Page 147 of Anton

I can’t tell him the truth. I can’t tell anyone the truth. I just have to live with it.

Charlie leans back against the seat and looks out through the windshield. “Was it him?”

I turn toward him. “Who?”

“The guy.” His attention stays on the barn. “The one who made you upset last time. What did he do this time? Why do you let him?”

My fingers strain against the steering wheel as he faces me, his mouth pressed into a thin line.

“He’s not good enough for you. None of them are.”

My brows knit. “What do you mean?”

Charlie stares out the window again. “The Whitlocks. The Marinovs. Men like that. Families like them.”

My head jerks back as unease slithers up the back of my neck. “You work for my family.”

“I work on the farm.” His eyes slide over my face, and I curl my arms around myself, suddenly feeling exposed. “That doesn’t mean I like them.”

“Charlie, what the hell is going on? What are you saying?”

My pulse thumps harder, until I can barely hear anything else. Sliding my hand toward the door handle, I try to be as subtle as possible as I start to pull it.

“You don’t belong to them. Don’t you see that?”

Goose bumps spread across my arms.

Why would he say that? He doesn’t know who I am. He can’t know.

Right?

“Charlie, what are you saying?”

“You should be with your real family.” His eyes enlarge, almost crazed, and my heart starts pounding so hard it echoes in my head.

“Wh-what?”

He slides closer, his grin turning manic. “Deep down, you’ve always known. You even told me you never felt like one of them, and that’s because you’re not.”

Every instinct screams at me to get out, while my mind struggles to make sense of what he’s saying.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Yes, you do.” His words are almost gentle, which only makes them more terrifying. “But that’s okay. I’ve got you now, Penny.”

My fingers go still around the handle. All the blood drains from my face. I can’t move. I can’t think.

This can’t be happening. He can’t be…

Who the hell is he?

“Tell me what’s going on, Charlie.” The words tremble out of me as I try to keep him talking, hoping I can distract him long enough to get out of the car and scream for help.

I pull the handle again, but before I can push the door open, his grip snaps around my wrist.

“You don’t get to leave me.”

A chill skitters over my entire body. “Let go.”