Chapter 152: Nate

The afternoon sun filters through the thick canopy of trees, casting dappled light across the clearing around the cabin. I take a deep breath of the fresh, pine-scented air, feeling the weight of exhaustion settle into my bones. The last few days have been a test of our endurance. We've been working non-stop to secure this place, to ensure that no one can get to Sofia or Ethan. I don’t think any of us have slept more than a couple of hours at a time, but I know it’s necessary. I’d rather be tired than unprepared.

Right now, it's my turn to patrol. My boots crunch softly against the gravel as I make my way around the perimeter of the cabin, keeping my eyes sharp, ears attuned to every rustle of leaves, every stray sound. I have to admit, part of me likes being out here, alone, with only the sound of the wind and my thoughts. It helps me focus, helps me remember why we're doing this—why we fight, why we endure.

It’s been hard on all of us, but especially Sofia. I see it in her eyes every time she looks at Ethan, the fear that her father might somehow take him away from her. I can’t imagine what that must feel like—the idea of someone wanting to hurt your child, to rip them away from you. And every time I see that fear in her eyes, I swear to myself that I’ll do whatever it takes to keep them safe. I owe her that much. We all do.

I finish my loop around the cabin and head back to the porch, taking a seat on the steps. From here, I can see Sofia through the window, holding Ethan close as she talks softly to Leo, who’s making something for her in the kitchen. It’s moments like this that make me realize just how far we've come—from a life of chaos and violence to something that feels almost normal, almost like a family. And I’ll be damned if I let anyone take that away from us.

A soft sound catches my attention, and I tense, my hand going instinctively to the gun at my waist. I rise to my feet, scanning the tree line. My heart pounds in my chest as I take a step forward, my eyes narrowing. There’s a rustle of leaves, and for a moment, I see a figure—just a shadow, disappearing between the trees.

"Damn it," I mutter, my heart pounding as I reach for the radio clipped to my belt. "Danny, Leo, we’ve got movement out here. North side."

I hear a crackle of static, followed by Danny's voice, calm but urgent. "On my way. Stay put."

I keep my eyes on the tree line, my pulse racing as I wait. I don’t like this. Whoever that was, they were too close. The woods should be empty—we’re miles from anywhere, and we haven’t seen anyone since we arrived. The fact that someone is out there now means only one thing: we’re not as hidden as we thought.

Danny appears a few moments later, his eyes scanning the area as he approaches. He’s got his rifle slung over his shoulder, his face set in a hard line. "What’d you see?"

"Just a shadow," I say, my voice low. "But they were close. Too close."

Danny nods, his jaw clenched. "We need to check it out. Leo’s inside with Sofia and Ethan. They’re safe. Let’s go."

I nod, following Danny as we move toward the tree line. My senses are on high alert, every muscle in my body tensed, ready for anything. We move slowly, carefully, our eyes scanning the shadows, looking for any sign of movement. The woods are thick, the underbrush dense, and it’s hard to see more than a few feet in any direction.

We push forward, our footsteps silent on the forest floor. My heart pounds in my chest, and I can feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins. We can’t afford to let our guard down—not now, not ever. Not when Sofia and Ethan are depending on us.

Danny holds up a hand, stopping me in my tracks. He tilts his head, listening, his eyes narrowing as he scans the area. I hold my breath, straining to hear whatever it is that caught his attention. And then I hear it—a soft rustle, the unmistakable sound of someone moving through the underbrush.

Danny gestures for me to move to the left, and I nod, circling around to flank whoever is out there. My heart pounds in my ears as I move, my hand tight on the grip of my gun. I can see Danny out of the corner of my eye, his rifle raised, his movements careful and deliberate.

And then I see him—a man, crouched low, his eyes darting around as if he’s looking for something. He’s dressed in dark clothes, his face partially covered by a hood, and there’s something about the way he moves that sets me on edge. He doesn’t belong here.

I take a deep breath, steadying myself before stepping out from behind the tree, my gun raised. "Freeze," I say, my voice low but commanding.

The man jerks, his head snapping up, his eyes widening as he sees me. For a moment, there’s silence—just the sound of the wind rustling through the leaves, the distant call of a bird. And then he bolts, turning and running deeper into the woods.

"Damn it!" I shout, taking off after him. I hear Danny behind me, his footsteps pounding against the forest floor as we chase the guy through the underbrush. Branches whip at my face, the ground uneven beneath my feet, but I don’t slow down. We can’t let him get away.

The man is fast, but we’re faster. I see Danny veer off to the right, cutting through the trees to try to head him off, and I push myself harder, my lungs burning as I close the distance between us. The man glances back, his eyes wide with panic, and I see him stumble, his foot catching on a root. He goes down hard, hitting the ground with a grunt of pain.

I’m on him in an instant, my knee pressing into his back as I grab his wrists, pinning them behind him. "Who the hell are you?" I demand, my voice a growl. "What are you doing here?"

The man struggles, his face twisted in pain, but he doesn’t say a word. Danny appears a moment later, his rifle trained on the guy, his eyes cold. "You better start talking, or this is gonna get a whole lot worse for you," he says, his voice deadly calm.

The man spits on the ground, his eyes filled with defiance. "You think you can protect her?" he sneers, his voice dripping with contempt. "You think you can keep her safe forever? He’s coming for her. And there’s nothing you can do to stop it."

My blood runs cold at his words, and I tighten my grip on his wrists, my jaw clenched. "Who’s coming?" I demand, my voice low and dangerous. "Who sent you?"

The man just laughs, a cold, empty sound that sends a chill down my spine. "You know who," he says, his eyes glinting with malice. "And when he gets here, you’re all dead."

Danny and I exchange a glance, the tension between us palpable. We can’t afford to take this lightly. Whoever this guy is, he’s a threat—a reminder that Sofia’s dad isn’t giving up, that he’s still out there, still coming for her.

Danny nods, his expression hardening. "Let’s get him back to the cabin. We’ll figure out what to do with him there."

I haul the man to his feet, keeping a tight grip on his wrists as we make our way back through the woods. My heart pounds in my chest, my mind racing with a thousand thoughts. We have to be ready. We have to protect Sofia and Ethan, no matter what. And if that means taking out anyone who tries to hurt them, then so be it.

As we approach the cabin, I see Leo step out onto the porch, his eyes widening as he takes in the scene—Danny with his rifle raised, me with the stranger in tow. Sofia appears behind him, her face pale, her eyes filled with fear as she clutches Ethan to her chest.

"It’s okay," I call out, trying to keep my voice calm. "We’ve got it under control."

But as I look at Sofia, at the fear in her eyes, I know that this is far from over. The danger is real, and it’s closer than ever. And I’ll be damned if I let anything happen to her or Ethan. We’re going to fight. We’re going to protect what’s ours. No matter what it takes.