The Sit - N - Spill Chronicles: Brewing

Chapter 12

The day after their conversation with Mae and Carol, Annie found herself in a whirlwind of thoughts, each one more urgent than the last. The town, her family, the tea bar—everything she had ever known was at risk, and she could feel the walls closing in. The danger wasn't just looming anymore; it was real, tangible, and it was coming for her.

Kane had been uncharacteristically quiet during the drive back to the cabin. His usual confidence was replaced with a tense silence that Annie couldn't shake. She glanced at him occasionally, but he remained focused on the road ahead, his jaw set, his eyes narrowed.

When they arrived, he didn't immediately get out of the truck. Instead, he turned to her, his gaze intense and unwavering.

"Annie," he said, his voice low but firm, "I need you to stay with me. Here. At the cabin."

Annie froze. Her heart skipped a beat, both from the unexpectedness of the request and the underlying urgency in his tone. She opened her mouth to protest, but he held up a hand, silencing her before she could speak.

"I know you're not one to run, and I know you don't like the idea of leaving your place behind, but things are escalating. I can feel it. You're not safe, not with the council this desperate. They'll come after you, and I won't let them. Not while I can do something about it."

Her mind raced. He was right, she couldn't ignore the warning signs any longer. The threats were real, but staying in the cabin felt like giving up. It felt like surrendering to the fear that had been quietly creeping into her life. But then, she saw the resolve in Kane's eyes, the raw protectiveness that had been building ever since they'd started this fight together.

"Okay," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I'll stay."

Kane's expression softened, but only for a moment. "Good. We'll figure this out. Together."

The drive to the cabin was short, but the weight of what had just happened pressed heavily on Annie's chest. She wasn't just staying for the night. She was staying for her safety, for the fight ahead, and for the man sitting beside her—Kane. There was no denying it now. What had started as a partnership was becoming something more. Something she wasn't sure she could control anymore.

As they unloaded their things and settled into the cozy space of Kane's cabin, the atmosphere shifted. There was an unspoken tension between them, a current running just beneath the surface. They moved around each other with an awareness they hadn't had before—closer than ever, but hesitant, like neither one of them wanted to cross a line they weren't ready to acknowledge.

Kane had made it clear he was committed to protecting her, but Annie wasn't sure what would happen if they kept pressing into uncharted territory. She had too much at stake.

But then the phone rang.

Annie's stomach turned as she saw the name on the screen—Davis. The city councilman. She knew this wasn't just a casual call. He wouldn't bother with niceties anymore. He was getting desperate, and it showed in the harsh tone of his voice.

"Annie, you're making a big mistake," he said, his voice dripping with malice. "You don't want to keep pushing. People like you and your little tea bar... You're going to find out the hard way what happens when you cross the wrong people."

The line went dead before Annie could say a word. Her heart raced, fear settling over her like a dark cloud. This wasn't just a threat. This was a warning. They were ramping up, getting more aggressive.

Kane didn't have to say anything. He saw the look in Annie's eyes, the way her hands were shaking as she stared at the phone in her hand. Without a word, he crossed the room and pulled her into his arms.