Protecting Olivia

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX

LIVY

We'd met Nicole and Brad at a secluded location after driving for four hours, changing cars and then travelling for another two hours before we arrived at the small cabin, we are staying in. I have no idea where we are, Jordan took a lot of back roads and small tracks before reaching our destination. I wouldn't be surprised if we just drove in circles and are in fact less than an hour out of the city.

The cabin is made of logs and has two bedrooms, a tiny lounge with a kitchenette and a bathroom, which only contains a shower and toilet. It's not the life of luxury, but Jordan assures me that it is safe.

The small bedrooms are on opposite sides of the cabin, the first one containing two single beds while the second one has two bunk beds. It's hard to imagine six army commandos' staying in this tiny place, the sheer size of Seb and Jordan would fill the loungeroom making it suffocating. But I can see how the location is perfect. The land around us is cleared in the immediate vicinity, with thick bush covering us in all directions after that. Even if someone did come and hide within the bushes, in order to attack they would have half a kilometre to travel in the wide open.

If anyone did stumble across this, they would think it was a fishermen's cabin, with the creeks that scatter the landscape there is sure to be good fishing around here.

Nicole and Brad had packed a bag for both Matthew and I, as well as Matthew's medication and everything they could possibly need should something go wrong. Jordan also told us that there is a full field medics first aid kit in the cabin as well.

The cabin was well stocked with tinned food and staples, which Jordan had said that ex-commandos frequently came out here to replenish supplies and maintain the cabin. Only those in the commando unit itself knew of the location of the safe house, and others like it, ensuring their safety should they ever need to use it.

It was eye opening as to just how dangerous their job could be. Not just going into war zones and the risk of getting killed, but the top secret, almost spy like things that I thought only existed in the movies. I never thought about how they may not be safe in their own country at times, I assumed for soldiers that the danger was in other countries, in those that are in the midst of war. I'm starting to realise that I've actually lived a very sheltered life, one that I'm finding I am grateful for.

There was only one entrance to the cabin, set up that way so that if someone were to intrude, they could only come in from one place. The only door lead straight to the tiny lounge room, for this reason Jordan said he would sleep on the couch. He would be in a better position to protect not only myself and Matthew, but Brad and Nicole too.

Matthew and I claimed our beds in the room with the bunks, Matthew opting for the top bunk having never slept so high before. I stayed in the bed underneath, ensuring that I could feel if Matthew left his bed for any reason. My nerves were on edge and I knew I wouldn't get any sleep. I was sure I was safe here, and that Matthew was well looked after, my main concern lying with Ethan and the fact that he had gone to 'stop the threat' as Jordan told me, when he had just been shot and hadn't fully recovered.

I was scared that he wouldn't make it back alive. I told myself that the reason I was afraid was because Matthew wouldn't get to know him, he would be heart broken and I didn't want to see him like that, but deep down I knew that I would be heart broken too. Now that he is back in my life, in some way, shape or form, I don't want him to disappear again.

We spent three days in the cabin, the TV there didn't have any reception, but did have an old DVD player. Unfortunately, there was only a few DVDs in the cabin, all of them action movies. I'm a Die-Hard fan, but watching them on repeat isn't my idea as fun. I'm not a big drinker, enjoying the occasional wine with friends, but I've never wanted hard liquor more than being stuck in the cabin. Of course, there wasn't any, which was surprising.