Chapter 84: Nate

The morning light drifts through the window, casting a warm glow on Sofia’s face as she starts to wake up. She blinks, her eyes adjusting to the soft brightness, and a small smile appears when she realizes I’m next to her.

“Good morning,” she whispers, voice soft and sleepy.

“Good morning,” I reply, reaching out to tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear. Her calm expression makes everything feel surreal—like there’s no chaos waiting outside this room, no danger, just the two of us in this perfect, quiet moment.

She stretches a bit, curling closer so her head rests on my shoulder. “Are you heading out somewhere?”

“Just running into town for a few things,” I say, trying not to focus too much on the fact that lying next to her feels so right. I hate to leave her here alone, but the errands can’t wait.

She sits up, eyes bright. “Can I come with you?”

“Are you sure?” I ask, raising an eyebrow. “It’s just a quick trip—nothing special.”

She nods, and there’s a glimmer of excitement in her eyes. “I’d like to get out for a bit. Change of scenery, you know?”

Downstairs, Danny and Riley are already up, discussing something over coffee. When I mention Sofia wanting to come with me, they exchange glances, both looking concerned.

“Are you sure about that?” Danny asks, looking directly at me. “Doesn’t seem like the safest plan.”

Sofia jumps in before I can respond. “I promise I’ll be careful. I just… I’d like to feel normal, even if it’s only for a little while.”

The guys share a look, then finally relent, knowing there’s no real harm in her joining for a short drive. Inside, I can’t deny how glad I am to have her with me. I open the car door for her, and once she’s settled in, we pull onto the road, the quiet town passing by as she watches everything, her hand resting near mine on the console.

The town blurs by as we drive, Sofia’s gaze sweeping over the passing scenery. Every so often, she points out something new, her excitement pulling me deeper into her world. It feels… different. Easier. Like she’s breathing fresh air into the places I’ve been a hundred times, and suddenly, they seem brand new.

After picking up the supplies, I check my watch and realize we should start heading back. “Ready?” I ask, giving her a reassuring smile.

She nods, looking out the window one last time before settling back into her seat. We fall into a comfortable silence as I take the winding road back home, the gentle hum of the car adding a kind of rhythm to the peaceful moment.

Then, it happens.

A dark SUV pulls up beside us, matching our speed exactly. At first, I think it’s nothing—just someone in a hurry. But then they don’t move. They keep close, too close, practically kissing the edge of our lane. I grip the wheel, trying to stay composed, my eyes flicking over to Sofia, who’s already noticed the car and is watching it warily.

“Nate… what’s going on?” she whispers, her voice laced with uncertainty.

“Probably just someone in a rush.” I keep my voice calm, steady. But inside, I’m on high alert, every instinct telling me this isn’t a coincidence. “Just hang tight, okay?”

I press a little harder on the gas, hoping to put some distance between us. But the SUV speeds up, pulling alongside us again. Then, with a sudden jolt, it rams into our side, the impact sending the car skidding toward the edge of the road.

“Hold on!” I shout, gripping the wheel tighter, fighting to keep us from veering off completely. Sofia lets out a small scream, grabbing onto her seat, her knuckles turning white.

The SUV swerves and rams us again, harder this time. I grit my teeth, glancing at Sofia, who’s pale and shaking.

“Nate, what—who are they?” she stammers, eyes wide with fear.

“I don’t know, but I’m not about to stick around to find out.” I keep my voice as calm as I can manage, not wanting to scare her more than she already is. “I need you to trust me, okay?”

She nods, her hand reaching out instinctively to grip my arm, seeking some kind of anchor.

I make a sharp turn down a narrow side road, the tires screeching as I try to gain some distance. The SUV follows, their engine roaring as they push harder, their intent unmistakable. They’re not just trying to run us off the road—they’re trying to capture her.

I press the gas pedal to the floor, speeding through the twists and turns of the back road. The trees blur past us, and I do my best to keep control, but the road is slick with patches of ice and gravel. The SUV gains on us, their headlights blinding in the rearview mirror.

Sofia lets out a shaky breath, squeezing my arm harder. “Nate, what… what do they want?”

“I don’t know, but they’re not getting it,” I say through clenched teeth, my mind racing. The road up ahead splits into two paths—one leading back toward the main road and another leading to a dead-end clearing in the woods.

I take the split-second decision and veer down the path to the clearing. I can’t lead them back to the house, to the others. And if it’s a trap they’re setting, I’d rather face it head-on.

The SUV follows, and as we hit the clearing, they swerve to block the exit, their tires kicking up dirt and gravel. We’re boxed in. There’s nowhere to go.

I turn off the engine, placing my hand on Sofia’s shoulder. “Stay down,” I whisper, my eyes not leaving the SUV as the doors open and two men step out, their eyes locked on us, sinister grins stretched across their faces.

Sofia’s breathing quickens, her fingers clutching my jacket as she tries to keep her panic in check.

One of the men approaches the driver’s side, tapping on the glass with the barrel of a gun. “Alright, mate, let’s make this easy. Hand her over, and no one gets hurt.”

My grip on her tightens, every protective instinct flaring up like wildfire. I lean over to Sofia, keeping my voice low. “As soon as I open the door, get out on the other side and run. I’ll distract them.”

Her eyes are wide, scared, but she nods, her hand squeezing mine before she pulls away, ready to follow my lead.

I open the door and step out, my heart pounding but my face expressionless, keeping my body between her and the men. “So, you’re just a couple of cowards sent to do someone else’s dirty work, huh?” I taunt, trying to keep their attention on me.

The guy with the gun sneers. “Easy way or hard way, doesn’t make a difference to us.”

The second guy makes a move toward the other side of the car, but I step forward, blocking his path. “You’re not touching her.”

They both chuckle, clearly amused. “And what are you gonna do about it?”

In one swift movement, I lunge forward, grabbing the guy’s gun hand and twisting it back, using the momentum to throw him off balance. He stumbles, and I manage to knock the weapon from his grasp, sending it skidding across the ground. Behind me, Sofia scrambles out of the car, her footsteps crunching against the gravel as she starts to run.

The second guy lunges toward her, but I throw myself at him, tackling him to the ground before he can get far. I hear Sofia’s panicked breaths as she stumbles, and I shout after her, “Keep running, Sofia!”

I can barely see her out of the corner of my eye, but she’s doing as I said, heading toward the thick line of trees. The two men recover quickly, one of them drawing a knife as he gets to his feet, his eyes flashing with anger.

“Big mistake,” he snarls, advancing toward me.