Not So Delicate ||18+

Brooklyn ~87~

I walked down the cold street, my cup of coffee warming my hands. It had finally started snowing. I was going to meet up with Milo for the millionth time this week. The guys have been very busy lately and I didn't want to bother them much. They agreed to let me go visit Milo as long as Dante lands me and Ethan stays around. I didn't complain one bit. So now, Dante walks behind me quietly.

It feels weird to not playfully flirt with him to rile up the guys. He hasn't smiled at me in a while either. I know he's grieving for Atticus but I also think he's holding a grudge against me for kicking him. I hurt his nose with the kick.

"Perdón," I whisper, using the little bit of Spanish I know to apologize. He glances at me for a second before sighing. He had a small bandage over the bridge of his nose. Thankfully it didn't break but it did require medical attention. [I'm sorry.]

"Está bien, mami." He says softly, nudging my elbow and giving me a small smile. We continue walking, the tension between us not as thick as it was before. [It's okay.]

"Are you sad..?" I ask softly, already knowing the answer. He sighs softly and smiles, contrary to the painful look in his eyes.

"No." He says, making me look at him surprised. I hadn't expected that answer. He looks at me and chuckles before wrapping his arm around my shoulder. "Atticus was a good man despite what everyone said. I just know he's in a good place. So I'm not sad."

"But you're hurting..." I say, watching where I was stepping. My nose was pink and sore from crying earlier and from the cold breeze that nipped at our exposed skin. He squeezes my shoulder softly.

"Claro que sí. He was my friend. Un hermano." He says with a gentle smile. His eyes avoided mine for a moment before looking back at me reassuringly. I nod softly and offer him a smile of my own. [Of course.] [A brother.]

We finally reached where Milo was awaiting, he and Ethan were chatting together. I bid Dante goodbye and go and sit in the booth with the two. They smile at me and immediately include me in their conversation. They knew that I needed a distraction, so they'd never bring up what happened unless I did so first.

We talked for hours, discussing random topics and eating a pile load of rubbish. We were at the park now, sitting on a bench and just admiring the scenery. Since it was just starting to snow, everything was still normal, just a few specs of snow that fell on the grass.

"Brooke..? Are you gonna be okay..?" Ethan asked softly. He was standing beside Milo and me, ready for anything it seemed like. He placed his hand on the top of my head, his eyes watching our surroundings but his attention on me.

"I think I will be... It hurts and all- but there's nothing I can do now. He's gone, but he died saving me. So, the least I can do is live out his memory." I say softly, taking in a deep breath. I was grateful for what he did. He truly was an amazing man. He's the reason I can continue to breathe. Even if it's not his scent I inhale.

Acceptance.

I smile to myself, looking down at my hands. As if he was here, as if he knew I had finally accepted things, a small brown leaf fell into my open palms. I tear up a little but blink them away. I tuck the leaf into my pocket and smile at the two.

"I'm freezing over here. Let's go get hot cocoa." I grin before standing up and dragging them both to the nearest café.

~

Walking into the house, I notice flowers on the kitchen counter. I go over to them and gently touch the white petals. There was a small card attached to them. I smile at the familiar writing.

"Won't be home tonight, I'll see you bright and early tomorrow. Lock the doors before bed. I love you." ~Cal.

I sigh softly, smelling the flowers before walking to the living room. This was the second night that he spent away from the house. Zachary was also out. I call Cat and ask her to come over. Despite loving alone time, the last time I was alone in the house I got kidnapped. Both Cat and her twin Rome walk in, smiling at me.

"What's up queen bee?" Rome said, sitting beside me. They had their own keys to the house which was both comforting and concerning. We talked for a bit and I got to know them a bit more. They told me how they became 'spies' and how the guys were basically their brothers.

We watched some movies until Cat got a call, her eyes widening before she looked at Rome. It was as if they spoke telepathically to each other. They both stand and turn to me, telling me they had to go before urgently walking to the door. Before they left, Cat turned and stared me down.

"Lock up everything before going to bed." She says, making me remember the note Callan gave me. Was he the one who called her? I locked the front door and the back one, making sure the blinds were closed and set to privacy mode.

I get ready for bed, brushing my teeth and washing my face. I go into Atticus' room, lying on the messy sheets. I've been sleeping in here rather than in my own room. It was weird but I could only get a good rest being in here.

And there were guns under the bed.

I send a quick goodnight text to the guys, hoping they'll text me back before I fall asleep. Minutes passed and my message wasn't going through. They didn't have any signal. I sigh and put the phone down, rolling over and hugging Atti's pillow. They no longer smelt like him. I close my eyes and let the darkness overtake me.

A few hours had passed, but to me, it felt like mere seconds. I was being shaken awake by a voice calling out my name urgently. Whining, I rolled onto my stomach and groaned, asking for a few more minutes.

"Come on, angel. You have to get up. We have to go." Callan said urgently. I lift my head from the pillow and look at him. The lamp was on, allowing me to see the cuts and bruises on his face. My eyes widen and I snap out of my tiredness. I sit up on the bed and stare at him.

"What happened??" I ask concerned, reaching out to touch his face. He grabs my wrist and kisses my palm.

"I'll explain in the car. We have to go now. They're going to attack again." He says, grabbing my phone and the gun under the bed before grabbing me and hauling me out of bed. Because of my still asleep body, my legs refused to move, making him sigh softly and pull me over his shoulders in a fireman carry.

He carries me out of the house and places me in the car where Zachary is huffing and puffing, grabbing his bleeding thigh. My eyes widen once again and I place my hand on his shoulder.

"Angel, there's a med kit in the back, help him out for me." Callan said, starting the car and driving to the guard post, telling them something. I pull Zach's pants off to tend to his thigh. It looked like he was stabbed.

"Start explaining." I say to them both, cleaning Zachary's wound. He was moaning in pain, his back arching and his hand grabbing my arm to stop me from going on. I continue to clean it. It was going to need stitches and that was not my area. I tie the bandages around his thigh tightly and bandage it over.

"The panthers attacked us. It was a surprise attack. We captured one of them and got some info out of them. They were going to attack the house next. So right now, the safest place is at the Angel's base." Callan said, making me look at him in shock. I fix Zachary's pants and kiss him softly before turning my attention to Cal.

"Are you crazy?? I can't go there!" I say before climbing into the front seat and putting on my seatbelt. I look at him again when he doesn't say anything. "Hello??"

"Right now everything is fucking compromised Brooklyn!" He shouts, looking at me angrily before looking back at the road. Zachary hits his head from the back, mumbling something along the lines of 'Watch it.' I watch him take a breath before looking at me again, his eyes softer. "I'm sorry. I'm fucking panicking right now. I know taking you there is a risk but it's the safest place to go right now. They don't know where the base is."

"Okay. I trust you, Callan. I do." I say softly, gently rubbing his shoulder and then caressing the side of his head, helping him relax. This night was gonna get hectic.