“What kind of information?” I asked.
Here it was, his chance to give me something that would help House Brown, since he must have assumed I was lying about being part of House Green.
It was also my chance to see how he had sized me up. What sort of woman did he think I was? What did he think was important to me?
His eyes wandered over my body slowly, from feet all the way up to my eyes. I resisted the urge to fold my arms, turn around, scowl. I didn’t like being seen—had spent a life working very hard to stay hidden.
And this man was in the middle of my living room, uncovering every detail of me.
“I don’t suppose fashion would interest you?”
Really? I gave him a chance to tell me what he thinks of me, and he takes a dig at my choice of clothing?
I strode over to the door. “No,” I said. “It wouldn’t. Call off the drones. I’ll see you in a couple weeks. Good-bye.”
“You heard the lady,” Left Ned said. “Get moving.”
“Your brother,” Abraham said. “Quinten.”
Nothing could still me faster.
“I know where he is. Where he was last seen.”
“Is he alive?” I asked before I could stop myself.
Dammit. He’d seen right through me. Probably knew all along that I had a brother. Knew that he’d been missing and I’d been worrying.
He nodded. “I will tell you where he has been. I will tell you what we know of your mother’s message. I will tell you . . . I will answeranythingyou ask of me. For two days. Then you come with me to House Gray, where we will settle your House claim and the claim on your land before someone comes out here and offers you no choice.”
“You call this a choice?” Left Ned said. “How about we pick up our weapons and give you a choice of dying here or walking off our property and dying there?”
“You said my father’s enemies wanted to find me,” I said, ignoring Neds. “Do you know that for sure? Do you know who they are?”
“Your mother’s message was unclear. I’ll tell you what I know if you come with me now, or if you let me stay and come with me in two days.”
It meant he’d be underfoot. Two days on the farm, getting in my way, getting in my business, uncovering the secrets I’d spent a lifetime hiding. The Lizard, for example. There was no way to hide that stitched monster.
But I couldn’t just run off with him blind and leave Grandma and Neds behind to try to deal with House Brown—or, worse, to be harmed if House Gray did not keep their word and this land was seized and burned.
If I was going to negotiate with House Gray for my land, my family, and my House, then two days of grilling him for information might give me something I could use for leverage.
“You’ll call off the drones,” I said.
“Yes.”
“You’ll answer anything I ask, truthfully.”
“Yes.”
“And you’ll stay out of my way.”
“If you wish.”
Not quite a yes, but close enough.
“All right. Two days. You can have the room down the hall. I’ll give you a change of sheets and you’re welcome to a portion of the meals. Don’t bother my grandmother, and otherwise keep your hands to yourself. Neds and I carry weapons, and we aren’t shy about using them. Agreed?”
I strolled over, held out my hand.
