Chapter 155: Leo

The morning sun is just starting to peek through the trees, casting long shadows across the clearing as I step outside. The cold air hits my skin, a reminder that we’re still out here, still fighting for every moment of peace we can get. I take a deep breath, trying to clear my head, but it’s hard. The weight of everything—of what happened last night, of the danger that’s still lurking—it’s pressing down on me like a heavy stone.

I walk around the side of the cabin, my boots crunching against the gravel, and I find Danny already up, leaning against the porch railing, his eyes fixed on the tree line. He looks as tired as I feel, dark circles under his eyes, his shoulders tense. But when he sees me, he manages a small smile, a flicker of warmth breaking through the exhaustion.

“Morning,” he says, his voice rough from lack of sleep.

“Morning,” I reply, stepping up beside him, leaning on the railing. We stand there in silence for a moment, the air between us thick with unspoken words. I know he’s thinking the same thing I am—about Sofia, about Ethan, about what’s coming.

“How’s she doing?” Danny asks, his eyes still on the woods.

I let out a sigh, rubbing a hand over my face. “She’s scared. I think we all are. But she’s strong. She’s holding it together for Ethan.”

Danny nods, his jaw clenching. “We’re not letting anything happen to them. Not while we’re still breathing.”

“Damn right,” I say, my voice filled with conviction. I look out at the woods, at the shadows shifting between the trees. It’s quiet now, but I know better than to trust that quiet. We’ve been hunted before, and we came out of it stronger. But this—this is different. This is personal.

“You think he’ll try again?” Danny asks, his voice low.

I nod, my hands tightening on the railing. “Yeah. He’s not going to stop. Not until he gets what he wants. And we’re not going to let him.”

Danny looks over at me, his eyes filled with determination. “We need to end this, Leo. Once and for all. For Sofia. For Ethan. We can’t keep living like this—looking over our shoulders, waiting for the next attack.”

I know he’s right. We can’t keep running, can’t keep hiding. Sooner or later, we’re going to have to face him—to face whatever comes. And when we do, we’re going to make damn sure it’s the last time.

“We’ll figure it out,” I say, my voice steady. “But right now, we need to focus on keeping them safe. We need to be ready for whatever comes next.”

Danny nods, and for a moment, there’s silence between us, just the sound of the wind rustling through the trees. And then the door opens, and I turn to see Sofia standing there, Ethan in her arms, her eyes tired but hopeful.

“Hey,” she says softly, her gaze flicking between us. “Everything okay?”

I force a smile, stepping away from the railing and moving toward her. I wrap an arm around her shoulders, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “Yeah. Everything’s fine. We’re just... talking.”

She nods, her eyes searching mine, and I can see the worry there, the fear she’s trying so hard to hide. I wish I could take it all away, that I could promise her everything was going to be okay. But I can’t. All I can do is be here, be strong for her and for Ethan.

“Why don’t you come sit?” I say, guiding her over to the porch steps. “The sun’s coming up. It’ll be warm soon.”

She nods, and we sit down together, Ethan nestled between us, his tiny fingers clutching at Sofia’s shirt. Danny comes over, sitting on her other side, and for a moment, it feels almost normal—like we’re just a family, sitting on the porch, watching the sunrise.

“You guys didn’t sleep much, did you?” Sofia asks, her eyes flicking between us, her voice filled with concern.

I smile, shaking my head. “We’re fine. You and Ethan are what matters. We’ll sleep when we know you’re safe.”

She looks down at Ethan, her fingers brushing over his soft hair, and I see the way her eyes fill with love, with determination. “I wish I could do more,” she whispers. “I hate that you guys are always the ones protecting us. I want to be strong too.”

Danny reaches over, his hand resting gently on her knee. “You are strong, Sof. You’re the strongest person I know. Just being here, just holding on—that’s strength. And you’re not alone. We’re in this together. We’re always going to protect you. That’s what family does.”

She looks up, her eyes meeting his, and she smiles, her lips trembling slightly. “I love you guys,” she says, her voice breaking. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

I feel my heart swell, and I lean in, pressing another kiss to her head. “You’re never going to have to find out,” I say softly. “We’re here. Always.”

We sit there, the sun slowly rising, casting a golden glow over the clearing. For a moment, the fear, the danger—it all fades away, and it’s just us. Just our family, holding on to each other, finding strength in the love we share.

But I know it can’t last. I know that soon, we’re going to have to face what’s coming. And when that time comes, we’re going to be ready. We’re going to fight, and we’re going to win. Because we have something worth fighting for—something worth protecting. And I’ll be damned if I let anyone take that away from us.