Protected By All, Protecter Of One

Part 4 - Protecting A Secret

Cash and I sat in the backseat of my mother's car as she drove us to our destination. She's required to take us up.

"Cash, shouldn't you be at home resting? I'm thankful that you're supporting my decision in keeping Raine away from firearms, but you were beat up pretty badly." Mom said, glancing at us through the mirror.

"I needed to get out of the house. And, we made a deal." Cash replied.

"How's your mother, by the way?"

"Extremely shaken up. She had some terrible nightmares and it doesn't help that my father left on a business trip." Cash seemed disappointed. "I feel bad that I wasn't there to help."

"Where were you?"

"On the roof." I answered. "Cash saw me and decided to come keep me company." Mom softly nodded. Cash gave me a gentle smile.

"Hey, ma'am, where exactly are we going?" Cash asked.

"You didn't tell him?" Mom asked me. I shook my head. "Her father's work. He still works undercover, but he's just the leader of our operation." Mom explained briefly. Cash softly nodded his head. I pulled my legs onto the seat and hugged them to my chest. I stared out the window.

~

I swung my door shut. The sound of a click signalling that it locked. The three of us walking inside the building. I pulled my key card from my wallet. "Who's this?" Our desk manager asked.

"He's with me and that's all you need to know." I hissed, swiping my card. The guy looked to my mother who nodded. They let Cash in behind me. Mom led us to my father's office to the right of the elevators. The elevators lead down into the secret stuff. We entered the office room. I took a seat whereas my mother and Cash stood. After all, I'm the one he's here for. Dad came in through his own entrance, smiling brightly at us.

"Cash, Raine." He greeted. He shook Cash's hand whereas I got a hug. "Honey." He finished off, giving his wife a kiss on the cheek. "I'm actually glad you brought Cash in seeing as the matter has to do with him as well." My eyes narrowed.

"What matter?" I growled uneasily.

"We'll discuss that in a moment. Firstly, are you going on that mission?"

"No." Cash and my mom replied before I could speak. My father looked at me though, wanting my reply. I sighed.

"No." I agreed. He nodded his head.

"Okay. We have some bad news. Gunther escaped." My blood ran cold at my father's words. I'm probably pale in the face. My stomach swirled a bit. "He's no longer after Cash." I tried to swallow the lump in my throat, but it just came back. "I'm sorry to say this, but he wants you. We have every agent within miles of our town searching for him, but he will find you. That's where we need Cash." I looked back at my friend. He seems taken aback.

"What for, uh, sir?" Cash asked hesitantly. I pulled my knees up to my chest and wrapped my arms around them.

"You can street fight, correct?" My father inquired. Cash nodded his head.

"Raine and her brothers, maybe even her friends, are in charge of teaching you to properly fight. That is if you agree to help in protecting Raine."

"I-" Dad held up a finger to silence me. I sighed.

"I know you can handle yourself, Raine, but it's good to have backup." Dad scolded. I groaned, throwing my head back. Cash put his hand on my face. I tried to bite his finger, but he moved it too quickly. "Do you agree?"

"Sure. I've got nothing better to do." Cash agreed easily. I scowled at him.

"Think about it this way, Raine, you get to spend time beating him up." Mom encouraged. I piped up with a grin.

"Your brothers and friends are in the basement. Join them whenever you're ready. I'm taking your mother on a date." With that my parents then left the room. Cash and I stayed for a moment.

"This should be fun." Cash whispered. He walked around my chair, stopping in front of me. He bent down, placing his hands on the arms of the chairs. He's so close. I reached up and wrapped my arms around him. I brought him closer until our lips met. One of his hands entangled itself into my hair. Cash ran his tongue against my bottom lip. I opened my mouth just a sliver to let him in. Cash didn't though. He just softly grazed my lip with his teeth. When he pulled away, he laughed at my slightly lost expression. "You're nervous, Raine. Besides, I like this pace. Slow and easy." I softly nodded. "Come on." He stood up straight. I got out of my chair then we walked to the elevators. I hit our designated floor. The elevator carried us down. The doors opened and we stepped out. I quickly surveyed the room. Xander and Xavier are sparing, Tyler is throwing knives, Asher, Maxwell, and Jonah are firing guns in the soundproof range, and Alister is stretching. "Wow..." Cash awed. I chuckled lightly.

"Welcome to the training center." I announced. "Xander, Xavier!" I barked. They stopped and walked over to us. "Cash needs a sparring buddy and I'm not go at going light. Be nice. He's still injured."

"What're you going to go do?" Cash asked. Xander shook his head and led Cash away. Xavier smirked at me and put his fists up. I nodded, engaging my brother in a match.

~

"Ow... Ow..." Cash groaned with every other step. "That was so intense." He sat down on a bench.

"What'd you do?" I asked with a chuckle. I heard the elevator ding, meaning someone is coming down. Xander checked his phone then motioned to Cash. I got the message. "Hey, why don't you go to the shooting range, yeah?" I got up and pushed Cash over to the shooting range. Once he was in, I locked the door. Asher shut the blinds. I walked over to the elevator right as it opened to reveal Maverick Baker.

"Did not expect anyone to be here." Maverick muttered.

"You have to leave." Xavier said. Maverick's eyebrows furrowed.

"Cash is here and he's not supposed to know you're an agent." Alister explained.

"Oh... Yeah, I should go." He went to walk into the elevator, but Xander pulled him back. We all pointed to the stairs. He jogged to the door.

"Tell Lani the same!" I called. He gave me a thumbs up before disappearing. "That was close."

That's part four! I hope you enjoyed it.

Peace.
Love.
Out.