Price shrugs. “You’re the one who gave an incentive no one could ignore. Which, I might add, was more hindering than it was helpful.”

“Was it?”

“Yes.”

“Well,” the man sighs loudly and claps his hands together. Lynell flinches. “I guess you better come in. You both look in need of a shower and a nice meal.” For the first time, he turns his attention to Lynell. “Then, I suppose we should talk, darling.”

Darling? The only other person to ever call her darling was her mother.

“You must have many questions,” the man says.

An understatement, Lynell thinks, but her throat is too dry to form words.

“Come in, come in.” He turns to the side, extending an arm. Price walks over the threshold without grabbing her hand, which forces her to walk into the unfamiliar house alone.

The inside is just as grand. There’s a large front entrance hall and a curved staircase on the left. What looks to be a dining room is located to the right, and the left opens into a sitting room with at least two couches and four armchairs.

“I hope my son has been pleasant company,” the man says, looking back at Lynell.

She freezes.

Son?

She looks at Price. He stares at his feet, a blush tinting his cheeks.

“He can be quite the charmer when he wants to be,” the man says, dropping his hand on Price’s shoulder. Despite being taller and stronger and younger than the other man, Price still looks small standing next to his father.

His father.

Price doesn’t just work for this man who wants her dead so badly. He’s this man’s son.

Lynell tries to swallow, but her mouth is so dry there’s barely any saliva. Her chest is tight with fear and the need to know who this man is.

“Showers first, I think. Zachary will show you to your room, Lynell. You’ll find a shower and a set of fresh clothes on the bed,” Price’s father says.

She wants to ask why they’re getting showers and dinner. Why he cares about her cleanliness or comfort when they’re just going to kill her. Lynell steals a glance at Price, whose jaw is set firmly.

“I would advise against trying to escape. My guards are armed and stationed strategically in anticipation of your arrival. Though they have been instructed not to kill you, I have given them the liberty to do what they need to keep you detained.” He says it with a sick amount of joy in his voice, and Lynell fights the desire to run. “Up you go! Dinner is almost ready, and I don’t want to eat it cold if it can be avoided.”

Price waves her forward. They walk up the staircase in silence and Lynell looks around with wide eyes. Everything is a subtle cream color with gold and red accents. A large chandelier hangs from the ceiling and muted red rugs lead up the stairs and along the hallways. Whoever this guy is, he clearly can’t help but show off.