Chapter 136: Leo

The night is colder than usual, a biting chill that seems to settle in my bones. I’m leaning against the wall just outside Sofia’s room, the glow of a small lamp spilling out from the cracked door. Inside, I can hear the soft rustle of blankets, the gentle rise and fall of Ethan’s breathing. He’s so tiny, and yet, he’s the center of our world. I let out a breath I didn’t even realize I was holding, my eyes staring into the shadows of the hallway.

Nate is pacing downstairs, probably still trying to work out every angle of the plan. Danny’s talking to one of our guys by the door, getting updates. Riley’s just a few feet away, sitting on the stairs, his head in his hands. We’re all on edge, the tension in the house like a live wire ready to snap. Sofia’s dad is planning to break out. The words keep echoing in my mind, a steady beat that I can’t ignore.

I don’t know what I hate more—the thought of that bastard getting out, or the fear in Sofia’s eyes when we told her. She’s been through so much, more than anyone should ever have to bear, and she deserves peace. She deserves a life where she doesn’t have to be afraid. And Ethan… he deserves to grow up without ever knowing the kind of darkness his grandfather carries. I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure of that.

The door creaks open a little wider, and Sofia steps out, her eyes meeting mine. She’s wearing one of my hoodies, the fabric hanging loose around her small frame, her hair pulled back into a messy bun. She looks tired, but there’s a strength in her eyes that makes my chest tighten. She’s so damn strong, even when she’s scared. She gives me a small smile, and I push off the wall, stepping closer.

“Hey,” I say softly, keeping my voice low so I don’t wake Ethan. “You okay?”

She nods, but I can see the tension in her shoulders, the way her eyes flicker with worry. “I just… I needed some air,” she whispers, her gaze dropping to the floor. “I can’t stop thinking about it. About him.”

I reach out, gently tilting her chin up so she’s looking at me. “He’s not getting anywhere near you, Sofia. I swear it. We’re going to keep you and Ethan safe. No matter what.”

She leans into my touch, her eyes closing for a moment as she takes a deep breath. “I know,” she says, her voice barely audible. “I trust you. I just… I hate feeling like this. Like I’m waiting for something bad to happen.”

I pull her into my arms, holding her close, feeling the way she trembles against me. “I know,” I murmur, my lips brushing against her hair. “But you’re not alone. We’re all here. We’re going to get through this, just like we always do.”

She wraps her arms around me, her fingers clutching at the fabric of my shirt, and I can feel the way her breathing starts to even out, the tension slowly leaving her body. We stand there for a long moment, just holding each other, and I wish I could take all of her fear away, take it into myself so she never has to feel it again.

After a while, she pulls back, her eyes meeting mine again, and there’s a softness there that makes my heart ache. “Thank you,” she whispers, and I can see the sincerity in her gaze, the trust she’s placing in me. It’s overwhelming, the weight of it, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

I nod, giving her a small smile. “Always,” I say, and she reaches up, brushing her fingers against my cheek before turning and heading back into the room. I watch as she disappears behind the door, the soft click echoing in the quiet hallway.

I let out a slow breath, running a hand through my hair before turning and heading downstairs. Riley looks up as I reach the bottom, his eyes tired but alert. “How is she?” he asks, his voice rough, like he hasn’t spoken in hours.

“She’s hanging in there,” I say, sitting down beside him on the stairs. “Scared, but she’s strong. Stronger than any of us give her credit for.”

Riley nods, a small smile tugging at his lips. “Yeah, she is,” he says, his gaze drifting to the floor. “I just hate that she has to keep going through this. She deserves better.”

“We’re gonna make sure she gets better,” I say, my voice firm, and Riley looks at me, his eyes meeting mine. There’s a determination there, a fire that matches my own, and I know he feels the same way I do. We’ll do whatever it takes to protect Sofia and Ethan, to give them the life they deserve.

The front door opens, and Danny steps inside, his expression hard, his eyes locking on us. “Just got off the phone with our guys,” he says, his voice low. “They’re stepping up patrols around the house. No one’s getting in without us knowing.”

I nod, standing up, the tension in my body easing just a fraction. “Good. We need to be ready for anything.”

Danny’s gaze shifts to the stairs, his eyes softening slightly. “How’s she doing?”

I shrug, glancing back up the stairs. “She’s scared, but she’s holding it together. She’s stronger than she thinks.”

Danny nods, his jaw clenching. “We’re gonna keep her safe,” he says, his voice filled with conviction. “No matter what.”

I smile, the determination in his voice matching the fire in my own chest. “Damn right,” I say, and Riley stands, the three of us exchanging a look that says everything we don’t need to put into words. We’re in this together, and we’re not backing down. Not now, not ever.

We move into the living room, where Nate is standing by the window, his phone pressed to his ear, his expression tense. He glances at us as we enter, nodding once before turning his attention back to his call. The room feels heavy, the weight of everything we’re facing pressing down on all of us, but there’s also a sense of unity, of purpose. We’re a family, and we’ll do whatever it takes to protect each other.

I sit down on the couch, my eyes drifting to the small framed photo on the table beside me. It’s a picture of all of us, taken just a few weeks after Ethan was born. Sofia is in the center, Ethan cradled in her arms, his tiny face scrunched up as he yawns. The rest of us are gathered around her, smiles on our faces, the happiness in that moment captured forever. It’s a reminder of why we’re doing this, why we’re fighting so hard. For Sofia, for Ethan, for the family we’ve built together.

Nate hangs up, turning to face us, his expression serious. “I just talked to the guys at the precinct,” he says. “They’re gonna keep an eye on things, make sure we’re covered from all angles. But we need to be ready. If he gets out, he’s not gonna waste any time.”

I nod, the weight of his words settling in my chest. “We’ll be ready,” I say, my voice steady. “We’re not letting him get anywhere near them.”

Riley crosses his arms, his gaze hard. “We’ve come too far to let that bastard take anything from us now,” he says, his voice filled with a quiet fury. “He’s not getting to Sofia. Not ever.”

Danny steps closer, his eyes locking on each of us in turn. “We stick together. No one goes anywhere alone. We keep eyes on Sofia and Ethan at all times. We don’t let our guard down, not for a second.”

There’s a moment of silence, each of us processing the gravity of the situation, the reality of what we’re facing. But as I look around at the people I love, at the determination in their eyes, I know we’re ready. We’ve faced worse, and we’ve come out stronger. This is just one more fight, one more battle to win.

“We’ve got this,” I say, my voice filled with conviction. “We protect our own. No matter what.”

Nate nods, a small smile tugging at his lips. “Damn right,” he says, and there’s a sense of solidarity in the room, a shared purpose that makes the fear a little more bearable.

We spend the next few hours going over every detail, every plan, every contingency. We make calls, we set up rotations, we do everything we can to make sure we’re ready. By the time the first light of dawn starts to filter through the windows, there’s a sense of exhaustion, but also a sense of determination. We’re ready. We’re prepared.

I head back upstairs, my footsteps quiet as I approach Sofia’s room. The door is still cracked open, the soft glow of the lamp spilling out into the hallway. I peek inside, my heart swelling at the sight before me. Sofia is asleep, her head resting on the pillow, one arm draped protectively over Ethan, who’s nestled against her chest, his tiny hand clutching her shirt.

I step inside, moving to the edge of the bed, my eyes lingering on them. They look so peaceful, so innocent, and it makes my chest ache with a fierce protectiveness. I reach out, brushing a strand of hair away from Sofia’s face, my fingers lingering for a moment before I pull back.

“We’ve got you,” I whisper, my voice barely audible. “No one’s ever gonna hurt you. Not while we’re here.”

She stirs slightly, her eyes fluttering open just enough to see me. Her lips curve into a soft, sleepy smile, and she whispers my name, her voice drowsy. “Leo… you’re still here?”

I smile back at her, my heart swelling at the way she says my name, so full of trust. “Always,” I reply softly.

She reaches out, her hand brushing against mine, her fingers curling around my own. I kneel beside the bed, holding her hand, my thumb brushing over her knuckles. “Get some sleep, beautiful,” I whisper. “You need your rest. We’ve got everything under control.”

She nods, her eyes drifting closed again, her breathing evening out. I watch her for a moment longer, feeling the weight of everything we’re facing, but also the love that binds us all together. It’s a fierce, unbreakable bond, one that gives me the strength to face whatever comes next.

I turn and leave the room, pulling the door closed behind me, my heart heavy but filled with resolve. We’re ready for whatever comes next, and we’ll face it together. As a family.