The Sit - N - Spill Chronicles: Brewing

Chapter 13

The sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting soft shadows across the room. Annie stirred in the quiet of the cabin, the peaceful atmosphere almost surreal after the chaos of the previous night. The gunshot still rang in her ears, though the tremors from the fear had mostly settled, replaced now with a raw edge of resolve.

She turned toward the bed, where Kane was still asleep, his chest rising and falling with a deep, steady rhythm. The space between them felt charged—different somehow after their kiss. Her heart stuttered at the thought of it.

She shifted quietly, careful not to wake him just yet. As she sat up, a movement at the window caught her attention. The sun had barely risen, and yet the world outside felt different, like it was holding its breath. Annie could not shake the sense that everything had changed—last night had brought them closer, yes, but it had also made things even more dangerous.

She rubbed her eyes, trying to focus.

Before she could drift into her thoughts again, Kane stirred, his eyes fluttering open. He blinked a few times, disoriented for a split second, then his gaze locked with hers, steady and knowing.

"Morning," he muttered, his voice rough with sleep.

"Morning," she replied, her voice soft. "How're you feeling?"

He sat up, running a hand through his hair. "I have been better. You?"

Annie gave him a small smile. "I'm fine."

The space between them seemed charged with unspoken words, yet neither of them said anything. The kiss from last night lingered in the air, both a reminder of how far they had come and a promise of what was to come.

Kane shifted, pushing the covers aside and sitting up, his gaze still heavy with determination.

"So," he began, his voice steady, "I think it's time we follow up on the lead Ralph gave us about Sam's location."

Annie nodded, her mind already shifting into gear. The weight of their situation still hung heavy on her shoulders. "You sure about this? After everything that has happened, it feels like we are walking into something even bigger."

She gave a small, almost imperceptible sigh, feeling the tension creep up on her. She wanted—no, needed—a break. But she knew better than to ask for one. Kane was as determined as ever, and the urgency of their mission would not wait.

Kane met her eyes, his voice soft but unwavering. "I am sure. We cannot stop now."

There was something in his gaze—something that went beyond the fight for their town. Annie saw it clearly now: he was not just in this for Liberty Rose; he was all in with her, with whatever this growing connection was between them. And that realization hit her harder than she had expected.

She took a slow, steadying breath, the weight of their mission grounding her.

"Okay," she said, her voice now steady, matching the fire she saw in his eyes. "Let's go find Sam."

The quiet morning stretched before them like an open road, but neither Annie nor Kane could shake the feeling that the calm before the storm was only temporary. After their conversation, the air between them had thickened with purpose, an unspoken understanding hanging in the silence.

Annie stood by the window; her gaze drawn to the horizon beyond the cabin. "Ralph seemed pretty sure about Sam being in Sycamore," she said, her voice steady but laced with the uncertainty that still tugged at her. "It is our best shot at finding him. We need to go."

Kane's eyes narrowed slightly as he leaned against the bedframe, arms crossed over his chest. "Agreed. But we are not walking into that town blindly. We do not know what we are walking into." His voice was low, intense. "We take precautions. Liam's got that security team ready if we need backup."