“Miss Montgomery?” James peered into the backseat.

“Just start driving. You know where to take me,” I replied flatly.

The car ride was silent outside of the low music that circulated and the hum of the engine. I felt Brent’s gaze on me the entire time. James flicked his gaze at us in the back seat a few times along the way.

It was safe to say the drive was awkward. We pulled into the same burger joint I’d asked to be taken to earlier, and I dreaded having any further conversation with Brent.

“Can we talk?” he asked.

I shrugged. “Go ahead. James, can you get me what I had last time?” I ignored Brent’s gaze.

He looked between us two. “Anything for...?”

Brent gestured vaguely. “Whatever she’s getting. On me.” He tossed his wallet into the front seat, turning his entire body toward me. “Blondie, look at me.”

What would I even say to him? My head hurt and I wanted to throw up again. Life still didn’t feel real enough to comprehend and I hoped to wake up from this nightmare that was my life. Pinching myself wasn’t helping at all.

“I don’t want to.” My voice was small, and my eyes threatened me with tears if I didn’t calm down quickly.

“I understand this is a lot for you, but I need you to let me in so I can help you. There are things we need to talk about so you are aware and can be prepared. The last thing I want is for you to be blindsided again. Our companies work in tandem, and I can protect you.”

Protection. That didn’t feel like a word I was familiar with. Sheltered and ignorant felt more my speed.

“How are you supposed to protect me when it feels like everyone else is ready to jump at me with claws? Before I was even aware of what I inherited, other people were miles ahead to take what I had. You can’t undo years of dominos falling.”

James cut the tension with two bags of food. My savior. The smell improved my nausea, and I didn’t even realize that my stomach was as hungry as it was. Eating was hard after all the shit hitting the fan. And that body on the ground...

“Miss Montgomery?”

My eyes refocused on James staring at me with a fatherly type of concern. The only other person who looked at me like that was Kelly. She got concerned when I didn’t act like myself—lately that was a lot of the time. She didn’t know what to make of my headspace. When I lacked a normal appetite, she tried to get me to eat or watch a movie. Despite her trying to help me, I couldn’t help but feel strange around her–she acted odd lately.