“One way or another you’ll tell me the whole truth.” He leaned towards her, glancing over her body once more. “And the sooner you tell me, the more pleasant it will be for you.” He leaned away, smiling. “But tell you what. I’m feeling charitable. How ‘bout I give you some time to think it over?”

Terror held her still. She didn’t trust that smile for a second.

The camouflaged solider strolled for the door, thumbs hooked in his belt.

“I’ve already told you why we are here. There’s nothing more to tell,” she choked out.

The man didn’t break his strutting walk. “Anyone finds out I was here and I’ll slaughter your knot.”

Romy gasped.

His black eyes turned back to her, framed with white lashes. “Same time tomorrow, darlin’?”

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

“I’m getting a handle on the tracks around camp,” Elara said to Thrym just as Romy kicked the door of their bungalow shut behind her.

Romy took in the scene. Phobos sat at the small round table watching Elara with a perplexed furrow between his brows. Elara looked back with slight disgust as she disappeared into the bathroom to change. Since when did any of them leave the room to hide their bodies?

Meanwhile, Thrym stared at her. And Romy tried not to stare at anyone. Especially now that she knew about the thing between Tina and Atlas. When did things start getting so complicated within their group? More than ever, she needed something solid to hold on to with both hands, and it wasn’t there.

“I got some more seeds,” Phobos added, digging into his pocket. “I’d like to take some seedlings if possible.”

“Good,” Thrym said. “Add them to the stash.”

Romy already had a collection of tiny seeds in her pillowcase, and the large slit in her mattress hid some of their other collected supplies. She got the job for looking the most innocent.

“We’ll have to watch pack size,” Elara warned.

Romy asked, “What packs?” They only had a bunch of seeds and some clothing full of holes.

The group ignored her.

Thrym nodded. “On second thought, it might need to just be seeds, Pho. There are too many necessities we’ll have to take: clothing, blankets, medicine. Now, about that. We obviously won’t be able to take the tech, so I’ll have to rely on old medicine. Houston keeps stocks.”

“Ro, have you been able to get into the soldiers’ supplies?” Elara asked.

The word “soldier” froze Romy to the spot for a few seconds as memories of the soldier in her office assaulted her. She exhaled a shaky breath.

Elara awaited her reply, cute nose wrinkled.