John did not raise his voice to match hers.
He pulled the chair from beneath the folding table and sat down.
"It means your life is no longer safe" He folded his hands on his knee. "If you walk back into your old life, you'll be dead in an hour.
Samantha forced herself to speak.
"If he really wanted to protect me, then he has enough power to do it. Don't tell me he wants to use my death as an excuse to gain sympathy for the election?"
John's face remained neutral, revealing nothing to her.
"Like I said, I don't know, and I don't care about your family business. Just follow my lead if you want to stay alive."
"And if I don't?"
"Then I'll leave you here, and you'll deal with whoever finds you first."
He didn't threaten. He didn't warn. He simply described what would happen.
Samantha swallowed. "What exactly is your job?"
"Keeping you alive until your father says otherwise."
