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“Okay.”

“Okay, what?”

“Okay, I’ll follow your lead. I’ll do what you say in front of them. I’ll trust you not to take advantage of that.”

“I won’t. But… I’m going to have to play a role, Cassie. I’m going to have to be strict. Mean, even. They’ll expect it. It’s the only way we get what we need and get out of here alive.”

Her own brain had been sabotaging her for years. Getting bossed around had to be easier than that. “Like a wise man once said a few minutes ago, I’m tougher than people think.”

That, he smiled at.

“We should both sleep,” he said. “The Diehls keep late hours. Everyone sleeps during the day, and the real activity happens at night. We need to be on their schedule.”

He stood up and she realized there was one bed and they were both in this room for the foreseeable future. He seemed to realize it at the same time because he looked at the bed and then at the floor and started to speak.

“Don’t even think about it,” she said. “It’s a full-size bed. We can share it.”

He looked at her.

“You just told a house full of criminals that I’m your submissive girlfriend. I’m pretty sure, of anybody, I would be the one sleeping on the floor, not you.”

“Not going to happen.”

“Then we share.”

Something moved across his face. Brief, complicated, gone before she could name it. Then he turned off the light, pulled off his boots, and lay down on top of the covers next to her, fully dressed, leaving a careful space between them.

She scooted down so she was lying flat. She wasn’t going to sleep. There was absolutely no way she was going to sleep. She was lying next to a man she’d kissed three days ago, inside a house full of men who thought she belonged to him, and in a few hours, she was going to walk out of this room and pretend that all of it was exactly what she wanted.

Maybe she should have left. Maybe the smart move was to run and find another way.

But the computer was down the hall. And her brain already knew what to do with it. And there were kids who needed someone to be braver than she felt.

She’d figure out the rest tomorrow.

She was asleep before she finished the thought.

Chapter 17

Cassandra’s brain woke up and she froze, trying to figure out exactly where she was.

The lodge. The kitchen. Last night. All of it flooded back before she’d even opened her eyes. She took a breath. She was alive. They had a plan. Ryder would keep her safe.

She opened her eyes and immediately shut them again.

Ryder.

She was draped across him like a human blanket. Face in his neck. Hand on his chest. One leg hooked over his like she owned real estate there.

She’d assured him they could both sleep in the bed without it being a problem.

Great, Cass. Really nailing the professionalism.

She started to peel herself off him and felt his hand on her shoulder. Not holding her there. Just resting. Like it had been there for a while.

“You awake?” he asked.

“Yes.” She tried not to think of all the places her body was touching his. “Um. How long have you been awake?”