“Whatever the cause for his accuracy,” her mother said. “I’m thankful he was with Charity today. She could’ve been killed.”
Zia leaned forward, looking at Charity’s father. “Why didn’t you have a vision about that? I thought the visions always came if a family member was in danger.”
Her father was silent for several moments, considering the matter. “Perhaps because she didn’t need to do anything different to be safe. No paths needed changing.”
“So fate knew Enzo would protect her?” Zia asked.
Her father shrugged. “I don’t know exactly how the visions work, but I’m assuming, yes. Enzo was there to protect her.”
“I don’t trust the guy,” Milo said. “He’s probably a government agent sent here to spy on us.”
“He could be ex-military,” Charity said, unwilling to paint him with such a dark brush. “His skill set doesn’t necessarily mean he’s a spy.”
Gregor tilted his head back, thinking. “If he’s ex-military, he would’ve told us so. Having someone who can defend the group is a bonus, not a drawback. Why claim to be a data entry clerk unless he’s hiding something?”
Charity fluttered a hand in Gregor’s direction. “Maybe he deserted, and he’s afraid we’d turn him in. Or maybe he’s from one of the breakaway states. Although,” she admitted reluctantly, “if he came from a breakaway state, he wouldn’t have been so familiar with the streets of Kansas City.”
So that meant he was most likely ex-military. Probably went AWOL. “There are worse things to be than a deserter,” Charity said. “He might have left for moral reasons. Maybe he saw soldiers doing horrible things and didn’t want to be a part of it anymore.”
“We can’t jump to conclusions,” her mother said. She twisted around in the passenger seat to better see the others. “We have to find out the truth. It’s too bad the roads to the city are dangerous right now. Otherwise, a couple of us could visit Callum and see if he could hack into the city’s employment history database. That would give us some information.”
“That’s a big request,” her father said. “I wouldn’t ask him to break the law lightly.”
Her mother huffed. “If Enzo is working for the government, then you wouldn’t be asking lightly.”
“Yes,” her father agreed, “and perhaps when Callum has recovered from surgery and is settled, the roads will be safe enough that we can go to the city. Callum might be able to find out something about Enzo that sheds light on the situation.”
“How long will that be?” Milo asked. “Weeks? I say we give Enzo the truck and any payment we owe him and send him onhis way. That truck is worth more than he’d make in two years as a harvester. He can use it to find work somewhere else.”
Gregor nodded. “If he deserted, the military will be on the lookout for him. One way or another, the guy is trouble.”
“We can’t send him away,” Charity said, alarmed.
“Right,” Zia said. “The one thing we know for certain is he’s supposed to marry Charity. That means they have to be in the same vicinity.”
“Not necessarily,” Milo said. “We don’t knowwhenhe’s supposed to marry her. Maybe the two of them will meet again in a few years. We can’t keep the guy around now.”
Her father rubbed his chin, a habit while he considered options. “I wish my visions told me more about the timing.” His attention turned to Charity. “What are your thoughts? Do you feel like you and Enzo are developing a relationship?”
All eyes turned to her. She swallowed. Should she tell them about the kiss? Tell them how he’d rejected her after it? She didn’t want any of them to know. “I … um … I…”
“It’s not fair to ask her that,” her mother said. “They’ve only known each other for a few weeks.”
Milo rolled his eyes. “It usually doesn’t take a guy weeks to decide whether he’s attracted to a girl. She should at least know whether he’s into her or not.”
“How would I know that?” Charity asked. “My experience with guys has mostly consisted of keeping them at arm’s length while I waited for Enzo to come.” He’d said he wanted the two of them to start over, but maybe he’d meant to start over as friends.
“You spent most of the day with him,” Zia said. “Did he flirt with you or tease you?”
He’d told her he could’ve stolen her truck and abandoned her in the city. Did that count as teasing? True, he’d smiled and been friendly, and he’d been caring when he thought she’d gone into shock, but he probably would’ve done the same to any otherwoman he’d been forced to spend the day with. A part of him seemed so … closed off, as though he wanted to keep her away. “I get mixed signals from him. Sometimes he acts interested and other times…” She lifted her hands in helplessness.
“Men,” Zia said with sympathy. “Sometimes they’re like that. They don’t know their own mind, so you have to make it up for them.” Her gaze shifted to Milo, and she patted his leg. “Not that I’d ever do that with you, dear.”
Milo tilted his chin down. “Mmm-hmm.”
Zia’s attention went back to Charity. “He probably just needs more time.”
Was that the case? Milo didn’t think so. Charity bit her lip, considering. “He did spend his own money to buy me chocolate.”