Chapter 149: Nate

The afternoon sun is warm as it shines through the gym's windows, casting long shadows across the empty equipment. The air feels still, almost too quiet. I can’t shake the feeling that something’s off, a sense of unease crawling up my spine as I hold Ethan, his head resting comfortably on my chest as he naps.

Riley’s been gone for longer than I expected. It was supposed to be a quick trip to the café next door to grab us some snacks, but he hasn’t come back yet. I glance toward the gym doors, my heart beating a little faster as I check my phone for the time. It’s been almost twenty minutes.

“Alright, Nate, calm down,” I whisper to myself, trying to push away the worry gnawing at the edges of my mind. Riley’s probably just chatting with someone or got caught up in something. Nothing to worry about. Still, the unease doesn’t leave.

Just as I’m about to grab my phone to call him, the doors swing open, and Riley walks in, a deep frown etched on his face, his eyes scanning the gym before locking on me. The sight of his expression makes my stomach drop. Something’s definitely wrong.

I stand up, careful not to jostle Ethan too much, and make my way over to Riley. “What happened?” I ask, my voice low but tense. I can see it in his eyes—something’s happened, and it’s not good.

Riley glances at Ethan, then back at me, his jaw clenching. “We need to talk. Somewhere private.”

A chill runs down my spine, but I nod, motioning for him to follow me to the small office at the back of the gym. Once we’re inside, I close the door behind us, cradling Ethan closer as I look at Riley, my heart pounding in my chest.

“What is it?” I ask, my voice barely a whisper. “What happened?”

Riley runs a hand through his hair, his eyes dark with worry. “Someone came up to me while I was at the café,” he says, his voice tight. “Some guy I’ve never seen before. He knew who I was, Nate. He knew about Sofia, about Ethan. He said...” Riley pauses, his jaw working as he struggles to get the words out. “He said Sofia’s dad is planning something. He’s got people on the inside helping him. He’s gonna try to get out, and when he does, he’s coming for her.”

The world seems to tilt on its axis, my vision narrowing as the words sink in. Sofia’s dad. Escaping. Coming for her. For Ethan. The fear that grips me is almost paralyzing, my arms tightening instinctively around my son, holding him closer as if I can shield him from the danger that’s looming over us.

Riley steps closer, his eyes filled with determination. “We’re not gonna let that happen, Nate. We’ve fought too damn hard to protect her, to protect Ethan. We’re not letting that bastard get anywhere near them.”

I nod, swallowing hard as I force myself to take a deep breath. I can’t let fear take over. I need to be strong, for Sofia, for Ethan, for all of us. “We need to tell the others,” I say, my voice steady despite the fear still clawing at my chest. “We need to make a plan.”

Riley nods, his expression hardening. “We’ll keep them safe, Nate. No matter what. We’ll make sure he never gets near them.”

I look down at Ethan, his tiny face peaceful as he sleeps, completely unaware of the danger that’s threatening to tear apart the life we’ve built for him. I press a gentle kiss to his forehead, my heart aching with love and fear. “I won’t let anything happen to you,” I whisper, my voice trembling. “I promise.”

That evening, the air in the house feels thick with tension, the weight of the news hanging over all of us. Sofia sits on the couch, her eyes wide with worry as she holds Ethan close, her fingers brushing over his soft hair. Danny and Leo are standing by the window, their eyes scanning the darkening street outside, their expressions hard, focused.

“We need to make sure we’re ready,” Leo says, his voice low but filled with determination. “If he’s planning to escape, we can’t take any chances. We need to be one step ahead.”

Danny nods, his jaw clenched. “We can’t let him get near her. We need to secure the house, make sure there are no weak points. And we need to be ready to move if it comes to that.”

Sofia looks up, her eyes filled with fear, her voice barely a whisper. “What if... what if he finds us? What if he gets to Ethan?”

My heart twists at the fear in her voice, and I kneel down in front of her, taking her free hand in mine. “He won’t, Sof,” I say, my voice firm. “We’re not gonna let that happen. We’re gonna do everything we can to keep you both safe. I promise.”

She nods, her eyes glistening with tears as she looks down at Ethan, her love for him so clear, so overwhelming. “I just... I can’t lose him, Nate. I can’t lose either of you.”

I reach up, brushing a tear from her cheek, my heart aching at the pain in her eyes. “You won’t,” I whisper. “We’re gonna get through this. Together.”

Riley steps forward, his eyes filled with determination. “We’ve faced worse before, and we’ve come out stronger. This time won’t be any different. We’re ready for whatever comes next.”

Danny glances at Leo, then back at us, his expression softening slightly. “We’ll take shifts. Make sure someone’s always watching the house, watching over you and Ethan. We’re not taking any chances.”

Sofia nods, her grip on Ethan tightening as she takes a deep breath. “Okay,” she whispers. “Okay. We’ll do whatever it takes.”

I lean in, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead, my heart swelling with love for this woman who’s given me everything, who’s made me a better man. “We’ll protect you,” I say, my voice filled with conviction. “No matter what.”

The next few days pass in a blur of preparations, of planning and securing the house, of making sure we’re ready for whatever might come. We take turns watching over the house, never leaving Sofia or Ethan alone, always making sure that one of us is nearby.

It’s exhausting, the constant vigilance, the tension that never seems to leave, but it’s worth it. Every time I see Sofia smile, every time I hear Ethan’s laughter, I know that it’s all worth it. We’re doing this for them, for the family we’ve built, for the life we’ve fought so hard to protect.

One night, as the house finally falls quiet, I find myself standing in the doorway of Ethan’s room, watching him sleep. His tiny chest rises and falls with each soft breath, his little fingers curled around the edge of his blanket. He looks so peaceful, so innocent, and I feel a surge of love so strong it almost takes my breath away.

Sofia steps up beside me, her hand slipping into mine as she looks at our son, her eyes filled with the same love, the same fear that I feel. “He’s everything, isn’t he?” she whispers, her voice barely audible.

I nod, my throat tightening as I look down at her. “Yeah,” I say, my voice thick. “He is. And we’re gonna do whatever it takes to keep him safe. To keep both of you safe.”

She looks up at me, her eyes shining with tears, and she leans into me, her head resting against my shoulder. “I know,” she whispers. “I trust you. I trust all of you.”

I wrap my arm around her, holding her close as we stand there, watching over our son, the weight of everything we’re facing pressing down on us. But in this moment, with Sofia by my side and Ethan safe in his crib, I know that we’re gonna get through this. We have to. Because this is what it’s all about—this family, this love. And we’re not gonna let anything take it away from us.

The following day, we get word from one of our contacts—an old friend of Leo’s who works in the prison system. The news isn’t good. Sofia’s dad has made his move. He’s bribed guards, called in favors, and now he’s on the run. He’s out, and he’s coming for her.

The fear that grips me is like a vice, but there’s no time to let it take hold. We move quickly, gathering our things, making plans to get Sofia and Ethan out of the house, to a safe location where her dad won’t be able to find them. We’ve got a cabin up north, a place we’ve used before when things got too dangerous. It’s remote, secure, and the perfect place to keep them safe.

Sofia is scared, her hands trembling as she packs a bag for Ethan, her eyes wide with fear. I move to her side, wrapping my arms around her, holding her close. “It’s gonna be okay, Sof,” I whisper, my voice steady. “We’re gonna keep you safe. I promise.”

She nods, her eyes meeting mine, her love for me, for all of us, clear in her gaze. “I know,” she whispers. “I trust you. I trust all of you.”

And as we make our way out of the house, Ethan cradled in Sofia’s arms, the rest of us surrounding them, I know that we’re ready for whatever comes next. We’re not gonna let anything happen to them. We’re gonna protect them, no matter what.

Because this is what we’ve fought for. This is what we’ve built. And we’re not gonna let anyone take it away from us. Not now. Not ever.