“He was talking to Craig?” Simon asked.

She shook her head. “Another officer. They said Victor’s death was a p-problem. Chief—Travis—is in charge of the smuggling. Victor worked with him.”

“Oh hell,” came a low comment from Logan. She’d actually forgotten he was there.

“He told the detective with him to kill Craig and make it look like I did it. They could dump my body in the river and tell people that I’d run.”

Zander made a noise, a growl deep in his throat, and she stopped. “Go on, babe,” he said.

“They’d say I killed Victor and later shot Craig, trying to get away. The ranch would be tied up in legal stuff, and they could keep using it.”

“I stood there.” She’d been numb. “Craig was yelling that the boy had run, and I ran to the front door and screamed for Craig to watch out. I heard the gunshots.” Too late. Too, too late. Grief and guilt churned inside her. “If I’d moved faster. Yelled sooner.”

“Wouldn’t have mattered, pet,” Simon said gently. “They were his comrades. He’d never have believed you in time.”

“How’d you escape?” Zander asked. His jaw was tight, his eyes furious. For her.

He was on her side. The relief drained the strength out of her.

“Babe?” Zander prompted.

“I hid.” She managed a weak chuckle. “My grandpa was crazy. Paranoid. During the Cold War stuff, he made a hidden room off the basement to prepare for a nuclear war and Commie invasion. It gets ventilated through an outside pipe, has an old chemical toilet, and was stocked with ancient civil defense cans of drinking water and food. I hid there for a week.”

“No shit.” Zander cupped her head against his hard chest. “That took balls.”

“I guess.” She’d bitten her knuckles raw to keep from screaming. Not knowing who was around, she couldn’t afford to make any noise. Day after day. Alone. Sometimes it’d seemed as if the floor was covered with blood. Sometimes she’d wake to see Victor over her or Chief Parnell with a knife. Each night, the walls would move in closer.

She managed a smile. “If I ever smell another can of canned lunch meat, I’ll puke.”

Simon shook his head, his expression holding only respect. “How did you decide when to get out?”

“My sisters came.” The thought of them was like sunshine in the murk. “My car was still at the house. The police said I’d escaped—hitchhiked out or died somewhere on the ranch, but when I didn’t turn up or call, my sisters thought maybe I was hiding.”

When the door had opened, they’d scared her so bad she’d screamed. And had hysterics. “I told them what had happened and they…they believed me.”

Simon said, “Anyone who knows you would, Lindsey.”

Zander kissed the top of her head with a growl of agreement.

As tears filled her eyes, she blinked furiously. “I knew I’d have to run. And I hoped—I’d told Victor about the hidden safe once, and since he was using the place for illegal stuff, I hoped maybe he’d left something I could use. I found lots of cash in it and a case with flash drives.” She shrugged. “I wasn’t sure what the drives contained. I figured maybe evidence, so I took them.”

“What was on them?” Simon asked.

“I couldn’t read them. They’re—”

“Encrypted,” Zander finished for her. He half smiled at her startled look. “I’ll explain later about my stamp hunt.” He looked at Simon. “She’s been trying to find the password.”

She nodded. “With the money, I bought a fake ID in San Antonio, bought a second one in Chicago. And another in San Francisco.”

Silence hung heavy in the room, like a snowfall, muffling all sound.

Without speaking, Zander untied her wrists, rubbing the dents out of the reddened skin.

Simon was frowning. “Why didn’t you go to a different law enforcement agency to tell your story?”

She blinked, realizing she’d left a part out. “I did. I called the border patrol and talked to an agent—Orrin Ricks. But he worked for—with—the chief. It wasn’t good.” Tears rose again. “I—I don’t want to discuss it.”

As Lindsey stared at the three men, pressure landed on her chest, a massive boulder of realization. What have I done? By telling them about her crime, she’d made them…whatevers. Accessories. Knowing a murderer and not turning her in was against the law. “God, I shouldn’t have said anything.”

“What?” Zander snapped.

She wrenched around in his arms, taking his face between her hands. “You could be arrested for knowing me, for aiding and abetting a criminal.”

His eyes narrowed. “You’re worrying about us?”

“Yes, you dummy. They’ll arrest you.” She fumbled at the ropes still around her ankles, her heart rate increasing. “I’ll just… I can disappear. No one needs to know I told you anything. I bam-bamboozled you and Simon and Logan. You thought I was a nice person.” Her attempt to jump off his lap got her nothing except his grunt of exasperation.

“Babe, you are a nice person. And I’ll turn your ass red if you try to run away again.”

Tears rose in her eyes. She grabbed his shirt and shook him. “Don’t you get it? They’ll kill you!” She turned to glare at Simon and Logan. “And you two as well.”

A deep chuckle came from Logan. “She’s no bigger than a minute and trying to save our asses. I like her, deVries.”

“Hands off,” Zander said in a half growl. He drew her against his chest, arms over hers, trapping her in his lap. “Sit still, or I’ll tie you up again.”

A sob caught in her throat. They didn’t understand the danger.

“Shhh,” Zander said. “We get your worry. Now let us see what we can do about this mess.”

“You shouldn’t do anything; don’t you understand?”

“That’s not an option. But—”

“But,” Simon interrupted, “we won’t take any action without talking it over with you first. And giving you time to run, if that’s what you need.”

Zander’s arms tightened until she couldn’t breathe. At last, he relaxed. “Better not come to that, but all right.”

Logan gave a brief nod.

“You agree not to run before we talk?” Simon asked.

Lindsey kept her gaze down as she rubbed at her wrists. “Agreed.” What was one more lie?

“Good enough.” Zander kissed the top of her head. “Why don’t you finish the shower you didn’t take? I’m going to talk to Simon and Logan, but I’ll be right back.”

“Okay.”

She watched as the men left. Waited a full minute—and grabbed her purse.

Her keys were gone.

***

DeVries approached the cabin—warily—because fifteen minutes before, they’d all heard Lindsey’s scream of fury. Logan had shoved his hands in his jacket pockets. “Sounds like your pet discovered her car keys are gone.”

At the moment, it had seemed funny.

Now, deVries was remembering how long the girl could hold on to a grudge. Prepared to dodge, he opened the door and stepped inside.

She didn’t throw anything at him. With a quilt around her, she was sitting on the bed. Her face was flushed, and steam from the shower hung in the air. She gave him a look filled with misery before staring at the floor. “You should have let me leave.”

“Not gonna happen.” He sat beside her and laced his fingers with hers. She still didn’t look at him.

Hell, she’d had a crap time of it. DeVries had been fucked over by a greedy wife; at least she hadn’t destroyed his life or tried to kill him. After what Lindsey had endured, he was amazed she’d trusted him at all…let alone wanted to protect him.

He put a hand on each side of her face, forcing her to see only him. “Lindsey, we’re going…steady.” His lips twitched at the word. “Remember?”

Her head dipped up and down.

“That means you’re mine. Mine to care for.” He ran his thumb over her full lower lip. “Mine to fuck.” He leaned forward, his mouth an inch from hers. “And mine to protect. Don’t forget again.”

“Zander.”

Damn, the way she whispered his name tugged at his heart. “You’re not in this alone anymore.” He rested his forehead against hers. “In the military, you learn there’s nothing like a team, having someone at your side, someone guarding your back. Let me help, Lindsey. Let us help.”

A tremor ran through her…and finally she heaved a breath. “Okay.”

Thank fuck. He saw the acceptance in her face. She wouldn’t try to run again. “Good.”

“But what am I”—she halted and amended—“what can we do?”

“Simon, Logan, and I know a lot of people. Simon’s taking point on making calls.” He pulled her closer, pleased when she snuggled into him. “Did you ever crack the password for the jump drives?”

“Only one so far. And it was…” Her voice held revulsion. “Sick. Victor raping… Nothing incriminating for the bad cops.”

Jesus, she’d been through hell. “You willing to give us the drives?”

“I…yes. They’re hidden in my car.”

“Good. Simon and I have access to stronger software-cracking programs than you used.”

“I forgot to tell you. I already sent copies of the one drive to a bunch of Homeland Security offices in Texas.”

“Good job. I like the way you think.” Tilting her head up, he kissed her. “I got another question for you.”

“Shoot,” she said with a wry smile.

“In your fancy-ass condo, I asked if you’d married for money. You nodded. Turned red.” He shifted his weight. “Kinda led to my knee-jerk reaction to what your asshole ex said to you.”

Her mouth dropped open and understanding lit her eyes.

“So, Tex, mind telling me why you married Victor?”

She bit her lip before nodding. “That’s fair. My sister, Mandy, had cancer. Her doctor thought a different treatment might work—only it wasn’t approved by Mom’s insurance company. None of us had much money—I worked part-time so I could be home with her. I was dating Victor, and he said if we were man and wife, she’d be his sister, and of course, he’d be happy to cover her treatment.”

The asshole. “Got you married and indebted to him before you had time to think, huh?”

“Actually, he was making me uneasy, and I’d backed off. I usually have pretty good instincts, but when he said that, he seemed like a dream come true.” Her eyes reddened. “I wasn’t thinking too clearly at the time. The d-doctors didn’t think Mandy would survive another year.”

He tucked his arm around her shoulders, hoping to hell he was asking the right question. “How’s your sister now?”

“Just fine. She starts college next month.” Her smile turned radiant. “God, Zander, she’s so happy and excited.”

He’d asked the right question. And here was that Texas-size heart of hers. Fuck, she was something. He gave her a light kiss and studied her. “Is this the end of the secrets between us?”

She nodded.

“If so, seems like we should enjoy ourselves.” Ignoring the way she clutched at her quilt, he yanked it off and tossed it across the room.

Her mouth dropped open. “Now?” Her nipples were bunching in the cool air.

“Hell, yeah.” He started to push her down and changed his mind. She’d been pushed around all afternoon. Instead, he coaxed her lips open, teasing her, drawing her into the kiss. By degrees, enjoying every second, he kissed her until she responded, until her arms wrapped around his neck, and her firm breasts flattened against his chest.

Finally he fell back onto the bed, pulling her on top of him.

“Zander?” She straddled him, her palms braced on his chest.

“Your turn, pet,” he said. “Take what you want.”

She stared at him a minute, flushed with arousal, and delight filled her face. “Me?”

He nodded.

“All right!” When she tugged at his shirt, he lifted up so she could pull it over his head. His boots and jeans followed. Her lips, softer than flower petals, brushed over his chin, his neck. She varied tiny nips of her teeth with caresses of her tongue.

Fuck, he was going to die. He put his hands behind his head to keep from grabbing her hips and impaling her on his dick.

She licked around his nipples. Nibbled. Kissed the ridges of his stomach muscles, tracing them with her lips. Detoured down his arms and sucked on his fingers.

Her pussy dragged over his straining erection as she moved…downward…torturous inch by inch. When she licked the top of his cock, he barely kept from groaning. Mischief brightened her eyes. “Does take what you want mean I get to tie the big, bad Enforcer up?”

“Don’t push your luck, Tex.”

She actually giggled, and then her mouth closed over his cock, surrounding him in wet velvety heat. Fuck.