Chapter 30: Sofia

The blaring sound of an alarm jolted me awake, my heart pounding in my chest as I shot up in bed. I winced, pain shooting through my ribs, but the fear was more overwhelming than the ache. I could barely process what was happening. My mind was racing, and I felt paralyzed, unsure of what to do or where to go.

Nate was out of bed in an instant, his calm composure breaking as he rushed out of the room. I could hear the chaos beyond the doorway—raised voices, the other guys shouting to one another to be heard over the relentless noise. I had no idea what was happening, but the terror that gripped me was undeniable.

Seconds later, Leo burst into the room, his expression frantic as he reached for me. “I’m so sorry, babygirl,” he murmured, his voice urgent but soft. “You have to come with me. Now.”

Without hesitation, I wrapped my arms around his neck and my legs around his waist as he lifted me effortlessly. He held me close as he rushed through the house, carrying me like I weighed nothing. I clung to him, trying to shut out the noise, the fear, everything. He took me through the main hall and into the back of the computer room, where he pressed on a section of the wall that opened into a hidden space.

He stepped inside and set me down gently. “Stay here,” he said, his voice breaking as he cupped my face. “I have to go, but I’ll be back as soon as I can. I promise.”

I reached for him, my fingers clutching at his shirt. “Leo, don’t leave me,” I pleaded, the fear making my voice tremble.

He swallowed hard, his eyes full of regret. “I don’t want to, but I have to. I’ll be right back, okay? I promise.”

He pulled away, and before I could say anything else, he closed the heavy door, leaving me alone in the darkness. The silence that followed was almost worse than the noise. I pressed myself back against the wall, wrapping my arms around myself as I tried to keep the panic at bay. I could feel the tears streaming down my face, but I didn’t bother to wipe them away. All I could do was wait and hope that they were alright.

Time seemed to crawl. Every second stretched into an eternity, and I had no idea what was happening on the other side of that door. Were they okay? Had something terrible happened? I hugged my knees to my chest, trembling as I tried to block out the worst-case scenarios that kept flooding my mind.

Finally, the alarm stopped, leaving an eerie silence in its wake. I strained to listen, desperate for any sign of the guys, but I couldn’t hear anything. Then, footsteps. Heavy, slow footsteps approaching the door. My heart hammered in my chest, the fear suffocating me as I pressed back against the wall, holding my breath. I didn’t know if it was Leo or Nate or… someone else. Someone coming for me.

The door creaked open, and I bit my lip, my entire body shaking as I waited to see who would appear. When Danny stepped through the doorway, a wave of relief washed over me, but it didn’t stop the trembling. His face was drawn, his expression filled with regret as he took in my state. He closed the door behind him and crossed the small space, kneeling down in front of me.

“Hey,” he said softly, reaching out to pull me into his arms. “I’m so sorry, Sofia. I can’t imagine how scared you must have been.”

I clung to him, the sobs finally breaking free as he held me close, his hand rubbing soothing circles on my back. The terror of the last few minutes, the uncertainty, the fear—it all came pouring out as I cried into his chest. He murmured softly, his words a steady comfort, but I was barely aware of what he was saying. I could feel myself spiraling, the panic overwhelming me as I started to hyperventilate.

“Shh, it’s okay,” Danny whispered, holding me tighter. “You’re safe now, you’re safe.” He called out for the others, his voice echoing in the small room as he tried to calm me down.

The edges of my vision began to blur, and I could feel myself slipping away. The last thing I remembered was Danny’s voice calling my name, his tone laced with desperation, and then everything went dark.

When I woke up, I was on the couch in the living room, wrapped in a blanket with Danny’s arms around me. The others were all there, their faces etched with worry as they leaned over me. Nate reached out, brushing a hand over my forehead, while Leo crouched beside me, his hand resting on my shoulder. I took a shaky breath, trying to sit up, and they helped me, each of them a steady presence as I regained my bearings.

“Hey, take it easy,” Riley said, his voice soft. “You gave us a scare there.”

I managed a small nod, my heart still racing as I tried to process everything. “What… what happened?”

Nate sighed, exchanging a glance with the others before turning back to me. “Someone tried to break in. It wasn’t anyone connected to you, just a small gang trying to hit one of our warehouses. They must’ve found the address and thought they could get in here, too.”

Leo’s hand tightened on my shoulder. “They were idiots. We took care of them, and they won’t be bothering us again. But I’m sorry you had to go through that. I should’ve stayed with you.”

I shook my head, trying to steady my breathing. “I just… I didn’t know what was happening. I thought… I thought something had happened to you guys.”

Riley gave me a reassuring smile, his hand brushing my hair back. “We’re fine. We’re all here. And we’re not letting anyone get close to you. Not now, not ever.”

I nodded, leaning back into Danny’s arms as I tried to calm down. The fear was still there, lurking just beneath the surface, but their presence was a comfort. I knew they were here to protect me, and that was enough to keep the panic at bay.

They stayed with me, each of them a steady anchor as I slowly relaxed. After a while, they suggested putting on a movie, something light-hearted to take my mind off things. I agreed, and they put on a comedy, taking turns holding me as I leaned against them, one by one, feeling the warmth and comfort they offered.

First, I sat with Nate, his arm draped around my shoulders as he held me close. His presence was calming, his steady breathing a reassurance as I settled into the rhythm of it. Then, Leo took over, pulling me into his lap and resting his chin on top of my head. He murmured little jokes in my ear, his voice soft and soothing, and I found myself smiling despite everything.

Finally, I curled up with Riley, his hand running through my hair as he whispered reassurances, his touch gentle and comforting. I could feel the tension melting away, the fear fading as they each took turns being there for me. It was strange, but it felt natural, like I was meant to be with them, held by them, safe in their presence.

By the time the movie was over, I was exhausted. The fear and adrenaline had taken their toll, and I felt like I could barely keep my eyes open. They must have noticed, because Danny picked me up, carrying me back to the bed and settling me down, the others arranging pillows and blankets around me until I was cocooned in warmth.

“Get some rest,” Nate whispered, pressing a gentle kiss to my forehead. “We’ll be right here when you wake up.”

I nodded, my eyes heavy as I drifted off, the last thing I felt being the gentle squeeze of Leo’s hand on mine, a silent promise that they weren’t going anywhere. And as I slipped into sleep, I knew I was safe. They were here, and nothing could hurt me as long as they were by my side.