Chapter Ten - Safety Net

I'm woken up in the middle of the night because of an incessant beeping noise. It takes a few seconds longer than usual for my sleepy brain to register that it's a security alarm. My eyes widen before I hop out of bed and rush to open the door. Reece runs down the hall at that exact moment and judging by her panicked expression things aren't good.

"My dad's men are nearby?"

She nods her head before running into Judah's room to wake him up. "Get your stuff. We're not coming back here."

I quickly get changed and pack whatever little I have before grabbing my knife from under my pillow. Hiding it in my pocket I leave the room and meet everyone else in the sitting room. Judah comes strolling in seconds later with his backpack on and yawning loudly. I can feel his body heat seep into mine as he stands close behind me.

I tilt my head to the side when a loud explosive goes off in the distance alongside screams of pain. I remember Reece is the explosives tech and she meets my eyes as we both smirk at each other. Griffin folds up a map before crossing his arms with a hard look in his eyes.

"We're going camping." Griffin states, causing Judah to groan loudly as he explains that Judah is to stick with Cole while I'm with Reece. "Keep up and don't get lost. I'm not going to run around trying to find you –"

"That doesn't count for me right?" Judah frowns at him in confusion. "I'm paying you so if I get lost and you don't find me your ass is fired buddy."

We all stare at him, some of us in mild amusement, before Griffin rolls his eyes. "Let's move."

I make my way out of the back exit with Reece before we break out into a run towards the forest. I can hear a few more explosives go off but there's still some men out there coming after us. Just as we reach the belly of the woods a yell of frustration echoes in the air that prompts us to keep running.

"Shit!" I breathe as I stumble before catching up to Reece.

"Just a little bit longer." She huffs as she glances at me. "We're not that far from them yet."

I nod and keep going. Surprisingly Judah matches our stamina but then again who am I kidding? I saw his toned, muscular body in all its glory yesterday. Of course, he'd have no trouble keeping up. We keep running for what seems like an hour before finally stopping at a small clearing.

"Grab a tent and other things you'll need from me and Parker then set up camp. Three in each tent so Cole will be with Judah and Marcella." Griffin states and I glance at a dagger's handle peeking out from under Cole's jeans. "No fires but you'll have torches and a lantern. Each of us, except Judah and Marcella, will be on patrol throughout the night."

Thank fuck! I think to myself as I cross my arms. Isolation has always been the worst punishment in my book because I've always been afraid of the dark. My father knowing this always took it to extremes and put me in the room without any windows every time. So, hearing that we'll have light in our tents is a sweet relief.

We break away to set up the tent which seems to be more of a struggle that I thought it would be. Eventually, after whisper-shouting at each other, we get it done before I take a seat on my sleeping bag inside. Judah crawls in after before sitting next to me with a boyish grin.

"What are you so happy about?"

"I brought snacks! Can't have you starving now can we Macy?" He exclaims before unzipping his bag to reveal it filled to the brim with almost every food and drink from the first safe house.

"How generous of you to think ahead." I mutter with a soft chuckle. "When did you even have time to do this?"

He stills before shooting me a sheepish smile. "Well, I already had it packed since day one...you know...in case we were ever in a situation like this."

"You greedy...fucking...goose!" Cole splutters as he sits down with a huff. "Give me those chips! And the dark chocolate!"

"Well, clearly I did everyone a favor! Without me all you'd be feasting on is a can of beans and water!" Judah frowns before pulling out the snacks he wants.

"Nah, I grabbed some protein bars." He smiles smugly as he grabs them from his backpack.

Judah blinks at him slowly before glancing down at the snacks Cole asked for. "I'll trade you these for two of those bars."

"Deal."

I chuckle at their antics before Judah plops his bag of food in between us. He holds the packet of chips out to me and I take some before speaking. "I don't need to have something to trade with you? Must be my lucky day."

"What's mine is yours love...and that includes all of me too." He winks and I struggle to laugh quietly when Cole starts gagging with a disgusted expression.

"Your flirting is not cute Judah." He mutters with a wince.

Judah chucks a wrapped sandwich at him which he catches swiftly. "I'm the best in the fucking game bitch."

"Yeah? Once this is over what do you say we hit the town and see how many girls we get so?" Cole proposes and I fold my arms over my knees as I watch them with interest.

Judah sighs before jerking his thumb in my direction. "Only if my woman will give me a pass for one night."

"I'm not your woman so you don't have to worry about not getting the green light to go harass some girls." I snort while Cole snickers in amusement.

"We'll see once this is over Mace."

"Hey, why do you call her Macy instead of Marcella?" Cole asks and even I stare at him expectantly.

"It's cute plus she doesn't like her real name. She always either scrunches her nose or grimaces whenever someone says Marcella." Judah explains and my jaw drops over how observant he is.

"True?" Cole turns to me with his brows raised.

"True." I mumble quietly before Griffin pops his head in our tent.

"Cole, Reece is on guard after me then it's you alright?"

"Got it." Cole takes a big bite of his sandwich before shooting him a thumbs up.

Griffin turns to leave when he double takes at Judah's bag. "You little shit! I've been looking for that candy everywhere! Give me it!"

"But it's mine! I stole it fair and square!" Judah whines before throwing it over when Griffin glares at him. "Fat fuck!"

"Lanky twig!"

"Hey, I work out man! Fight me!" Judah whisper yells before zipping up the tent quickly and turning to Cole with a frown. "Would he kill me in a fight?"

"In a heartbeat man."

"Dammit!" Judah mutters before we finish eating.

We settle down to sleep with the soft glow of the lantern soothing me. I look over my shoulder when I hear shuffling and shake my head tiredly at Judah setting his sleeping bag down next to mine. He smiles sleepily and shrugs which is adorable so I let him be. Cole's snores echo through our tent and it's not long before Judah joins with softer ones. It takes me a while but eventually I drift off to dreamland too.

***

I jolt awake hours later from my usual blood and violence filled dreams. Sighing, I open my eyes only to frown in confusion when my mind registers that it's dark. I quickly come to the realization that the light in the lantern has gone out and involuntarily my body freezes as panic begins to settle in. I sit up slowly and feel my body tremble when I can barely see anything.

"Mace?" A sleepy yet husky voice rumbles from beside me.

"Judah." I whisper and he instantly sits up at my tone.

"What's wrong dove?" He yawns and I feel his hand find me before he drapes his arm across my shoulders and pulls me against him.

"T-The light." I curse mentally at how weak I sound. "D-Do we h-have more b-batteries?"

There's a pause before he speaks again and I think he's caught on that I'm scared of the dark. "Hold on, I'll check."

He pulls away from me and out of instinct coupled with fear I grip his hand tightly. I feel him squeeze mine reassuringly in return while he rummages around blindly. When he sighs I know he didn't find any and bite my lip hard as if somehow that'll stop my increasing anxiety. He moves back to me and I feel his hot breath caress my ear as he speaks.

"No luck. Let me ask –"

He doesn't have time to complete that sentence because someone walks up to our tent. We both stiffen in surprise and I gasp when they tug the zipper open quickly. On impulse I quickly raise my pocketknife at the intruder before realizing who it is when they shine a torch at their face. Reece shoots me an unimpressed look and I groan softly before handing her the knife.

"Marcel –"

"I'm sorry...I can't help it. I'm never without a weapon." I mumble as I hug myself.

I see Judah and Reece glance at each other from the corner of my eye before he smiles at her. "Got any batteries Reece's Pieces?"

"I'll give them to you on the condition that you never call me that again." She glowers at him and he nods with an innocent look on his face.

She hands them over and within seconds the lantern is back on. I sigh in relief whereas Judah grins up at Reece. "Thank you Reecey!"

"I hope someone shoots you again." She sneers and I gape at her.

"Aw, I love you too baby!" He winks and blows her a kiss which she pretends to crush.

"Guys!" Cole whines sleepily as he turns to face the side of the tent with a huff. "Shut up! I need my beauty sleep!"

"Fuck off back to sleep Cole. Breakfast is in three hours and then we move again. Get some rest you two." Reece mutters to us before zipping up the tent and walking away.

Judah turns to me and I smile gratefully. "Thanks Judah."

"No problem darlin." He murmurs before nodding towards the sleeping bag. "Let's get some sleep yeah?"

I nod and move to lay back down again but before I can Judah yanks my sleeping bag against his and doesn't let me zip mine up. Instead, his arm wraps around my waist tightly as he tugs me into his warmth. I yawn as I snuggle up to him while his chin rests on the top of my head. He takes my hand that was nestled between us on his chest and drapes it across his side so that there's no more space between our bodies. I roll my eyes in amusement over his antics but a small grin creeps onto my lips regardless. It's quiet for a few minutes and just when I think he's fallen asleep he surprises me by speaking.

"Even if we didn't have any light you'd always be safe with me." He whispers and I look up at him.

His gaze meets mine and I feel like disagreeing with him, telling him how untrue that would be since I'm the trained killer but then I think of how scared I was moments ago. How he instantly knew something was wrong and how he didn't let go of me once he figured out that I was afraid. And so, I smile up at him albeit shyly before cuddling further against his chest. He chuckles deeply and it's like music to my ears that helps me drift away peacefully. 

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