Page 17 of No More Secrets

“Nothing’s open at this hour except McDonald’s. Let me buy you a burger.”

Her stomach growls again, and she glances out the back window. She really is hungry. But taking him up on his offer means getting into his truck. Once she’s buckled up inside, he can do anything to her, take her anywhere. Moonstar had. Even though she’d escaped, the memories of that woman have Shiloh squirming.

She makes a face and market guy scowls. “Please don’t tell me you’re one of those woke Gen Zers who only eat Impossible meat. Fine, fries. I’ll buy you as many as you want. Get a shake while you’re at it. Just come with me. It isn’t safe here.” He opens the door.

Shiloh shrieks. She dives for the door handle and pulls it closed, smacks the lock. A piece of glass slices the tip of her finger, and she cries out. She sticks her finger in her mouth to soothe the ache.

“Please just go,” she says, near tears, afraid he’ll overpower her. He can do anything then: touch her, hurt her. Take her to the police.

He gives her a long look before backing away from the car, palms in the air to show he’s not a threat. If she wasn’t petrified, she’d laugh. Yeah, right. She’s not that gullible.

Then he glances around, sighing with exasperation and something else. Alarm skitters down her back, sensing his unease when he turns back to her.

“You need to come with me,” he orders.

She can only imagine what he has in store for her. Ellis made that picture clear. She retreats to the far corner, hugging her knees to her chest, willing to confront the dangers here rather than go with him.

He drags both hands down his face, clearly frustrated with her. “Fine. Stubborn idiot,” he grumbles into his cupped palms. “Have it your way.”

“You’re a jerk,” she says.

“I’m trying to help you. It’s not safe here.”

“Not your problem.”

“I’m making it mine.”

She frowns at that. “Why? What’s it to you?”

“I don’t know,” he says more to himself, staring off to the side. “Look. You don’t have to ride with me. Walk.” He points east. “It’s just a mile up the road. I’ll be waiting in the parking lot. You want something to eat? Come get it, whatever you want. On me.”

She could use a hot meal, con him into buying a few extra burgers. But he’ll want something in exchange. They always do.

“I’ll give you an hour. You decide.” He backs away, holding her gaze, until he turns to leave.

He retreats, but not in the direction of his truck. Shiloh lifts to her knees and peeks out the back window. She can barely make him out, but guesses he’s with Bob and Barton and getting in their faces. Their voices rise, and Ricky joins them. She moves them apart, saying some words. Market guy leaves. Bob flips off his back, but Barton isn’t watching him. He’s staring at her.

The hair on her forearms lifts. Her mind warns her to flee. She slides down the seat and curls on her side. What did market guy say to them? Nothing good, she suspects. He’s just causing her more trouble. She collects the cash and snacks she hurled at him, pulls the hoodie over her head, and hugs the backpack to her chest.

Shivering more from fear than the cold, she listens to the night. She hears the occasional cough and Irving’s snoring in the car next to hers. Heart hammering, she startles at every noise. Without windows, the night is louder, the desert more sinister. She tries to distract herself with thoughts of Finn, imagining she’s safe in his arms. Her stomach cramps from hunger pangs, and she can’t think of anything but market guy’s offer. She could meet him at McD’s, place her order, and leave. She doesn’t have to get into his truck. She could walk there and back.

But since too many people she thought she could trust have taken advantage of her, it’s hard to trust anyone at all.

Gravel crunches nearby. Shiloh inhales sharply, sitting upright. She looks out the windows, wondering where the noise came from. It’s too dark to see anything beyond a few feet.

More crunching, then a scrape on metal. The sound reverberates through the car. She yelps, afraid of who or what is outside.

Shiloh doesn’t wait to find out.

She throws open the door and flees.

10

It’s after midnight, and McDonald’s closed at ten. The drive-through is open until one, but good luck convincing Sunshine Girl to get in his truck when he orders food. Assuming she shows. He doesn’t even want her in his truck.

Lucas almost turns around for home, wondering what he’s doing. What good can he do beyond feeding her or finding her a safer place to sleep? She didn’t want anything to do with him. After he left, he pictured himself in her place and saw their exchange go down from her point of view.

“What a dick,” he says to the night.

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