I hear Maxwell’s feet stopping behind us, and Phoenix climbs off his back.
Langston motions with his head for me to follow him to the side of the house. I do. Maxwell and Phoenix don’t follow us.
Langston approaches the small wooden door on the side of the house. He knocks four times and then waits.
My heart is pumping wildly, waiting for what’s going to happen next. A minute goes by and nothing happens.
My heart sinks.
This was all a wild goose chase, wasn’t it, father? You sent me here to ruin my life.
The door opens.
My eyes widen, and then an older bald man with a white beard steps to the door. He doesn’t speak, just stares at Langston.
“A Dunn is here to collect what’s hers,” Langston says.
The man’s eyes go from Langston to me. His eyes look like he’s seen a ghost. His ears perk like he can’t believe what he just heard.
“You married?” he looks between the two of us, looking for a ring.
My thumb traces my bare ring finger—a finger that will never have a ring.
I look to Langston. He’s not wearing a ring either. Weird—I guess I never noticed or thought about it before.
“No,” I say.
“I am,” Langston says.
The man pokes his head out of the door as if to ask where his wife is then.
“Dunn,” Langston calls.
Phoenix steps forward. Her head is proud and boisterous as she saddles up next to Langston, gripping his bicep like she owns him.
She does.
“Come in,” he says, opening the door wider for Langston and Phoenix.
They step inside without glancing back at me.
I move to follow, but the old man steps in front of the door, blocking my way.
“Are you married?” he asks.
I shake my head.
“I’m sorry,” he says, closing the door.
I step back, staring at the small house as my hand traces down the door. I need to be inside. I need to know what is going on. I need to help keep Atlas safe.
But I’m not married. And for some stupid reason, my father made that a term in finding the treasure.
I walk back to the front of the house, where Maxwell is still standing. I still don’t understand his motivations or why I decided to tell him where we are. I’m also surprised he hasn’t tried to pull some crap yet.
I hug myself as I stare at the house, trying to decide my next move.
“We could break in. I’m pretty sure we could take that old man,” Maxwell says.