away.
“What’s up, Jeff? We need to get moving.”
“First, tell us what’s happening.”
I nodded. “We’re going to Juneau, Alaska. Trip knows some people there, people that can keep us safe.”
He frowned, looking skeptical. “How do you know that’s true?”
“Trip is as fucked as we are.”
Trip raised an eyebrow, pretending like he hadn’t heard.
“Assuming these people are real, what then?”
“Then we wait.”
“How long?”
“Weeks, months. Maybe years.”
“We can’t just hide out in Alaska for a few years. We have a life.”
“I know, Jeff. I’m hoping it doesn’t come to that.”
“Me and Lynn were talking. What if we called the police but you guys left?”
“Not happening.”
“We’ll take the risk. We understand.”
“Listen to me, Jeff,” I said, getting in his face. “If you leave with Lynn right now, you will die. But not quickly. The Mexicans will torture you for information about me first, and you’ll give it to them. Then I’m fucked and you’re fucked and we’re all dead.”
“It can’t be that simple,” he said, exasperated.
“It’s that fucking simple.” I looked at Lacey and Lynn. “Anything else?”
“When did you become such an asshole?” Lacey asked.
I ignored her. “We have a new plan.”
“Great,” she mumbled.
“We’re splitting up.”
They looked stunned and angry all at once.
“Absolutely not,” Jeff said.
“I’m not splitting up from anyone,” Lynn nearly yelled.
“You changed,” Lacey whispered, shaking her head.
“Calm down,” I said loudly, raising my hands. “Listen to me. We’re still meeting in Juneau in a few days, but we’re going different ways. Jeff and Lynn, you’re going with Trip.” I looked at Lacey and gave her my best grin, almost loving her reaction. “And you’re with me, Lacey girl.”
“No, thanks,” Lacey said. “I’m not going anywhere with just you.”
“It’s for the best,” Trip said, rejoining the group.
Jeff and Lynn spoke at the same time, both saying how they’d rather call the police, how they’d rather take their chances, the police can surely help, and I couldn’t take it anymore. I knew they were in shock and didn’t understand how serious their situation was, but they were being such stubborn idiots.
“Enough,” I said, yelling over them. “Get in the fucking car right now.”
Jeff blinked. “Don’t talk to us that way. We’re just scared.”
“I get it,” I said slowly. “But you haven’t figured it out yet. There is no arguing or discussing right now, because a gang of violent drug dealers wants to murder us all. Me and Trip are your only way out.”
“Okay,” Mom said suddenly. “Okay, we’ll go with him.”
Everyone was quiet for a second, and the tension suddenly seemed to drain from the moment.
“Are you sure?” Jeff asked her.
“I don’t know why Camden is involved with these people, but he saved us earlier. I trust him.”
“Thank you, Mom,” I said softly.
She walked up to me and hugged me tightly. “Promise we’ll see you in a few days.”
“I promise.” I returned the hug, feeling a mess of emotions.
She let go and stepped back, gave me a quick smile, and then ducked into the car. Jeff frowned at me for a second and then followed her.
“Better go before they change their minds,” I said to Trip.
“See you in Juneau, brother.”
We clasped hands, and then he climbed into the car. I walked to the back of the car and patted the trunk. He popped it, and I smiled ear to ear. Trip was one prepared motherfucker.
I grabbed one of the two duffel bags and shut the trunk. Trip gave me a thumbs-up and then pulled out toward the on-ramp.
I watched them disappear onto the highway before turning back to Lacey. She was staring at me with this strange look on her face.
“Guess it’s just us now,” I said.
“You realize we’re stranded here?”
I laughed. “I guess we are.”
“Seriously, we don’t have a
“What’s up, Jeff? We need to get moving.”
“First, tell us what’s happening.”
I nodded. “We’re going to Juneau, Alaska. Trip knows some people there, people that can keep us safe.”
He frowned, looking skeptical. “How do you know that’s true?”
“Trip is as fucked as we are.”
Trip raised an eyebrow, pretending like he hadn’t heard.
“Assuming these people are real, what then?”
“Then we wait.”
“How long?”
“Weeks, months. Maybe years.”
“We can’t just hide out in Alaska for a few years. We have a life.”
“I know, Jeff. I’m hoping it doesn’t come to that.”
“Me and Lynn were talking. What if we called the police but you guys left?”
“Not happening.”
“We’ll take the risk. We understand.”
“Listen to me, Jeff,” I said, getting in his face. “If you leave with Lynn right now, you will die. But not quickly. The Mexicans will torture you for information about me first, and you’ll give it to them. Then I’m fucked and you’re fucked and we’re all dead.”
“It can’t be that simple,” he said, exasperated.
“It’s that fucking simple.” I looked at Lacey and Lynn. “Anything else?”
“When did you become such an asshole?” Lacey asked.
I ignored her. “We have a new plan.”
“Great,” she mumbled.
“We’re splitting up.”
They looked stunned and angry all at once.
“Absolutely not,” Jeff said.
“I’m not splitting up from anyone,” Lynn nearly yelled.
“You changed,” Lacey whispered, shaking her head.
“Calm down,” I said loudly, raising my hands. “Listen to me. We’re still meeting in Juneau in a few days, but we’re going different ways. Jeff and Lynn, you’re going with Trip.” I looked at Lacey and gave her my best grin, almost loving her reaction. “And you’re with me, Lacey girl.”
“No, thanks,” Lacey said. “I’m not going anywhere with just you.”
“It’s for the best,” Trip said, rejoining the group.
Jeff and Lynn spoke at the same time, both saying how they’d rather call the police, how they’d rather take their chances, the police can surely help, and I couldn’t take it anymore. I knew they were in shock and didn’t understand how serious their situation was, but they were being such stubborn idiots.
“Enough,” I said, yelling over them. “Get in the fucking car right now.”
Jeff blinked. “Don’t talk to us that way. We’re just scared.”
“I get it,” I said slowly. “But you haven’t figured it out yet. There is no arguing or discussing right now, because a gang of violent drug dealers wants to murder us all. Me and Trip are your only way out.”
“Okay,” Mom said suddenly. “Okay, we’ll go with him.”
Everyone was quiet for a second, and the tension suddenly seemed to drain from the moment.
“Are you sure?” Jeff asked her.
“I don’t know why Camden is involved with these people, but he saved us earlier. I trust him.”
“Thank you, Mom,” I said softly.
She walked up to me and hugged me tightly. “Promise we’ll see you in a few days.”
“I promise.” I returned the hug, feeling a mess of emotions.
She let go and stepped back, gave me a quick smile, and then ducked into the car. Jeff frowned at me for a second and then followed her.
“Better go before they change their minds,” I said to Trip.
“See you in Juneau, brother.”
We clasped hands, and then he climbed into the car. I walked to the back of the car and patted the trunk. He popped it, and I smiled ear to ear. Trip was one prepared motherfucker.
I grabbed one of the two duffel bags and shut the trunk. Trip gave me a thumbs-up and then pulled out toward the on-ramp.
I watched them disappear onto the highway before turning back to Lacey. She was staring at me with this strange look on her face.
“Guess it’s just us now,” I said.
“You realize we’re stranded here?”
I laughed. “I guess we are.”
“Seriously, we don’t have a
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