Chapter 150: Riley

The air in the car is thick with tension as we drive. I can feel it in the way Danny grips the steering wheel, his knuckles white against the dark leather. Leo sits beside him, his eyes trained on the road, scanning for any sign of trouble. Sofia and Ethan are in the back, Sofia holding Ethan close, her eyes wide with fear, her lips pressed into a thin line. I sit next to her, my arm resting protectively around her shoulders, trying to keep her calm, to let her know we’re all here for her.

We’re heading north, to the cabin—our safe place. It’s remote, surrounded by woods, and away from everything and everyone. It’s the best place for us to keep Sofia and Ethan safe while we figure out our next move. I hate that we’re even in this position, that we have to uproot our lives and run because of that bastard. But I’ll do whatever it takes to protect them. We all will.

“We’re almost there,” Danny says, his voice tight with focus. He glances in the rearview mirror, his eyes meeting mine for a second. I nod, giving him a reassuring look. We’re gonna get through this. We have to.

The road turns into a gravel path, the crunch of rocks under the tires the only sound breaking the silence. The cabin comes into view, nestled between tall trees, the fading sunlight casting long shadows over the clearing. It’s quiet, peaceful—a stark contrast to the fear and tension that’s been gripping us for days.

“Alright, everyone out,” Danny says, putting the car in park and turning off the engine. “We’re here.”

I step out, opening the door for Sofia, helping her out as she cradles Ethan in her arms. She looks up at me, her eyes filled with worry, and I give her a small smile, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. “We’re safe now,” I say softly. “Let’s get inside.”

Leo takes the lead, unlocking the door and stepping inside, scanning the place before motioning for us to follow. It’s a small cabin, but it’s comfortable. There’s a living room with a worn couch, a small kitchen, and two bedrooms in the back. It’s enough for what we need—a place to stay until we figure out our next move.

Sofia heads straight for the couch, sitting down and holding Ethan close, her eyes closed as she takes a deep breath. I sit down beside her, my hand resting on her knee, giving her a gentle squeeze. “You okay?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

She nods, opening her eyes and looking at me, her expression softening. “I’m just... scared,” she says, her voice trembling. “I don’t want anything to happen to him. Or to any of you.”

“Nothing’s gonna happen to us,” I say, my voice filled with conviction. “We’re all here. We’re not gonna let anyone hurt you. Or Ethan. I promise.”

She gives me a small smile, her eyes glistening with tears, and I lean in, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. “We’ve got this, Sof,” I whisper. “We’re gonna be okay.”

Leo and Danny come in, closing the door behind them, their expressions serious. “We’re gonna take shifts,” Leo says, his eyes meeting mine. “Make sure someone’s always on watch. We’re not taking any chances.”

I nod, standing up, my hand still resting on Sofia’s shoulder. “I’ll take the first shift,” I say, my voice steady. “You guys get some rest.”

Danny gives me a nod, his eyes filled with gratitude. “Thanks, man,” he says, his voice quiet. “We’ll rotate. No one’s getting through us.”

Leo moves to the window, peering out into the darkening woods, his jaw clenched. “We’ll keep them safe,” he says, his voice filled with determination. “No matter what.”

Hours pass, the cabin settling into a quiet stillness as the night drags on. I sit by the window, my eyes scanning the woods, every rustle of leaves making my muscles tense. I hate this—the waiting, the not knowing. It’s like we’re on the edge of something, just waiting for it to tip over.

My thoughts drift to Sofia, to Ethan, sleeping in the bedroom down the hall. They’re everything to me—everything to all of us. We’ve fought so damn hard to keep them safe, to build this life, and I’ll be damned if I let anything happen to them now.

The door creaks open, and I glance over to see Danny stepping out of the bedroom, his eyes tired but alert. He walks over, sitting down beside me, his gaze following mine to the dark woods outside.

“Anything?” he asks, his voice low.

I shake my head. “Nothing. It’s quiet. Too quiet, maybe.”

Danny nods, his jaw clenching. “We’re gonna get through this, Riley. We have to. For them.”

I look over at him, seeing the worry etched into his face, the same fear that’s been gnawing at me since we got the news about Sofia’s dad. “We will,” I say, my voice filled with conviction. “We’re not gonna let him win. Not this time.”

Danny looks at me, his eyes filled with determination, and he nods. “Yeah. Not this time.”

Morning comes, the first rays of sunlight breaking through the trees, casting a soft glow over the clearing. I stretch, my muscles aching from sitting in the same position all night. Danny has drifted off beside me, his head resting against the wall, and I smile slightly, knowing he needed the rest.

I stand up, moving quietly to the kitchen to make some coffee. The scent fills the cabin, warm and comforting, and I hear the soft creak of the bedroom door opening. I glance over to see Sofia stepping out, Ethan cradled in her arms, his bright eyes blinking sleepily as he takes in his surroundings.

“Morning,” I say softly, giving her a small smile.

She smiles back, her eyes still filled with that lingering worry, but there’s a warmth there too, a trust that makes my heart swell. “Morning,” she whispers, walking over to me.

I pour her a cup of coffee, handing it to her as she sits down at the small kitchen table, Ethan nestled in her lap. She takes a sip, her eyes meeting mine over the rim of the cup. “Thank you,” she says, her voice soft. “For everything. For keeping us safe.”

I sit down across from her, reaching out to gently brush my fingers against Ethan’s tiny hand. “You don’t have to thank me, Sof,” I say, my voice filled with emotion. “I’d do anything for you. For both of you. We all would.”

She smiles, her eyes glistening with tears, and she nods. “I know,” she whispers. “I just... I don’t know what I’d do without you guys.”

“You’ll never have to find out,” I say, my voice firm. “We’re not going anywhere. We’re in this together. Always.”

Ethan lets out a soft coo, his tiny hand wrapping around my finger, and I feel my heart swell with love, with determination. This is what we’re fighting for—this family, this love. And I’ll do whatever it takes to keep it safe.

Later that day, we sit outside the cabin, the sun shining down on us, the air warm and fresh. Sofia sits on a blanket, Ethan in her lap, his bright eyes wide as he looks around, taking in the world. Leo and Danny are nearby, their eyes scanning the woods, always on alert, but there’s a sense of calm here, a moment of peace that we all need.

I sit down beside Sofia, my hand resting on her back, and she looks over at me, her eyes softening. “It’s beautiful here,” she says, her voice quiet. “I almost forgot what it felt like to just... breathe.”

I nod, my gaze on Ethan as he reaches for a small flower, his fingers brushing against the petals. “We’re gonna make sure you get to keep feeling that,” I say, my voice filled with determination. “We’re gonna make sure you and Ethan have a life where you can breathe. Where you can be happy.”

She leans into me, her head resting on my shoulder, and I wrap my arm around her, holding her close. "I love you," she whispers, her voice trembling.

I press a kiss to the top of her head, my lips lingering there as I close my eyes. "I love you too, Sof. More than anything. And I'm going to protect you both, always."