Oh to be loved

18

The tension in the room was palpable, like the calm before a storm. Cillian's announcement hit Amara like a punch to the gut. Malik sat up straighter in his bed, his eyes narrowing as he processed Cillian's words. Amara's heart was racing, her mind already spiraling with the implications.

"What do you mean someone's coming for us?" Malik asked, his voice sharp.

Cillian's eyes flicked from Malik to Amara, and for a moment, the weight of their complicated relationship hung between them, unspoken but heavy. But this was bigger than the confusion between them. There were new, more immediate dangers to face.

"The faction I've been trying to keep at bay—they know you're here," Cillian said, his tone clipped and businesslike. "They've breached our outer defenses. It's only a matter of time before they reach us."

"Why would they come for us?" Amara asked, her voice quieter than she intended. Fear crept into her chest, but she pushed it down, trying to focus on the situation at hand.

Cillian's gaze softened as he looked at her, but his response was grim. "Because of me. And because they think you're leverage."

Amara swallowed hard. She had known being here with Cillian put her in danger, but she hadn't realized the full extent of it. She wasn't just a captive anymore. She was a target.

Malik swung his legs over the side of the bed, wincing as the motion sent pain shooting through him. "What's the plan, then? We can't stay here."

Cillian nodded. "I've already ordered the men to double security, but it won't be enough. We'll have to leave—soon."

Amara's pulse quickened at the thought of fleeing, of running with Cillian and Malik into the unknown. Where would they go? And more importantly, could she trust Cillian to protect them both? Despite everything that had happened between them, the uncertainty still gnawed at her.

"I'm coming with you," Malik said, his voice firm despite his injuries.

"No, you're not," Cillian said flatly. "You're in no condition to run. You'll slow us down."

Amara tensed, stepping forward to stand beside Malik. "You can't just leave him here."

Cillian's eyes locked with hers, and for a moment, the cold, calculating facade slipped. "I'm not leaving him. We're taking a car out. I've arranged for backup to meet us at a secure location. But it's not going to be easy, Amara. They'll be coming for us, and they'll be coming hard."

Amara's stomach churned. She could hear the urgency in his voice, the quiet desperation he was trying to hide. This wasn't just about surviving anymore. It was about staying one step ahead of the people hunting them.

"Can you walk?" Amara asked Malik, her hand resting gently on his shoulder.

Malik grimaced but nodded. "I'll manage."

Cillian moved to the door, his eyes scanning the hallway outside. "We leave in fifteen minutes. Grab what you need and meet me downstairs. Don't waste time."

He stepped out, leaving Amara and Malik in tense silence. The gravity of the situation pressed down on them both.

"You're getting close to him, aren't you?" Malik asked, his voice quiet but piercing.

Amara's throat tightened. Malik had always been able to read her, even when she didn't want him to. "It's not like that," she said, though the words felt hollow. "I don't know what it is."

Malik's expression softened. "Just... don't lose yourself in him. I know things are complicated, but he's still dangerous, Amara. No matter how he acts."

Amara looked away, guilt gnawing at her. "I know."

---

Fifteen minutes later, they were downstairs, waiting by the back entrance. Cillian stood by the door, speaking quietly to one of his men. The tension in the air was thick, and every minute that passed felt like an eternity.

Cillian turned to Amara and Malik, his expression unreadable. "We'll take the underground route to the car. It's safer than the front entrance. Once we're out, we move fast."

Amara's heart pounded in her chest as Cillian led them through a narrow passage that led beneath the mansion. The walls were damp, the air cold and musty, but they pressed on. Amara stayed close to Malik, her hand brushing his arm to steady him as they moved through the tunnel.

As they approached the end of the tunnel, Cillian stopped abruptly, holding up a hand. He glanced back at them, his expression deadly serious. "Stay behind me. No sudden moves."

Amara's pulse quickened. Something was wrong.

Cillian stepped out first, peering through the small gap in the metal door that led to the outside. For a moment, everything was still.

Then gunfire exploded in the distance.

Amara flinched, her heart racing as the sound echoed through the tunnel. Malik tensed beside her, his hand instinctively reaching for hers. Cillian's eyes darkened as he turned back to them.

"They're here," he said, his voice low. "We don't have much time."

Amara's stomach twisted with fear, but she nodded, gripping Malik's arm tighter. "What do we do?"

Cillian pulled a gun from his jacket and handed it to Malik. "You cover the rear. Stay close to Amara. I'll lead the way."

Without waiting for a response, Cillian pushed open the door and stepped into the open air. The once-beautiful gardens surrounding the mansion were now littered with debris, the distant sounds of fighting growing louder by the second.

Amara's heart pounded as they sprinted toward the car waiting at the edge of the estate. Her breath came in short, panicked gasps as they ran, the weight of everything bearing down on her. Malik was struggling to keep up, but he pushed through the pain, his grip on the gun tight.

As they neared the car, the ground erupted in a spray of bullets.

"Get down!" Cillian shouted, pulling Amara to the ground just as a hail of gunfire whizzed past them. Malik dropped to one knee, firing back at the unseen attackers, his expression grim.

Amara's heart raced as she crouched behind the low wall beside Cillian, her mind spinning. She had never been in a situation like this before—never had to fight for her life in such a visceral, immediate way. The fear was suffocating, but she forced herself to stay focused.

Cillian's eyes met hers for a brief moment, and in that glance, she saw something she hadn't expected—fear. He was just as human as she was, just as vulnerable, and that realization hit her harder than she'd expected.

"We have to make a run for it," Cillian said, his voice low but urgent. "When I say go, we move. Don't stop, don't look back."

Amara nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. Malik was ready, the gun in his hand shaking slightly, but his resolve was clear.

"Go!" Cillian shouted, and they bolted from their cover.

The world became a blur of motion as they sprinted for the car. Gunfire erupted behind them, but Cillian was fast, his hand gripping Amara's as they ran. Malik was right behind them, his breath coming in labored gasps.

They reached the car just as more gunfire rang out, bullets pinging off the metal. Cillian threw open the door and shoved Amara inside, quickly sliding in beside her. Malik barely made it into the backseat before Cillian slammed on the gas.

The car screeched away from the estate, speeding down the dirt road toward safety.

Amara's chest heaved with the effort of running, her heart still pounding in her ears. She glanced over at Cillian, who was gripping the steering wheel tightly, his jaw clenched.

"We're not out of this yet," he muttered, his eyes scanning the road ahead.

Amara swallowed hard, the fear still gnawing at her insides. She didn't know what was waiting for them on the road ahead, but one thing was clear: the danger was far from over.

And the stakes had never been higher.

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ahhhh look who's backk sorry for the long wait maybe some new chapters tonight?