Chapter 153: Sofia

The cabin feels like a fragile shell around us, like the wooden walls are all that separate us from the fear pressing in from the outside. I clutch Ethan close, my heart pounding as I watch Leo step onto the porch, his expression hardening at the sight of Nate and Danny returning with a stranger. My breath catches in my throat. I don’t need to hear what they’re saying to know that something is wrong—very wrong.

I see the man they’ve caught, his hood still up, his face twisted in anger and defiance. My stomach knots, a chill running down my spine as his gaze briefly meets mine. There’s hatred in his eyes—hatred for me. I pull Ethan closer, whispering softly in his ear, trying to soothe him even as my own heart is racing.

Leo steps back inside, his face tight with worry as he comes over to me. He wraps his arm around my shoulders, his other hand brushing against Ethan’s back. "It’s okay," he says, his voice low and comforting. "Nate and Danny have it handled. You don’t have to worry."

But I can’t help it. I do worry. I worry for Ethan, for the guys, for everything we’ve built here. Every day feels like we’re fighting just to breathe, just to hold onto a shred of normalcy. And now, with this stranger here, I feel like everything is crumbling all over again.

"Who is he?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper, my eyes fixed on the window, on the dark shapes moving outside. "What does he want?"

Leo exchanges a look with me, his gaze softening. "We don’t know yet," he says. "But we’re going to find out. And whatever it is, we’re not going to let it touch you or Ethan. I promise."

I nod, trying to take comfort in his words, but the fear is still there, gnawing at me. I can’t shake the image of that man’s eyes, the way he looked at me like I was nothing—like I was something he wanted to destroy.

Nate and Danny come through the door, their expressions grim as they drag the man into the living room. Nate’s eyes meet mine for a brief moment, and he gives me a small nod, his lips pressing into a thin line. I know that look—it’s a promise. A promise to protect, no matter what it takes.

"Take Ethan to the bedroom," Leo says softly, his hand squeezing my shoulder. "You don’t need to be here for this."

Part of me wants to stay, wants to know what’s going on, wants to hear what this man has to say—but I can’t risk Ethan being exposed to any of it. I nod, turning away from the living room and heading to the back of the cabin. The bedroom feels safer, more enclosed, and I sit down on the bed, holding Ethan close as I try to block out the muffled voices coming from the other room.

Ethan squirms in my arms, his tiny face scrunching up as he lets out a soft whimper. I rock him gently, whispering words of comfort, my fingers brushing over his soft hair. "It’s okay, baby," I murmur. "Mommy’s here. Everything’s going to be okay."

But even as I say the words, I wonder if they’re true. I want them to be. I want to believe that we can be safe here, that the guys can protect us, that we can build a life without fear. But it’s hard. It’s so hard when the past keeps clawing its way back, threatening to tear everything apart.

The voices from the living room grow louder, more heated, and I close my eyes, pressing my forehead against Ethan’s. His soft breaths are a reminder of what’s at stake—of why we’re doing all of this, why we’re fighting so hard to protect him. He’s innocent. He doesn’t deserve any of this. He deserves a life free of fear, free of danger.

I hear a sudden thud, followed by a muffled curse, and I flinch, my heart racing. I don’t know what’s happening out there, but I know the guys are doing everything they can to keep us safe. I just wish I could do more—that I could be stronger, that I could fight back instead of always being the one who needs protecting.

The door opens, and I look up to see Nate standing there, his expression softening as he looks at me and Ethan. He steps inside, closing the door behind him, and comes over to sit beside me on the bed. He reaches out, his hand brushing against my cheek, his touch gentle.

"It’s okay," he says, his voice low. "We’ve got him. He’s not going to hurt you."

I nod, swallowing hard as I look down at Ethan, my fingers brushing over his tiny hand. "What did he say?" I ask, my voice trembling.

Nate hesitates, his eyes flicking to Ethan before meeting mine again. "He was sent by your father," he says, his voice barely above a whisper. "He’s planning something, Sofia. We don’t know what yet, but... we’re going to be ready. We’re not going to let him get to you."

The fear that’s been gnawing at me intensifies, and I feel a shiver run through me. My father. The man who’s caused me so much pain, who’s hurt me in ways I can’t even begin to describe—he’s still out there, still trying to control me, to take everything away from me.

"I hate him," I whisper, my voice breaking. "I hate that he won’t just leave us alone. I hate that he keeps coming after us."

Nate wraps his arm around me, pulling me close, his lips pressing against the top of my head. "I know," he murmurs. "I hate it too. But we’re not going to let him win. You hear me? We’re stronger than him. We’ve got each other, and we’re going to fight back. We’re not going to let him take anything else from us."

I close my eyes, leaning into Nate’s embrace, trying to take strength from his words, from the warmth of his arms around me. I know he’s right—I know we have to be strong, that we have to fight. But it’s hard. It’s so damn hard when the fear feels like it’s suffocating me, when the past keeps reaching out, trying to drag me back into the darkness.

But then I look down at Ethan, at his innocent face, his tiny fingers curled against my chest, and I know that I have to keep going. I have to be strong for him. I have to fight for him, for the life that he deserves. And I know that with Nate, with Danny, Leo, and Riley—with all of them by my side—I can do it. We can do it.

Nate pulls back slightly, his eyes meeting mine, and he gives me a small smile. "We’re in this together, Sof," he says. "All of us. We’re going to keep you safe. No matter what."

I nod, my heart swelling with love for this man, for all of them. "I know," I whisper. "I trust you. I trust all of you."

And as I hold Ethan close, as Nate wraps his arm around us both, I feel a flicker of hope—a small, fragile hope that maybe, just maybe, we can get through this. That we can find a way to be safe, to be happy. To be free.