PROLOGUE
Lexi – Four Years Ago
***Trigger Warning***
This scene includes an attempted sexual assault by an adult stranger, coercion and verbal sexual degradation, brief vomit, panic/fear response, and escape from immediate danger. Please proceed with caution. If you prefer to avoid this scene, just skip the Prologue and start with Chapter 1.
If I missed the ACTs today, I was trapped.
Trapped in San Carlo.
Trapped in the same dying desert town that had already taken my mother and almost broken my father.
“No,no,no, not now!” Pounding my fists into the beaten-up steering wheel, I muttered a string of curses as the engine sputtered. I pulled the old truck onto the side of the road just as it died, the gravel crunching beneath the bald tires ofPapá’s old pickup.
I twisted the key in the ignition and prayed to a God I was sure didn’t exist. But at this point, I was desperate. If I didn’t make it to school on time, I’d have to wait until the fall to take the stupid test, and then I wouldn’t be eligible for early admission, and then I’d be stuck in this godforsaken town forever. A trickle of sweat snaked down my back as I tried the ignition again. It was only April, and already it was hot as hell in bumblefuck San Carlo, Arizona.
If I were being honest with myself, I didn’t care where I went to college, just as long as it was far away from here. And cold. Preferably, very cold.
“Come on, old girl, don’t do this to me. Not today.” I gave the steering wheel a loving pat and tried one last time, crossing all my fingers and toes.Click. Click. And still, nothing. “Shit!” I dropped my forehead onto the steering wheel as tears of frustration burned my eyes.
Get it together, Lexi.You can’t let years of hard work just go down the drain. Eyeing my old watch, the minute hand taunted me. Twenty minutes. My school wasn’t far, but even if I ran the whole way, I’d never make it.
But I had to try.
Grabbing my backpack, I swung it over my shoulder and snatched the keys from the ignition. Not like anyone would want to steal this P.O.S., and it was unlikely it would even start for anyone, except maybe the best of the best mechanics, but regardless,Papáwould be pissed if I was so irresponsible. I started down the quiet road at a jog, my backpack bouncing on my shoulders. The first rays of sunlight were just cresting the edge of town, but darkness still prevailed along the highway. I picked up my pace, something about the dusky road unsettling.
If it had been a weekday, there would’ve been at least a few cars on the road. But at 6:42am on a Saturday, it was deserted. I reached back and slid my hand into the side pocket of mybackpack, fingering my old flip phone. One of these days, I’d get a fancy smartphone, but right now, every penny I earned from my crappy job at the drive-thru was going to my college savings account.
I needed to get the hell out of here, and a scholarship was the only way that was happening. PoorPapátried, but Mom’s medical bills had left us in a shit-ton of debt, and that was on top of life in general costing a fortune. I could never ask him to fork out more money for my college education. Which was exactly why this damned test was so important.
I picked up my pace, tossing the useless thoughts to the far corners of my mind, and letting more random ones sneak in. Like how it was too bad I’d never joined the track team. My lungs burned and my breaths came in ragged spurts as I sprinted down the gravel road.
With every step, the desperation grew.Fuck, I’m never going to make it. I might as well kiss that early admission goodbye.
The rumble of an approaching engine sent my head swiveling over my shoulder. A pair of neon headlights zipped toward me, and a reckless idea came to me. A prickle of unease lifted the hair on the back of my neck. San Carlo was a small town, and nothing bad really ever happened, but I’d never considered hitchhiking before either.
I chewed on the inside of my cheek as the car loomed closer. Indecision battled it out in my gut, slowing my steps.It’s now or never, Lexi. I stretched out my arm and threw my thumb up as the black car whizzed by.
Shit. I was too late. I sucked in a breath, refusing to cry, as strands of auburn hair whipped across my face.
Or maybe not.
I watched as red brake lights flashed, and the car slowed. Then stopped. My heart kicked at my ribcage.
The sleek black sedan reversed, the passenger-side window sliding open as it approached. A blonde man around my dad’s age peered up at me. He was handsome, in an older man kind of way, and reeked of money. And it wasn’t just the fancy Mercedes with the plush leather interior, but everything about him. The stiff set of his jaw, the perfect hair, his crisp button-down shirt. And his scent. Cigars and scotch blended with a tangy cologne. And not the shitty, cheap kind of fragrancePapáused either; a tinge of sweetness lingered in the air.
“Where are you going?” he finally asked.
I swallowed hard before I could form the words. “To the high school, three exits down.”
“It’s your lucky day, little girl. I just happen to be headed that way.” With a tight smile, he leaned across the center console and opened the passenger door.
I waffled for a second before my watch caught my eye. I could make it. If I accepted this ride. Every bone in my body screamed not to get in the car with this stranger, but I was stupid and, worse, desperate.
Steadying my nerves, I climbed in and dropped my backpack on the floor. That thick scent swirled in the air, heavier, making my stomach churn, and I leaned closer to the door.
He shifted the car into gear and rolled back onto the road. As soon as the car moved, the automatic locks engaged. The ominous click ratcheted up my pulse.
