Rising from the Ashes (Andrew and Lauren)

Through the second half of the night, Serenity Villa remained eerily quiet.

Chantelle stepped out from her lookout post and announced, "Looks like no one else is coming tonight. Everyone should get some rest."

Andrew stopped her. "Hold up. You all stay on watch—I'll go rest."noveldrama

Chantelle narrowed her eyes. "Are you giving me orders like I'm your subordinate?"

Andrew responded calmly, "Not at all. I just want to isolate myself and draw the next assassin in alone."

Chantelle frowned. "So, you're planning to be alone in a room and give the assassin a shot at you? You're using yourself as bait?"

Andrew replied, "Exactly. One mercenary commander from the Srovika Federation is dead, but with the Haywoods and Goldings both after my head, there's no way they'd just send one decent hitter and be done."

Chantelle nodded. "That... makes sense. But you're injured. What happens if something unexpected comes up? Can you really handle it?"

Before Andrew could answer, Aspen blurted, "It's fine. I'll stay with him!"

She said it way too fast-no thought, pure impulse. The moment the words left her mouth, she regretted it because all eyes turned to her.

Natasha, Chantelle, and Dylan all stared at Aspen with unreadable expressions, making her wish she could disappear.

Chantelle looked over at Andrew and said flatly, "Having someone with you might actually be safer."

Natasha chuckled. "Since Andrew is injured, he'll need someone to take care of him. But just don't go doing anything extra. Some activities take a serious toll on stamina, you know!"

Aspen pretended not to hear it, but her jaw clenched so hard her teeth nearly cracked. She knew exactly what Natasha was insinuating—a warning not to get into Andrew's bed.

If they got intimate, it could easily sap Andrew's energy.

Without another word, Aspen stepped up and helped support Andrew as they walked off to the bedroom.

Once inside, Andrew said, "Don't turn on the lights. Just sleep."

Aspen quickly made her stance clear. "You sleep. I'll stay up and keep watch."

Andrew snapped, "If I told you to sleep, then sleep. You staying up like that might alert someone out there."

Without bothering to ask again, he shoved her straight onto the bed Aspen's long, bare legs were instantly exposed, and she yanked the blanket over herself with a hiss. "Jerk! Can't you be a little gentler?"

Andrew did not respond. He simply lay down on his side, facing away.

Aspen lay there, heart racing, feeling completely rattled. She did not know whether to sit up or stay down. Right next to her-just inches away was a man who terrified and confused her more than anyone. '

Was she really about to sleep in the same bed with him?

In the dark room, Andrew said evenly, "Go to sleep. I'm not going to touch you. If you sit up like that and there's a sniper outside, you'bbe an easy headshot."

That hit Aspen like a bucket of ice.

Heavy weaponry had already been in play-snipers were not a stretch. She

realized how exposed she was sitting upright in front of a window.

"Fine. I'll lie down," she muttered, shifting under the blanket. "But I'm warning you if you try anything, I'll... I'll fight back."

Andrew let out a quiet, amused breath. "If I really wanted you, do you think fighting back would make a difference?"

Aspen's heart thudded, realizing he was not wrong. With his strength, if he wanted

to force himself on her, she probably could not stop him.

Luckily, Andrew did not make a move even after a long stretch of silence and tension.

Aspen lay perfectly still under the covers, not daring to shift. However, her body soon began to ache from the tension and awkward posture.