no control

• twenty two •

"Hey—"

"Miss Gladys," spoke a male voice. "Mr. Zare wants you to remain on-premises until he returns. I suggest you go back inside."

I pulled the phone back to glare at screen, noting the unfamiliar number, and looked back over my shoulder. There was nobody outside. I would have seen someone watching me if they were.

"Who is this?" I demanded.

My eyes scanned around me. I noticed that there were street lamps every fifty feet or so down the driveway. Some of them had black bubbles on them.

Security cameras. When you live in a fucking fortress, I guess you need top notch security.

"My name is Aaron," he said. "I work for Mr. Zare."

"I'm sorry, Aaron, but I have places to be and Elijah isn't here like he said he would be. So I'm sorry, but I'm leaving."

He sighed. "I will take you. Give me a second to pull the car around."

"I have a ride. I don't . . . I'm not getting in the car with someone I don't know."

Unless that someone was Elijah. He made me feel safer than anyone else ever had, even before I knew his name.

"Miss Gladys, please—"

"Sorry, Aaron." I ended the call and slipped the phone into my pocket.

Gritting my teeth, I started to jog. This driveway was long as hell. It took me about five minutes to reach the gate at the bottom.

I sent Brant a dropped pin and then studied the intimidating iron gate. It was connected to a tall ass fence that continued off into the woods.

Just as I moved to grab the gate and attempt to climb it, a car door sounded behind me. I jumped and scrambled away from the gate.

No, I was not just about to jump this thing like a hoodlum. Not at all.

A tall, muscly guy with reddish hair stepped out of a black SUV. He wore a solid black suit similar to what I'd seen Elijah in.

He took a step towards me but I stepped back, shifting my stance. He stilled as his eyes fell on me. He eyed me warily, like a puppy bound to bolt.

"You must be Aaron," I said.

"I am."

"I didn't realize Elijah had people spying on me."

He folded his arms over his chest. "I'm not spying on you. I just do surveillance for the estate. I was told to keep you safe and alert him if you left the house."

"Right." I sighed. "Look, can you open the gate? I have to go to work."

"I'd be happy to drive you, Miss Gladys."

"I have a ride. And it's just Gladys."

I didn't like the idea of an older person calling me by any title. Call me old-school, but it felt wrong.

Aaron nodded. "I'll just have to follow behind your vehicle."

Oh, my god. Seriously?!