little studio apartment complete with a king-sized bed, sofa, and TV. There was even a little kitchenette to the side, but a quick check of the fridge showed it was empty of food.
"This doesn't look so cramped," I commented, looking around. "Archer's such a fucking diva."
Kody snickered a laugh as he searched the closet and came out with an armful of fresh linens for the bed. "Here, let's get some sheets down so you can sleep."
"Unlikely," I grumbled but helped him make the bed nonetheless.
When we were done, Kody pulled the blankets back and pointed for me to get in. "You need sleep, babe. This isn't just about the fact that it's almost two in the morning. You're dealing with a crap load of mental stress, and the only way you're gonna get through is if you sleep when you can."
"Easier said than done," I argued, folding my arms over my chest. "He was inside the house tonight, Kody. While we were home."
He pulled me into his warm embrace and ran a hand over my hair. "I know, babe." His tone was soft and understanding. "But trust me on this one. When that door closes? No one is getting in."
I huffed. "Yeah, sure. Unless my stalker kills Archer or Steele, then cuts his hand off and uses it on the sensor."
Kody pulled back so he could give me a look. The kind of look that questioned his own sanity for being so attracted to me. "Babe, that's messed up. But no, even then it won't work. Once someone is inside, the door can only be opened from the inside. We'd have to let them in."
"Oh," I murmured, glancing at the door in question. It was still open for now, but that was actually quite comforting to know.
"Exactly," Kody said with a laugh. "Now get into bed and sleep, babe."
I started climbing into the surprisingly comfortable bed, then frowned at him. "You're staying, right?"
He hesitated only a second, then jerked a nod. "Of course." He headed over to the door and hit the button to close it, locking us in securely, then flipped off the lights. A faint glow came from a strip of LED’s around the base of the walls, breaking up what would have otherwise been total blackness.
Kody returned to the bed, stripped off his jeans and T-shirt, then slid under the covers with me. His arms closed around me, holding me tight to his chest, and his fingers trailed through my hair.
"Sleep, babe. I've got you."
Despite my total conviction that there was no possible way to sleep after the break-in, the next thing I knew, I was waking up to the soft murmur of voices.
"Shhh," I mumbled, not bothering to open my eyes. I recognized those voices. "Sleeping."
Their conversation paused, then one of them chuckled. A moment later the bed shifted, and Steele wrapped me up in his arms, taking the place Kody must have abandoned to let them in.
"Go back to sleep, Hellcat," Steele murmured with a kiss to my hair. "We don't have anywhere to be today."
Kody gave a soft scoff and Archer murmured something too soft for me to hear, but Steele didn't leave. In fact, he just hugged me even tighter still, like he couldn't bear to let me go.
The feeling was mutual.
Another hand stroked over my hair, and Archer leaned down to kiss my cheek. "Sweet dreams, Princess."
He and Kody left the safe room, and Steele stayed behind with me, humming softly under his breath with a vaguely familiar tune.
17
Steele and I slept most of the day, curled up in the darkness of the underground safe room, and only resurfaced when my stomach growled loudly enough to echo.
Upstairs we found Archer and Kody sitting at the kitchen table with a handsome, black-clad man who appeared to be only a couple of years older than them. Anna was fussing around the kitchen preparing dinner and muttering under her breath about all the extra mouths to feed. It was cute because she also clearly loved having people to cook for.
"Zed," Steele greeted the guy. "I didn't know you were on this job."
"Steele, good to see you," the stranger replied as he stood up and held his hand out to shake. "This your girl?"
"Also known as Madison Kate," I muttered, eyeballing the guy with suspicion. Logic told me he was one of these mercenaries, but I didn't like being talked about like I wasn't standing right freaking there.
"Yeah," Steele replied with an edge of amusement and