Maddie’s eyes are already drifting closed again. “You guys are too good to me,” she mumbles.
As we file out of her bedroom, I pause in the doorway, then glance back at her one more time. I close the door quietly behind me and follow the others into the living room. Vander takes up his usual position by the window, his arms crossed, while Rhodes sprawls on the couch. I remain standing, too wired to sit.
“So,” Rhodes says after a moment, “what are we going to do about this Wild Steps thing?”
Vander shrugs, his eyes fixed on the street below.
I run a hand through my hair as I pace. “I might have to talk to her father, as I’m not sure I could watch her...” I trail off, not wanting to finish that sentence.
“Watch her get fucked by strangers?” Rhodes says.
“It’s more than that,” I snap. “Our job is to protect her. How the hell are we supposed to do that when she’s off in the woods with men we haven’t vetted?”
Rhodes sits forward, with his elbows on his knees. “You know, Maddie already feels like her privacy is being breached just by having security. We follow her everywhere, monitor hermovements, and stand outside her bedroom door. What if we did the chasing?”
I stop and stare at him. “What?”
“Think about it,” he continues. “Our contracts state we do whatever it takes, use any means necessary to keep her safe. If she’s determined to sign up for Wild Steps—you know she is because she is stubborn as hell—and asyousaid we can’t vet random strangers, then maybe we should be the ones behind the masks.”
“That’s out of the question,” I tell him.
“Is it?” Rhodes quips, and his expression turns calculating. “We would be in complete control of the situation and know she’s safe. And she would get what she wants without actually putting herself in danger.”
I look at Vander. He’s still staring out the window, but I know he’s listening.
“Vander?” I prod.
He doesn’t turn around, but after a long moment, he gives a single nod.
“You can’t be serious,” I say, but even as the words leave my mouth, I’m thinking about it.
“It solves multiple problems,” Rhodes points out. “She gets her fantasy. We maintain control over her safety. And nobody has to know it’s us.”
“Except we will,” I growl out. “Wewould know.”
“And?” Rhodes raises an eyebrow. “You’re telling me you haven’t thought about it? Because I saw the way you looked at her tonight—both of you.” He glances at Vander, then back at me. “We might as well have it work out in our favor.”
I want to argue. To tell him he’s wrong, and I haven’t thought about Maddie like that. How I’m a complete professional and this is a terrible idea. But I would be lying, and he knows it, especially after my moment of weakness tonight. Seeing him onhis knees for her set me off; he only gets on his knees for me. On the other hand, I want to be the one on my knees for her.
“Her father would kill us,” I remind him.
“Only if he found out,” Rhodes counters. “Why would he? The whole point of Wild Steps is it’s anonymous. The clients don’t know who fulfills their fantasies, and the workers—or in this case, us—don’t reveal their identities.”
“This is a bad idea,” I mutter, but I’m already running through the logistics in my head. How we would keep her safe while giving her what she wants.
“Probably,” Rhodes agrees. “But it’s better than the alternative. Would you rather some random guys put their hands on her?”
The thought makes my vision go red.
Vander finally turns from the window. His eyes meet mine, and I see the same conflict. We’re already in too deep. We crossed a line the moment we started feeling anything beyond professional duty toward Maddie. At least this way, we can protect her.
“We need rules,” I hear myself saying. “Boundaries. This doesn’t change our job—we’re still her security.”
Rhodes grins. “Of course. Strictly professional masked men, providing a fantasy?—”
“Shut up.” My sharp words cut him off as I walk over to the window and stand beside Vander. “We don’t tell her,” I add quietly. “Not unless it’s absolutely necessary.”
“Agreed,” Rhodes says from behind us.
