My breathing quickened. My pulse raced. I stared into Bob’s eyes, and I didn’t need Susan’s ability to assess people’s affinity for me to know that he was dead serious about his threat.
If I didn’t do as he said, Bob would find a way to kill me.
I backed away slowly, not caring that Bob still had my phone in his pocket. I needed space from him, for just a moment, to think. There had to be a way out of this.
I couldn’t think of any.
He watched me expectantly, waiting for my answer. I swallowed hard, trying to relieve the sudden dryness in my throat. I didn’t want Bob to think he had won, but I had to be realistic about my options.
“Bob,” I began, “I—”
“Will do no such thing,” Jeffrey said as he put himself between Bob and me.
“Jeffrey! Where in the Goddess’s name did you come from
