Under His Protection

Chapter 38: Calm Before the Storm

The morning sun peeked through the thin curtains of Travis and Taylor's shared bedroom. Despite the chaos of the last few weeks, the house felt eerily still, as though the world had taken a moment to pause. Travis stretched lazily on the bed, his arm reaching out for Taylor—but the spot next to him was empty.

He sat up quickly, his heart briefly lurching in panic until he heard her soft humming coming from the hallway. Moments later, Taylor entered, holding a tray of breakfast—pancakes, fruit, and coffee balanced delicately in her hands.

"Breakfast in bed?" Travis teased, the tension in his shoulders easing as his lips tugged into a smile. "What did I do to deserve this, Angel?"

Taylor placed the tray down, sitting on the edge of the bed. "You've been carrying the weight of the world lately. I thought you deserved a morning where someone took care of you for once."

Travis smirked, pulling her gently onto his lap. "You're already takin' care of me just by being here, you know that?"

She leaned in, brushing her lips against his in a lingering kiss. "Eat before the coffee gets cold, big guy."

Later that morning, Travis, Patrick, and Ross gathered in the study, mapping out the final security reinforcements around the compound. Despite Santino's silence over the last two days, no one was willing to let their guard down.

"Something feels off," Patrick muttered, his eyes scanning the maps on the table. "Santino's quiet. Too quiet. I don't like it."

Travis leaned back in his chair, arms crossed over his chest. "He knows he lost ground after Lily got away. He's regrouping—probably trying to figure out how to fix his mess."

Ross tapped the table with his pen, deep in thought. "Or he's planning something bigger. You know how guys like Santino think. They don't just disappear."

Travis's jaw tightened, his mind flashing back to the image of Lily—bruised, scared, and so close to being mistaken for Taylor. The thought of what could have happened made his blood boil, but he pushed it down, focusing on the task at hand.

"Doesn't matter what he's planning," Travis said finally, his voice low and steady. "We'll be ready. He wants a war? I'll end it before he even gets the first shot off."

Patrick nodded, though his gaze was still uneasy. "Just keep Taylor close, man. You know she's his biggest target."

Travis's face softened slightly. "She's not going anywhere."

Taylor spent most of the afternoon in the living room with her mother, sorting through baby clothes and talking about the nursery. The quiet, domestic moment felt like a glimpse of normalcy—one that Taylor cherished, even with the dark storm still brewing on the horizon.

Her mom held up a tiny onesie, a smile lighting up her face. "Two little boys... I can't believe it. Have you thought about names yet?"

Taylor shook her head with a soft laugh. "We've tossed around a few ideas, but nothing feels right yet. Travis is convinced they'll be little football players, so he keeps throwing out names like 'Madden' and 'Brady.'"

Her mom laughed. "I can see that. Travis is already proud of them, even before they're here."

Taylor smiled, her hand brushing against her belly. "He's going to be an incredible dad. I just want them to have a normal life, you know? Safe, happy... away from all of this."

Her mom's expression turned serious, and she reached over to squeeze Taylor's hand. "You and Travis are stronger than you think. No matter what happens, you're going to figure it out. Together."

Before Taylor could respond, the front door opened, and Travis walked in, his presence filling the room instantly. He looked at Taylor, his expression softening the moment their eyes met.

"How are my three favorite people?" he teased, crossing the room to kiss the top of Taylor's head.

"We're fine," Taylor said, smiling up at him. "Did you figure out everything with Patrick and Ross?"

"Yeah," Travis replied, though his tone was tight. He crouched down in front of her, his hands resting on her knees. "We're locking this place down tight. Santino won't get within a mile of you."

Taylor brushed her fingers through his hair, her heart aching at the worry etched into his face. "I trust you, Travis. You've done everything to keep us safe, and I know you always will."

He pressed a kiss to her belly, his voice a low murmur. "I won't let anything touch you or the boys, Angel. I swear it."

That night, Taylor lay curled up in bed, listening to the faint sounds of Travis pacing downstairs. The stress was eating at him—she could feel it. She slipped out from under the blankets and made her way to the study, where she found him standing by the window, a glass of whiskey in his hand.

"You're brooding again," Taylor said softly, leaning against the doorframe.

Travis turned to look at her, his expression unreadable. "Can't help it. Every time I close my eyes, I see what could've happened. To you. To the boys."

Taylor walked over, taking the glass from his hand and setting it aside. She cupped his face gently, forcing him to look at her. "Stop carrying this all on your own, Travis. You're not in this alone."

He let out a shaky breath, his hands resting on her waist. "I don't know what I'd do if I lost you, Angel. I don't even want to think about it."

"You're not going to lose me," Taylor whispered, pressing her forehead against his. "We're here. We're safe. And we'll get through this together."

Travis pulled her closer, holding her like she might disappear if he let go. "I love you, Taylor. You know that, right?"

She smiled softly, her lips brushing against his. "I love you, too. Always."

As they stood there in the quiet, wrapped in each other's arms, Travis allowed himself to believe that, maybe, just maybe, they could get through this. The fight wasn't over, but as long as he had Taylor, he knew he had something worth fighting for.

And he wasn't going to let anyone take that away from him.