Page 22 of Chased

Madison gave up. “I do not even know what to do with that information,” she said. “Except my—” Shit, she almost said ‘lapin.’ “My animal wants to meet him. She’s always wanted to be high-class cat burglar. It’s the pretty jewels.”

Sanchez made a little wolf sound—halfway between a laugh and a growl. He didn’t seem to like the idea of her befriending any of the other guys. Or giving them dick kisses, which wasn’t specifically what she’d been picturing when she’d thought about hooking up with buff soldiers, but she was open to the possibility.

Many predators, Vixen said thoughtfully. Hot ones.

And the hottest and most predatory one was walking right next to her.

Sanchez went on, “The only places that are locked here are the explosives shed and Gunn’s office, because there’s sensitive mission information in there. The big boss, Thanatos, insists on it.”

He added, without looking at her, “If Boomer or anyone gives you a hard time, tell me. I’ll take care of it.”

An odd feeling spread through Madison. She’d spent her whole life protecting herself from the whims and anger of the Renards. No one had ever offered to protect her before.

No one had ever even wanted to.

And she didn’t understand why Sanchez did.

“Why are you helping me?” she blurted out.

He made that sound again. Not quite a laugh, but almost. “Someone has to. Judging by the last twenty-four hours alone, you’re a hot mess.”

Now, that was uncalled for. “You can’t judge me on one bad day. Usually I’m very organized.”

“Can’t wait to see that.”

“Don’t be mean.” She was pretty sure he was teasing her. That was surprising—when she first saw him, she wouldn’t have believed he had any sense of humor at all. She added quietly, “You have no idea how much I’ve accomplished just by getting here.”

He gave her a long look, but he didn’t say anything in response. Instead, he pointed. “There’s your cabin.”

It was weathered and rustic, right at the edge of the forest so it caught the morning sun, but would get shade in the afternoons. There was a covered front porch across the front and wrapping around one side, with two Adirondack chairs and a small table on it, where she could sit and relax. There was even an overgrown garden next to it, with bits of its fencing falling down.

It was adorable—and it was all hers. She’d never had a place to live all to herself.

“It’s so homey!” she said. “I love it.”

Sanchez shrugged. “Me and the boys did most of the fixing up. We don’t have regular duties around the compound—we’re specialists. So we help out with construction and stuff between missions.”

He carried her suitcase up the porch stairs and in through the front door, putting it down in the living room. Madison followed him, stopping in the middle of the room to take in her new home.

The cabin was small, but cozy. There was a little kitchen, worn and shabby but sparkling clean. The living room held a potbellied woodstove with a glass door, a squashy comfortable-looking couch, an armchair that clashed with the couch in a fun, endearing kind of way, and brightly colored blanket throws over the backs of both of them. In the corner next to the kitchen was a small dining table. It had a checked tablecloth on it and a vase of wildflowers, and a bright gift box with a folded note on top.

She just wanted to hug it all.

Sanchez said, “It’s not the fuckin’ Taj Mahal or anything, but you should be all right here. The roof is new, and there’s plenty of wood for the stove. We fixed it up so the pipe vent doesn’t leak anymore, and there’s new windows and new plumbing.”

He’s proud of it, she realized. And he was pleased that she liked it. She could tell, even though he did his best not to show his feelings.

He was a very surprising and confusing man.

“It’s beautiful,” she told him sincerely.

“It’s a good place to hide.”

That hit her like a sucker punch. Dammit. Just when they were getting along so well. “Why would you think that?” she asked, trying to sound offhand.

Those dark, secretive eyes fastened on her. “New job in a faraway, remote place. Expensive clothes and luggage, but no money. Burner phone. One suitcase.”

He stepped closer. “And you’re not who you say you are.”