Page 66 of No More Secrets

Finn lowers Shiloh and tucks her behind him. He extends a hand toward Lucas. “Hey, man. Thanks for taking care of my Shy Girl.”

“She isn’t your girl, and you’re not taking her.” He pushes Finn aside to get to Shiloh, stunned at how afraid he is for her but too livid to process it in real time. Doesn’t she realize the risk she’s taking running off with a guy she’s never met in person? A guy much older than her?

Shiloh retreats from Lucas, backing up toward the van. “You can’t make me stay. You left me.”

“I’m back, and yes I can make you stay.” He reaches for her wrist.

Finn shoves him back as Shiloh yells. “You can’t tell me what to do. You’re not my dad.”

“Listen, I know I said you could leave anytime, but you don’t know this guy. You have no idea what you’re getting yourself into. He could be worse than Ellis. Or what about those assholes from the other night? Have you forgotten what Bob and Barton wanted to do with you?” Fear unlike anything he’s felt fuels his words. And for a second there, it’s not Shiloh he sees. It’s Lily. It’s not Shiloh he’s talking about, but Lily.

“Lucas.”

He registers Sophie’s voice, but he doesn’t react.

Shiloh’s face has gone sickly pale at the mention of the men who attacked her.

Finn flips him off. “Fuck you, man.”

Lucas points a finger at him. “You, shut up.”

“Lucas,” Sophie says louder.

Finn must have seen something in Lucas’s expression warning him to back off. He shows his hands. “Hey, man, we’re cool.”

“Finn, get in the van,” Shiloh yells, splitting her wide-eyed gaze between Lucas and Sophie, who’s now beside him. “You’re with her?” Betrayal slackens her mouth in disbelief. “How could you?”

“Gotta jam, dude,” says the guy behind the wheel. “I don’t want to miss Mulvey.”

“Do not get in that van, Shiloh,” he orders, scared for her.

“Lucas.” This time Sophie speaks his name gently and cautiously touches his arm.

He flinches, but she shakes her head in warning.

“Give me the keys.” He’ll follow them across the state if he must.

Sophie shakes her head. “You’re drunk.”

“I can’t let her go.”

“You can’t force her to stay either.”

He knows she’s right. He could face charges of unlawful confinement. He has no legal say over her. But it doesn’t diminish his fear or discount his worry. It doesn’t change his mind on the matter either.

“Shiloh, don’t,” he pleads. He won’t be able to keep her safe. If anything happens to her, if Finn does anything to her, or if Ellis catches up to her, it will be his fault. He was the one who left her. He abandoned her, just like he had Lily. He broke her trust when he left.

Shiloh settles into the van’s middle seat, her gaze forward, her mouth a firm line of resolve. With a wary glance at Lucas, Finn shuts the side door. Lucas and Sophie watch them leave in a cloud of desert dust.

“Do you know where he’s taking her?” she asks.

“Holly-fucking-wood.”

“Do you have his address or phone number?”

He shakes his head and holds out his hand. “If you’re not taking me in, we’re done. Give me my keys.”

She stares him down.