Elena's POV

Dad’s arm stayed locked around my shoulders. The warmth that had spread through my chest a second ago turned thin and cold.

“Why is Mr. Carter here?”

His voice was low, controlled, the way it got when something serious had walked into the room. I followed his gaze. The stranger from the plane,the one whose jacket had still been folded under my arm when the plane landed,was sliding into the back seat of a black car. The driver shut the door. The car pulled away from the curb without hurry.

I opened my mouth. Nothing useful came out.

“Do you know him?” Dad asked.

“I don’t know,” I...