Once they reached the bathroom, Anthony cautiously checked behind the shower curtain. He knew nobody would be there since his initial walk-through of the house confirmed they were alone. But, he wanted to make sure there wasn't anything of danger lurking in unexpected places. When it checked out, he returned his attention to Cassandra.

"We should clean up those cuts on your arm," he suggested.

Cassandra opened the medicine cabinet and pulled out anything she thought could help her. She quickly inhaled when he placed a swab soaked with peroxide on her tender flesh. The wounds bubbled, and she knew he'd been right about taking care of them. He sealed the area with adhesive bandages.

She couldn't help her rapid heartbeat as Anthony stood face-to-face with her, his hot breath burning in her ear. His hands shook as he tended to her injuries and Cassandra wondered if he wanted her as much as she wanted him. "I think my leg is worse," she whispered.

"Your leg?" he questioned, but then looked down at her jeans as if he remembered throwing her across the basement. "That's right. You better take off your pants."

Cassandra's cheeks flushed but the throbbing pain on her shin told her to obey him. She unzipped her jeans and slowly wiggled them off her hips. Cassandra looked at Anthony as her panties came into sight and noticed the smile on his face. He looked away when she made eye contact. Seconds later, she stood before him in dirty underwear and wished she never mentioned the wound on her leg.

He kneeled and held the back of her knee with one hand while the other hand wiped the swab over the injury. Cassandra realized his face neared her crotch and her body craved his touch. Just a split second before she found the courage to offer herself, Anthony stood and backed away. "That should do," he declared, then walked out of the bathroom.

Anthony sat outside the bathroom as Cassandra showered. She left the door unlocked, just in case he needed to get inside for any reason. The hot water rushed over her aching body. Cassandra leaned against the wall and clenched her fist together. Her ordinary boring life turned into a crazed nightmare.

Her thoughts turned to her father. Cassandra prayed they weren't after him too. She wouldn't know what to do if anything happened to him. Life was hard enough without a mother, if she lost her father too, it would devastate her. Her maternal grandmother  had recently passed away, and she was the last of her mother's family.

Her father stood by her side during her Grandmother's funeral and held her hand. He hadn't communicated with anyone from her mother's side of the family since she died fifteen years before. It took Cassandra years to realize how hostile they were toward each other, though he never tried to stop her from spending time with her grandmother.

Cassandra turned the water off and stepped out onto the soft carpet. She toweled herself off as fast as she could. The thought of being naked when someone killed her, scared the crap out of her. The sound of the air conditioner kicking on caused Cassandra to wrap the towel around her body and run out of the bathroom.

Anthony stood up when she opened the door. She jumped into his arms. "What happened?" He asked as he lifted her chin.

"Nothing." Cassandra stuttered. Her entire body shook. "I don't want to die."

He pulled her close to him and wiped the moisture from her eyes. "You're not going to die, Cassandra. You weren't supposed to know any of this, but it is helping me protect you."

Anthony's lips were close to Cassandra's. She wanted to kiss him again, but resisted the urge. She pulled back and straightened herself up. Anthony walked into the bathroom, leaving Cassandra alone in the dark hallway. They were in her family vacation home, she told herself, and her tension eased a little. When she heard the water start within the bathroom, she dropped her towel and slipped into the clean clothes. Cassandra sat down and waited for him, like he did moments before.

The bathroom door opened, and Anthony stood before Cassandra. He looked ridiculous in the shorts he picked out and she giggled. He reached for her hand and pulled her to her feet.

"I'm hungry," she told him and assumed he would be hungry too. "There's stuff in the freezer, but  I doubt there's anything fresh since we haven't been up here in weeks."

"Anything microwavable?"

Cassandra shrugged her shoulders, and they walked to the kitchen together. Anthony opened the refrigerator; the light almost blinded both. Cassandra searched the cupboards but found nothing appealing. Anthony found frozen pizzas, perfect for the microwave.

Anthony closed the curtains in the living room, making the house much darker, while Cassandra nuked the food. He stubbed his toe on an end table as he made his way back into the kitchen. She handed him two glasses of soda then removed the hot food from the microwave. They went back to the living room and sat on the couch.

As they ate, thoughts of being killed ran through Cassandra's mind. "Is anyone trying to capture these men? Or am I on the run for the rest of my life?"

Anthony swallowed his food and leaned back onto the couch. He slipped his fingers through his wet hair. "The boss is trying to nail the bastards," he informed her. "I can't tell you much more. Just know, you're not going to die or have to hide for the rest of your life."

Cassandra sighed, but her nerves still rattled. She ate half of her pizza but knowing someone was after her, caused her appetite to dwindle. She offered the plate to Anthony, who took it and guzzled it down.

"Are you really helping me because of a promise you made fifteen years ago?" Cassandra couldn't help but think there was more to it.

Anthony didn't answer right away, and she assumed he ignored her. She stood to take the dishes back to the kitchen. Anthony reached for her forearm and she sat back down. "Yes and no," he answered. "I've said this before, this is a job. My boss has big connections and can have me pardoned if I succeed at keeping you safe."

Cassandra realized she was aiding an escaped felon. She done nothing wrong in her life. A week before, if she knew the whereabouts of a con, she'd call the cops. Times changed. She needed this man in so many ways.

She yawned. It had been another hard day, but at least she would have the comfort of her own bed. "I'm tired," Cassandra told him. "I'll be up in my room."

Anthony stood up and walked behind her. "Not alone, you won't be."

"What?"

"Both of our lives depend on me watching you. To play it safe, we're sleeping together."

Cassandra's knees turned into jelly as she stood. The pizza in her stomach turned and threatened to come back up if she didn't control herself. He slept beside her in the basement and nothing happened. That was different, she told herself. Anthony was the enemy then, now he was putting his life on the line for her. Cassandra wasn't sure if she could keep her hands to herself.

She turned to face him. Her cheeks burned, and she prayed he couldn't see them. "Alright," she moaned, but it sounded too much like pleasure.

"Don't worry," he grinned. "You'll be in good hands."