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repeated.
    She closed her eyes in embarrassment. “They’re very filling.” Also cheap enough that she could afford food and the train ticket.
    â€œThey’re disgusting .” This from both men.
    â€œHunger is the best sauce.” Prim Josie, her neighbor, had often repeated that saying. Former neighbor, she corrected herself, and she wouldn’t miss the woman.
    â€œThese are peanut butter and jelly sandwiches,” Gareth said.
    Mari swallowed. “I didn’t know peanut butter even existed anymore.”
    â€œIt does.” He watched her with those dark green eyes, slightly amused. “Want one?”
    Pride only went so far. Mari nodded, and seconds later was biting into the most heavenly meal she’d had in a long time. After the sandwich, Gareth handed her a jar of juice and a small square of actual chocolate.
    Bliss.
    â€œI’m spoiled,” she said. “Thank you. For—for all of it.”
    They merely smiled at her, which almost made her feel guilty. She’d felt the size of Finn’s arousal, seen the fierce hunger in Gareth’s eyes. Yet they’d made no demands for themselves. Perhaps…but no, they would be in Scar City in a matter of hours.
    By now, the afternoon sun rested a little way above the horizon, reminding her with a jolt that the aliens would soon be roaming. She swallowed, suddenly wanting to get up, to move.
    â€œWhich way is the ladies’ room?”
    â€œThrough that door.” Finn let go of her after a moment, seemingly reluctant to loosen his hold. In fact, he looked as if he wanted to come with her. Now that was a step too far. She gave him a reassuring smile and traversed the aisle, holding firmly on to each seat as she walked. Her head didn’t hurt anymore, but it had been a shock to fall like that, and one she refused to repeat.
    When she re-emerged, both men were still staring in her direction, as if they couldn’t take their eyes off her. Perhaps it was the whole reciprocation thing. Should she feel guilty? Mari made her way back and sat down, this time with some distance between her and Finn.
    She couldn’t think of how to broach the topic. I’m not ready sounded trite. But she wasn’t, and the environment unnerved her.
    Since she’d been up at four in the morning—her landlord had wanted her out early since there was a new tenant moving in—her brain was growing incredibly fuzzy. She was in desperate need of a nap.
    â€œI…” She trailed off, and was saved the effort of speaking further by Gareth, who simply lifted her into his own lap.
    â€œMy turn,” he said with evident satisfaction. “Settle your head right here, baby.”
    Mari wanted to protest, but sleep deprivation won out. She wasn’t entirely certain when she’d begun to trust these men, but Gareth’s lap was too comfortable to resist. Her eyes drifted shut as she gave way to sleep, lulled by the steady rhythm of his heart and the rocking of the train.

Chapter Two
    When she woke, she was alone, lying on the seats with a blanket draped over her.
    Mari wriggled upright, dismayed to find the Twins gone. Moonlight played over her face as she looked at her watch. It was still an hour until they were due in Scar City.
    So why was the train stationary?
    â€œO- kay ,” she muttered, tossing the blanket aside. She peered out the window, terror icing her veins as she saw the extent of their isolation. There wasn’t anything manmade for miles around. No buildings, no people…more importantly, no wall .
    Mari unholstered the Glock. Maybe those aliens were good bullet-dodgers, but she felt safer with the weapon. Flicking off the safety, she walked slowly down the aisle. All the lights were out; only the moon illuminated the train. And it was quiet. Dead quiet.
    Multiple scenarios, each worse than the next, flipped through her mind. Ironically, the worst part was the absence of the