Page 102 of Haze of Obedience

He freezes.

Several feet ahead of him, I spin. "Why are you stopping?"

"Can I be honest with you?"

My gut flips. "Yes. Of course. What?"

"I'm conflicted. If you want to know how to do this, then we should talk about how to handle it."

Rage boils in me. "You're conflicted?" I hurl.

He steps toward me. "Hear me out."

I increase my speed, and he follows.

"Zoe, listen to me before you get mad."

"Mad? Gee, why would I be mad?" I shout.

"I don't want you to have to deal with the aftermath of killing someone."

"Who? A rapist? You think I will feel bad about that?"

"You don't know what you'll feel."

"So, I should let whoever wants to have their way with me just do whatever?"

He sternly says, "I am not saying that."

"Then what are you saying, Dirk?"

"Let me explain what I'm trying to say." He reaches for my biceps.

"Don't touch me."

"Why? Hmm? Why can't I touch you? Do you honestly think I would hurt you?"

Appalled that he would ask me that when he so blatantly didn't want to touch me this morning or last night, I cry out, "I'm sorry? You do want to touch me, or you don't? Your mixed messages are ripping me apart. You accuse me of being hot and cold, but that fits you to a T, Dirk."

"Zoe—"

An SUV pulls out of the driveway, speeds towards us, and Dirk pushes me out of the way. It passes, and a cloud of dirt smothers us.

I cough, and Dirk rubs my back. "You okay?"

"Is that your friend? You should tell him to slow down," I say irritated and shaken from almost being run over.

Dirks forehead creases. He says nothing, takes my hand, and leads me up toward the house. I don't fight him this time. There's another car in the driveway with Belizean plates.

"I wonder who got here first," I say.

"Shh. Zoe, don't talk." He pulls his gun out of his bag.

"Why? What's—"

He puts his hand over my mouth, leans into my ear, and murmurs, "Something isn't right. Stay quiet."

A deep chill runs through my bones. "How do you know?"