Page 31 of Shadowing You

They finished the walk back to the car in silence. He opened her door and helped her in, then slid in beside her and met the driver’s eyes in the rearview mirror.

“Shenzhen,” Ethan said. “We need to be there tonight.”

“Fuyin,” Mei Lin spoke to the driver, then glared at Ethan. She had the nerve to look offended.

The driver ignored her, shifting into reverse. “Shenzhen.”

Ethan’s jaw locked. How dare this man pretend she hadn’t spoken? How dare he act as if her voice didn’t matter? After everything she’d survived… Not that Ethan knew, but still. This guy had no right to discount her.

He dropped his head against the seat back. The driver was treating Mei Lin exactly like Ethan was.

“Stop the car.” Mei Lin reached for the handle. Surely, she didn’t plan to jump out.

The driver didn’t slow at all.

Ethan took her hand, feeling the rings he’d given her pressing into his palm. “She said stop.”

The driver slowed, looking in the rearview at Ethan for guidance.

All Ethan wanted was to point this car south, put her on a plane in Hong Kong, and get her home.

Lord, what do I do? How do I protect her?

He didn’t need to hear God’s voice. The answer was clear, even if it irritated Ethan to no end.

He wasn’t her protector, God was.

And whatever Mei Lin had done, she was in it now. Ethan either trusted her or he didn’t.

Little truth bomb… Considering she’d been gone for six years with no word, no calls, and still no explanation, he wasn’t sure he did.

Also, she was malnourished, hadn’t slept, and for some reason, hadn’t been able to be herself. She hadn’t been free. He had no idea what she’d gone through, but whatever it was, she had more reason to want out of China than he did.

You either trust her or you don’t.

Yeah, well… That was the problem.

They were nearly to the exit when he made the decision. “We’re going to Fuyin.”

The driver stopped short, twisting to look at Ethan. “You do not understand. It is very far and in the wrong direction.”

“How far?” Ethan dreaded the answer.

“I will take you to Zhangjiajie.”

He had no idea where that was.

But Mei Lin knew. She said something in Mandarin, and she didn’t sound happy. The man answered in the same tone.

They argued back and forth, Ethan’s gaze ping-ponging between them until he couldn’t stand it anymore. “That’s enough.”

They both stopped.

“You won’t take us to Fuyin?”

The driver shook his head, glaring at Mei Lin. “To Zhangjiajie only.”

This was getting more fun by the second. “How long will that take?”