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That Samuel never would have frightened me. I don’t know this one.

The road steepens until the truck engine growls with the climb. Autumn stretches in every direction—a fiery blanket of scarlet maples, golden birches, and dark evergreens covering the mountains. On any other day, it would be beautiful. Today, it feels like the forest is closing over me.

“Where’s your phone?” Samuel asks.

I instinctively touch the pocket of my jeans.

“Give it to me.”

“No.”

His hand leaves the wheel.

I press myself against the passenger door. “Don’t.”

His palm remains open between us.

“Phone, Sophie.”

“You can’t keep giving me orders.”

His fingers curl once, a silent demand.

I shake my head.

He exhales through his nose. It’s the closest Samuel gets to displaying impatience.

“They can track it.”

“Who are they?”

“Don’t know yet.”

“You don’t know them, but you’re sure they’re following me?”

“Yes.”

“And I’m supposed to take your word for it?”

“You saw the gun.”

I did. The memory drains some of the fight out of me. A man smiling while reaching beneath his coat. Samuel striking him before he could pull the weapon. The hard thud of a body slamming into an SUV.

I dig the phone from my pocket. Samuel takes it from me carefully, avoiding my fingers. Apparently, kidnapping me is fine, but accidentally touching my hand would be too intimate.

He powers off the phone and slips it into his jacket.

“I need to call my father.”

“When we’re secure.”

“You mean when you’re secure.”

His expression doesn’t change.

“You’re worried I’ll tell him where we are,” I continue.

“Yes.”