Page 20 of Girl Lost (The King Legacy #1)

“I don’t know. Like LA or New York or something. You know, someplace clutch. Not so lame like here, and not so, like, cliche, like Miami.”

Luna caught herself tapping her thigh to tick off every “like” Ashley used.

Ashley continued unprompted. “I would, like, totally move in an instant, but I’m, like, broke. Carlie too. She didn’t think it mattered. She wanted to, you know, move to a big city and earn more money, but I told her, like, girl, that’s how you end up being trafficked.”

Corbin’s eyebrows shot up. Luna had to talk to him about telegraphing his emotions. He asked, “You think that’s what happened to her?”

Ashley paled and stared at Andre as if the idea that something so awful could happen right here in her hometown had never occurred to her before. “Could ... could that ... like, happen?”

Duh, is what Luna wanted to say. What did they think would happen hanging out in a bad neighborhood where gangs fought over territory and merchandise?

And they were the merchandise. Instead she said, “It’s possible, which is why we’re asking you so many questions.

We want to make sure she’s safe. That’s all.

” She glanced at Andre and Jordan. “What about you guys? You think she’s in trouble? ”

Andre shrugged. “We thought maybe her dad sent her to that group home.”

Corbin’s chin lifted a fraction. “What group home?”

“The one with that dude who’s always tryin’ to preach at us.”

“Stryker?” Luna asked. “You guys know him?”

“Yeah,” Andre said. “Keeps sayin’ we gotta clean up our lives. Go to college, but man, we’re good right here.”

Corbin glanced at Luna then back to Andre. “Did he want you guys to join the Warrior program too?”

Andre erupted into laughter and nudged Jordan. “Us? Join a team with cops?” He shoved a hand in his pocket. “Ain’t no way, man. We hate cops.”

“Not all cops are bad,” Corbin said.

“Says the cop.” Andre cleared his throat and spit a chunk of phlegm onto the concrete beside Corbin. She watched his face redden, but he kept his cool. Andre said, “You’re all still on the same team, so the way I see it, you’re all bad.”

“A cop killed my dad,” Jordan muttered.

She looked at Jordan, and her heart ached for the pain in his eyes, but she steered them off the volatile subject. “Know where we can find Stryker?”

Jordan let out a short puff of air. “No. He’s probably off on some mission to save the world.”

“He’s always tryin’ to save someone or other,” Andre said on a laugh. “We told him to forget about it. It’s not worth it. But he don’t listen. He’s so...”

“So...” Corbin rolled his hand. “So what?”

“Righteous,” Ashley said. “He’s, like, one of those ‘born again’ freaks.”

So was Luna, but they didn’t need to know that. She let her eyes go wide and played dumb. “What do you mean?”

Andre looked away. “Never mind. It’s none of your business.”

“Yes, it is,” she said. “Stryker’s my friend, and Carlie’s yours. We’re not out here asking questions just to bust your chops. We’re trying to help, and a little cooperation would be nice.”

“Okay, okay. Don’t go all PMS on me.” Andre looked at Corbin, probably thinking he’d get a laugh out of the insult. When Corbin crossed his arms, Andre cleared his throat. “Look, the dude knows we’re just playin’. Sometimes we be out throwin’ bottles and rudes at his place.”

“Rudes?” Corbin asked.

“Y’know, talkin’ trash. Nothin’ crazy, just sayin’ we don’t like cops. Stuff to get under his skin,” Andre said. “He don’t get the message, apparently, ’cause bro drops in here one day like we best friends.”

Sounded like Stryker. He’d walk into the den of a cartel leader and try to evangelize if given the opportunity.

Corbin asked, “What’d he want?”

“What do you think?” Andre threw his hands up. “He was tryin’ to preach, but we be tryin’ to skate.”

“Yeah, but we got to talkin’. Hung out for a little while,” Jordan said. “He gave us some money for food. Then he left.”

“Where’d he go? What did you see him do?” Corbin’s questions were starting to turn into an interrogation, and she shot him a look.

“We don’t know, man. He left. I ain’t seen him since.” Andre looked to Jordan. “Ain’t that right?”

Jordan nodded, and his hair fell into his eyes. He swept it back.

“Besides Stryker preaching at you, what did you talk about?” Luna asked.

Andre’s eyes darted toward the street like he was considering a getaway. “He was talkin’ about his program where the kids can live there. Sounded all weird to me, man. Then he says we need to leave that girl alone. Not hang out with her anymore.”

“Carlie?” Corbin asked.

“No, man, Trinity,” Andre said.

“We go to the same school.” Ashley didn’t look up, continuing to pick at her nail polish. “Or, we used to, I guess.”

“I ain’t seen her around school for a while,” Andre said. “But she hangs with us sometimes.”

Luna felt her heart stutter at the name. These kids knew Trinity. Went to school with her. “Did Stryker say why he didn’t want you to hang out together?”

“No tellin’, lady.” Andre shook his head. “Dude is, like, super protective.”

Ashley stopped scrutinizing her nails and said, “She’s different, you know? Always sick and stuff.”

“She’s a pillbilly,” Jordan added.

Luna wanted to defend Trinity. Maybe it was just the word pillbilly she didn’t like hearing thrown around. It meant they thought Trinity was struggling. Drowning in a world of pill addiction.

Andre slapped Jordan’s shoulder with the back of his hand. “Man, forget her. She’s gonna die young, so she may as well live it up while she can. Let her be.”

They obviously knew Trinity better than Liv did. “What do you mean, she’s going to die young?”

Before Andre could answer, a black Mercedes G-Wagon slid to a stop in the lot.

Andre swore. “It’s Steve. He’s gonna be peeved.”

The door opened, and the man they called Steve stepped out.

Thick with muscle and moving with the weight of a tank, he adjusted his linen suit.

Mirrored sunglasses hid his eyes, but everything about him screamed danger.

The set of his jaw. The tension in his shoulders.

Luna could see the rage simmering beneath his stony expression, a slow burn waiting for a spark.

Steve marched over and hiked a thumb. “Find somewhere else to be.”

They didn’t need to be told twice. The teens made off on their skateboards.

Steve’s eyes locked onto her. A predatory smile spread across his face. He put a hand on his waist, drawing back his jacket to reveal his gun. “Now, why don’t you two tell me what you think you’re doing in my neighborhood?”

Luna could take him, she was sure of it. But what she really wanted was answers. She took a step toward him. “We’re looking for our friend, Stryker. Maybe you’ve heard of him?”

“You’re meddling in things that are none of your concern,” he said. “I’d advise you to mind your own business.”

He stepped forward.

“Don’t,” Corbin said. “No need for things to get ugly.”

They might be past that.

The man’s smile widened, revealing teeth that were too white, too perfect. He turned toward Corbin. “Oh, but I think things are about to get very ugly. You see, you’re poking your noses where they don’t belong. And I can’t have that.”

Steve took a step closer. His palm touched the butt of his weapon.

“Now, here’s what’s going to happen. You’re going to get in your car and you’re going to drive away.

You’re going to forget about Stryker, forget about Carlie, and forget you ever came to this neighborhood.

” He pointed his finger. “And if I ever see you talking to my friends again, you’ll see just how ugly I can be. ”

This guy was used to pushing people around. Using threats and intimidation to get what he wanted. But he’d made a huge mistake. He’d mentioned Carlie.

They hadn’t.