Oh to be loved

19

The hum of the car's engine and the steady rhythm of the tires on the road were the only sounds in the tense silence that filled the vehicle. Amara sat in the passenger seat, her heart still racing from the adrenaline of their escape. She could feel the weight of Cillian's gaze on her, though he said nothing as he drove, his hands gripping the wheel tightly.

Malik sat in the back, breathing heavily, his face pale from the exertion and pain. His injuries hadn't fully healed, and the run for their lives had taken its toll on him. Still, he was alive. They all were. For now.

"Where are we going?" Amara asked, her voice breaking the quiet.

Cillian's eyes flicked toward her before returning to the road. "There's a safehouse about an hour from here. It's secluded, off the grid. We'll be safe there for the time being."

Amara nodded, but the word "safe" felt hollow. There was no guarantee they'd be safe anywhere. They had barely escaped the last attack, and even now, she couldn't shake the feeling that they were being followed, that danger was just around the corner.

She glanced out the window, watching the landscape blur by as they sped down the empty road. The sun had begun to set, casting the world in a soft, golden light. It should have been beautiful, but all Amara felt was unease.

"Are you okay?" Cillian asked suddenly, his voice quieter than usual.

Amara turned to him, startled by the question. She hadn't expected him to ask. In all the chaos, her own emotions had been pushed aside, buried under layers of survival instinct and adrenaline.

"I... I don't know," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Cillian's jaw tightened, but he didn't push for more. He seemed to understand that she was struggling, though she wasn't sure if it was because of the danger or because of him. Their kiss still lingered in the back of her mind, a constant reminder of how complicated everything had become between them.

For a moment, there was a flicker of something softer in his gaze, but it disappeared just as quickly. His attention snapped back to the road, his posture rigid and alert. Amara felt the distance between them, not just physically, but emotionally. And despite everything, a part of her wished that distance didn't exist.

The miles passed in silence until, at last, they turned onto a narrow, tree-lined path that led to a small, secluded cabin. The house was tucked away in the woods, nearly invisible from the main road. If Cillian hadn't known it was there, they might have missed it entirely.

"This is it," he said, parking the car in front of the cabin.

Amara and Malik exchanged wary glances as they climbed out of the car. The cabin looked rustic but sturdy, the kind of place that seemed built for someone who wanted to disappear from the world.

Cillian led the way inside, the door creaking slightly as he pushed it open. The interior was sparse but comfortable-wooden floors, a small fireplace, and simple furniture. It wasn't luxurious by any means, but it was enough.

Amara helped Malik over to the worn couch, where he collapsed with a groan. His face was pale, his breathing labored, but he waved her off when she tried to fuss over him.

"I'm fine," he muttered, though his voice was weak.

Amara wasn't convinced, but she knew better than to push him. She turned her attention to Cillian, who was busy securing the house. He checked the windows, locked the doors, and made sure the perimeter was clear. His movements were efficient, methodical-like a man who had done this a thousand times before.

When he was finally satisfied, he came to stand in front of Amara, his expression guarded. "We'll be safe here for now. It's off the radar. No one should be able to find us."

Amara nodded, but the word "should" echoed in her mind. There were no guarantees in Cillian's world. Not anymore.

"Thank you," she said quietly, surprising herself with the words.

Cillian's eyes softened for a moment, though his response was typically gruff. "You don't need to thank me. Keeping you safe is part of the deal."

Amara didn't argue, though she felt the weight of his words. This wasn't just about protection anymore, and they both knew it. There was more between them now, an unspoken connection that had been growing since the moment she had stepped into his world.

The weight of that connection hung between them now, thick and heavy.

"I'm going to check the back," Cillian said after a long silence, breaking the moment. "Make sure everything's clear."

Amara watched him go, her chest tightening with emotions she didn't know how to name. She had been so sure she hated him when all of this started. He had kidnapped her, taken her away from her life, her freedom. But now... now she wasn't sure what she felt anymore.

She turned to Malik, who was watching her with that same knowing look he always had.

"You care about him," Malik said quietly, though it wasn't a question.

Amara's breath caught in her throat, her gaze dropping to the floor. "It's complicated."

Malik nodded slowly, his expression pained, though she wasn't sure if it was from his injuries or something deeper. "Just don't lose yourself in this, Amara. You've always been strong. Don't let him take that from you."

Amara swallowed hard, her emotions a tangled mess inside her. "I won't," she whispered, though she wasn't sure if she believed her own words.