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"Ready to eat my dust?" he quips, stretching his legs and throwing her a cocky smirk. It’s so relieving to see that he is still the same guy…under all that anger and brooding. He’s still carefree and happy, even if it’s buried under some shitty times. It seems like Aiden and Dakota bring out a more relaxed side of my best friend.
Dakota rolls her eyes, a smile tugging at her lips. "In your dreams, slowpoke," she retorts with a cute little snort.
As we set off, the rhythm of our feet against the pavement creates harmony. The world around us awakens slowly, the town stretching and sighing as daybreak takes hold.
Dakota keeps pace effortlessly, her breaths measured and even. There's a look of pure focus on her face, a determination that I've come to admire deeply.
Maddox, for all his teasing, runs with a discipline that's hard to match. He's the silent force just like he was during our years in the service. His presence is both a comfort and a challenge, pushing me to keep moving forward, and to never settle for anything less than my best.
The town passes by in a blur, and as we hit our stride, the silence between us feels comfortable. As we round the final corner, the finish line in sight, Dakota takes off at a damn near sprint. Leaving both Maddox and me behind.
Slowing to a stop, we exchange looks, all of panting for breath. We remain silent as we stretch and get ready to head inside and start the day. It feels good, this almost feels like how things are supposed to be. If this wasn't a job, if my duty wasn't to protect Dakota and Aiden, I would want this to be my life. I want to be here without the pretense of a job. Because every day that I spend here, I realize more and more that they are what home feels like.
Chapter 16
Dakota
"Receiving devastating news is like being hit by a physical force. It knocks the wind out of you, leaving you to gather the pieces of your shattered expectations." - Unknown
I’m sitting in my office, still living off the high that has become Wolf’s presence. There's something about him that just calls to me. Sure, it could be that he is the first person I have ever had…well any sexual experience withwillingly. But it's more than that. He just has this air around him that draws me in and makes me feel safe. Every single moment shared with him just feels so…treasured.
When I asked him to use me I thought he would be afraid or say no. That he would think I’m too broken for that. I was afraid he might think that I was weak and unable to experience that with him.
But he healed something inside of me. He doesn't know but last night was everything to me. It was me taking a part of myself back. Healing something that was broken by another man. It was me enjoying the feel of another human being without any fear of pain.
I smile to myself as I think about last night, only blinking away the memories when my phone buzzes on my desk.
Spence:Hello there, little traitor.
I tense and my entire body goes on high alert as I read the line over and over. But I can't seem to comprehend what the fuck is happening.
Is this some kind of sick joke? No, Spencer isn't cruel. He would never use my trauma as some kind of twisted fucked up joke.
Did his phone get hacked by Rodrigo? Again…no because I personally set up the encryption.
Did someone steal his phone and think this would be a fun way to mess with me? Doubtful, Spencer would have immediately let me know his phone was missing. He would have used his office phone to make contact.
Fuck.
Oh no.
Fuck.
Panic starts to set in and my breathing picks up. I’m seconds away from bounding out of my office to get help when another text message comes through.
Spence:Careful. If you go tell those silly men that I have your brother, I don't think he will live to see morning.
I suck in a breath, willing my heart to calm down as I realize how serious this just became. He has my brother. He knowsSpencer is my brother. And worst of all, he won't hesitate to kill him. Ican’trisk telling my guards because then if something happens to Spence itwouldbe my fault. I feel like my heart is going to jump out my chest with how fast it's beating. I type my response with clammy shaking fingers.
Dakota:What do you want?
Spence:You, little traitor. Always you.
His response is immediate and has my eyes crashing shut. Of course that’s what he wants. It shouldn’t be a surprise after the last decade but for some stupid reason I had hoped he would get bored.
But I already know I will do whatever he wants. I already know that if he wants to trade me for my brother, I will go willingly and not put up a fight. I would sacrifice myself twenty times over to ensure my family is safe.
I’m sure that makes me a terrible mom. Aiden has already lost so much - he doesn't have a father, he’ll never know his grandfather, his grandmother is MIA, and he’s never been allowed to settle down. Losing his mom would just add to the trauma that he probably already has.
