Jonah moved into his path. He didn’t touch him or raise his voice. He simply occupied enough space to make going around him difficult.
“You can’t leave her here until we sort this out.”
“I’m required to follow my instructions.”
“So am I,” I said. “Mine are to stay one week with the man who accepted me.”
Jonah looked at me. His eyes were green around the edges and brown near the center, though I had no business noticing the distinction while he denied knowing why I was standing outside his house.
“I didn’t accept anyone.”
The driver opened his door.
I caught the handle before he could pull it shut. “You’re seriously leaving me here with a stranger who claims he didn’t invite me?”
“I’m sorry, Miss Talia.”
“Being sorry doesn’t make this less insane.”
“No, it doesn’t.”
His voice lowered, and he held my gaze instead of looking toward the road.
He looked at my hand on the door. “Your father was explicit.”
Of course he was.
Daddy could make a threat sound like a dinner reservation, but the people who worked for him never mistook one for the other.
I released the handle.
The driver climbed inside. “Mr. Bricker, the placement records list this address and your acceptance. Someone from the family office verified your public information before the trip.”
“My public information isn’t consent.”
“I understand.”
“Do you?”
The driver looked at Jonah for a long second. “I do now.”
The SUV pulled away before I could decide whether to block it with my body or my handbag. Dust swallowed the taillights, drifted between the trees, and settled over the road.
Jonah and I stood in the silence it left behind.
I checked my phone again.
My phone still showed no bars.
I held up the screen. “Do you have Wi-Fi?”
“No.”
“That would’ve been too convenient.”
“I have electricity and running water.”
“That’s a start.”
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