want to. You have a right to. But you can’t. The normal rules of nature—the normal rules of society—don’t apply out here. These people are fiercely protective of their addiction. They’ll do anything to keep it safe. No one is gonna talk to you. No one is gonna give you any information at all. Even if they know something, they won’t tell you.”

She doesn’t answer.

I kick the ground with the toe of my boot. “You need to leave. You need to get out of here.”

Eventually, she nods. I take a quick look around searching for her vehicle. I’m about to ask her where she parked when she walks right past me, heading back in the direction of the front door. “Where are you going? I thought I just told you—”

“I’m going to get your brother.”

Harsher words have never been spoken.

“He brought me. My car’s not here. It’s at the gas station. He has to drive me back.”

Red flashes behind my eyelids. “You rode with Trash? You let him drive you? Are you damn crazy? Never, ever ride in a vehiclewith any of those people behind the wheel.” I throw my hand in the direction of the mobile home. “You understand me? Never.”

She just stares.

“Promise me.”

She nods. One simple nod.

This nodding and staring shit is driving me mad.

She unzips her wrist wallet and pulls out her phone. I laugh when I see her pecking around on the screen. “You’re not gonna get an Uber out this way, babe.”

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