Page 29 of Wyoming Cowboy Undercover

“I need to get something from my room.” Her blue eyes looked more panicked and desperate than he felt. “It’ll only take me a minute.”

No distraction was going to keep the security team preoccupied indefinitely.

Before he could ask her if they had the time to waste, she was gone, disappearing around the corner like a ghost.

THISWASTHEfirst time Mercy had kept her footwear on inside the main building. Rather than it being an act of defiance, it was one of desperation that felt entirely disrespectful. But they had to move quickly and quietly and couldn’t spare precious seconds taking off their shoes.

Mercy raced up the steps on the balls on her feet, holding tight to her keys, not making a sound. She raced down the hall to her room. Slipped inside. Grabbed what she needed from the top of her dresser. She spun around and stopped. Her heart flew into her throat as she came face-to-face with Daisy.

The middle-aged woman kept the private living quarters meticulously clean, as well as her father’s office.

Daisy smiled. “Hello. I was just finishing up. I got a late start today because...” Her gaze dropped to the shoes Mercy was wearing and her smile fell, too.

Mercy couldn’t help looking down at her sneakers—a blatant sign of rudeness. “Oh, I forgot to take them off. How silly of me.”

Daisy cocked her head to the side. “You never forget.”

That was true. Great care was taken to keep the house clean. It required little effort or thought to remove filthy shoes and avoid tracking in any unnecessary dirt.

“First time for everything. I was rushing.” Then she wondered if that would lead to more questions. For starters, why was she in such a hurry? “I’m sorry.” She removed the canvas shoes and held them to her chest, along with the other item that she hoped wouldn’t be needed. “Please don’t tell Empyrean.”

“Transparency is the way to the Light. Are you asking me to obfuscate?”

Yes. Yes, I am.“No. Of course, not. I want to be the one to tell him about my transgression.” Wearing shoes in the house would be the least of them today.

Daisy nodded. “All right.”

“I’ll get out of your way.” She went to the door and squeezed by her. “I really am sorry. I know how hard everyone works to keep things clean. I appreciate your efforts.” Mercy hugged her, sincerely grateful for her diligence and years of service.

Daisy returned the affection. “Thank you. It’s so nice to hear.”

“May the Light be with you.”

“And also, with you.”

Mercy rushed down the steps with her heart pounding a frantic rhythm against her sternum. She hustled back to the alcove. “Let’s go.”

Rocco glanced at her bare feet, but thankfully didn’t ask questions.

They crept through the hall, passing the great library, a vaulted two-story room, where she had spent thousands of hours as a child, reading and playing hide-and-go-seek. It was her favorite space in the whole house. One she would never get a chance to share with Rocco, like so many other things. She had so hoped this would be an opportunity to let someone she had formed a powerful connection with into her life and world. To build on it. Explore where that bond might lead.

As always, her father was two steps ahead of her, doing what he could to sabotage any of her efforts that contradicted his wishes.

Disappointment sliced through her, but dwelling on it wasn’t a luxury she could afford. She had to get Rocco out of there. That was all that mattered.

Voices, the clatter of dishes and aroma of food being prepared came from the kitchen.

Before reaching the dining hall, she whispered, “They’ll begin setting up for supper soon. This way.”

She cut down a short corridor that led to the basement, where they kept everyday supplies, and opened the door. After she slipped on her shoes, they hurried down the stairs. Those who worked in the kitchen regularly came to the basement, which appeared to be no more than six hundred square feet, but they didn’t know what else was hidden down there.

At the bottom of the steps, she took his hand in the pitch-black darkness. Not only because she longed to touch him, but also for a more practical reason. “I’m not going to turn on the light. Not until we reach the bunker. Just in case anyone passes by upstairs, I don’t want them to get suspicious.”

He drew closer and the scent of him curled around her. Sweaty, pine-laden musk.

“I trust you,” he said, his warm, strong fingers tightening around the edge of her hand.

She was aware he hadn’t missed the sound of her sharp intake of breath, but hoped he couldn’t hear the way her heart thudded in response to his touch, to his proximity.

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