The morning air hit Anthony in the face as he stepped outside to check the perimeter and make sure the coast was clear. He knew whoever searched the building looked for him. Cassandra wanted to scream for help, but he knew they weren't there looking for her. He was the one the state wanted.

Sweeping the property for any signs of law enforcement was just an excuse for Anthony. He needed a moment away from her to think about what happened. As much as he wanted her to, Anthony never expected Cassandra to kiss him, not to mention a kiss that burned so much desire between them.             

He shook his head and told himself it didn't happen. The boss demanded Anthony to be polite to her, and to keep her safe. He would, but he couldn't let Cassandra know. She needed to believe everything that happened or else all hell would break loose.

There was no sign of anyone on the property. Anthony slid along the building and kept silent. He almost let out a sigh of relief but heard someone around the corner. He slouched down behind the unkept bushes.

"I could have sworn I heard something, a crash inside." Someone called out.

Anthony detected at least two people remaining nearby. He held his breath and prayed they wouldn't re-enter the building. He couldn't get to Cassandra fast enough and she would scream if she thought there was hope.

"We checked," someone with a voice of authority replied. "Probably just a field mouse or something that got inside. We're wasting time, let's go."

Car doors slammed, and tires squealed, telling Anthony they left. He remained behind the bushes in case it was a trick. A few minutes went by before he crawled to the edge of the building and took a peak, and found the coast cleared.

Cassandra laid on the bed when Anthony walked in. She almost hyperventilated from crying. It would have been easy for him to comfort her, but he kept his distance. Five minutes of pleasure wasn't worth all the hell he'd catch if he touched her. Anthony knew he wouldn't be able to just embrace her, not after knowing how she affected him. She needed to know who was in charge, him.

"Here," he griped as he tossed a cold sandwich her way. "If you didn't act like a nutcase, you could have eaten this when it was hot."

Cassandra caught the egg and sausage sandwich and unwrapped it. Her mouth was full when she said, "Where did you get this?"

Anthony recalled the text he received stating someone would drop off the food and a few supplies. He wondered if the searchers saw the accomplice's car and followed it? He made a mental note to tell the boss his goons needed to be more careful. "The box," Anthony answered as he looked down. "Duh."

Cassandra smirked. He knew what she meant, but he wouldn't tell her. The less she knew, the better.

"Thank you."

Antony felt his cock harden when she spoke. He didn't want her being sweet to him. His life depended on the operation and didn't want his desires for her to interfere. He reached into the box and pulled out a lukewarm cup. As Antony handed it to her, she looked shocked. She took it and gulped it down in one sip. Anthony felt bad. There should have been more food and drinks with them. The boss wanted her taken care of, but did a lousy job supplying them with the things they needed.

"This is perfect," she said. "Not hot, but I guess that's my fault too." Cassandra smiled and turned her head away. "How did you know what I drink?"

"I didn't, he did. He knows everything about you."

"He?" She sat up straight when he mentioned someone else.

Anthony knew he shouldn't have, but something inside of him didn't want her to hate him. He fired his gun on the concrete ground to let her know he was through with the conversation. The bullet landed nowhere near her, but it scared the shit out of Cassandra. "Didn't I already tell you to stop asking questions?" She finished her breakfast with more tears racing down her cheeks.

 

~~~~

 

Anthony was as bored as Cassandra. He didn't like being caged up and wouldn't have been there if he did. Like the days before, she slept on and off throughout the day. The thought of talking to her, for something to do, crossed his mind. The thought of getting to know her, scared him.

A stack of boxes along the wall grabbed his attention. Anthony's curiosity got the better of him and he snooped. Old ledger papers, from when the shit hole building was an actual business, filled most of the boxes. He tossed them aside and continued to open boxes.

Cassandra heard the noise and woke up. She watched him but said nothing. Anthony thought she finally learned to keep her mouth shut. The bottom of a box gave out and she giggled. It made her cute, but Anthony ignored her. His muscles bulged while moving the box, but Anthony set it on the table to get a better look inside. "Jackpot," he shouted.

He reached in and pulled out stacks of books. They looked girly to Anthony, and he wondered who would have them in an office. He picked one up and tossed it onto the mattress. Cassandra leaned forward and picked it up.

"Wow," she sounded happy for the first time. "This is one of my favorites."

Anthony wasn't surprised. She looked like a bookworm to him. He stood there and watched her expression. He realized she didn't look like a nerdy bookworm, but someone with a good education. "What's it about?" he asked.

Cassandra told him, but he only pretended to listen. "My father didn't like me reading this when I was younger. I had a copy with me at boarding school until someone ratted me out."

Anthony paused his search through the boxes and looked at her. "He sent you away to school? Is that why you lived in Europe?"

Cassandra looked down as if shamed by her father's actions. "Yes. He said it was because I didn't have a mother to watch over me, and he worked a lot."

Anthony knew she didn't believe the lie any more than he did. Cassandra read and he dug deeper into the boxes. They were filled with junk, but it gave him something to do. Cassandra screamed. Anthony glanced up and found her tossing the book onto the floor. A spider ran out from beneath it. He laughed at her and continued snooping.

After moving the boxes, Anthony found a tarp that covered more items. He assumed there were more boxes but was wrong. He found a safe, an old refrigerator, and a television. Bingo, he thought.

He picked up the TV and walked it to an outlet near the bed. Cassandra looked bewildered. "If this works," he said, "we'll have something to do."

The television turned on but without cable, it didn't pick up any channels. Anthony left it on and rechecked the unopened boxes for an antenna. Cassandra stared at the snowy screen and covered her ears. He didn't mind when she stood up and lowered the volume. A few minutes later, Anthony found an old-fashioned pair of rabbit ears and hoped it would work.

Cassandra smiled when a picture appeared. It wasn't the greatest reception, but it worked. Anthony changed the channel to search for something better but couldn't find another. He put it back on the only channel it received but frowned when he realized it aired a daytime soap opera.

She watched the show, but Anthony could tell she wasn't into it. Cassandra picked the book up again but shook it over the side of the mattress before reading it. Anthony thought about turning the TV off. They weren't watching it and he thought it could be a risk if someone walked by the building. An urgent news report interrupted the show and changed his thoughts.

"Police are still on the lookout for 32-year-old, Anthony Flint, who escaped from the state penitentiary early Tuesday morning." Cassandra snapped her head upright and her jaw dropped. Anthony's mug shot appeared on the screen. "The suspect is reported to be armed and dangerous. He was last spotted-"

He ran to the other side of the room and pulled the plug. His foot came up and kicked the TV until it fell over, shattering the screen. Cassandra jumped up and backed herself into the corner.

He didn't mean to scare her, although, he was sure the newscast scared her more. The boss would kill him if he found out. "You don't need to see that," he said to her.

She sat on the bed, pulled her knees into her chest and shivered. "What did you do?"

"I broke the television," he played dumb to avoid the question.

"I meant to go to prison." She rocked back and forth but didn't take her eyes off him. He wanted her to trust him, but the truth would alarm her.

"Murder," was all he could say.

Cassandra curled up into a ball and squeezed her eyes shut.