CHAPTER SIX

"Sor! Five men breaking into the cabin!" yelled Hiro.

"Yep," he growled as the men ran toward the ATVs. They took off across Belle Fleur, cutting through the trails and then through the opening at the edge of the property. Only a mile on the other side was Sor's cabin. He texted Nell.

We're almost there.

I'm scared.

I know baby. I know.

"Fuck!" he yelled.

"Hey, stay with us. Don't do something stupid," said Garr. "We're almost there."

Parking the vehicles just inside the property line, they took off running toward the cabin. Luke pointed ahead at someone crouched low near one of the windows. He stopped, knelt in the wet earth, lined up his shot, and fired.

"One down."

Hex and Cam moved to the left, spotting two more men trying to open the back door. Kneeling down, they lined up their shots.

"I got the one on the left," said Hex.

"Got the right," whispered Cam. Shot fired. Shot fired. "Two down."

"That should leave two," whispered Sor.

"One," said Joseph. "One dead by my knife on the porch."

"Fuck, that means the other is inside the cabin." Sor took off so quickly no one could stop him. He didn't give a damn if someone killed him, but he'd be damned if anyone was going to hurt Nell. With the front door ajar, he pushed it further, staying low with his weapon high. Then he heard a voice.

"She's here. I can smell her perfume," said a man.

Sor held up one finger to his teammates, pointing toward the back. Luke nodded, Cam and Hex following as Joseph marched down the hallway. Taking long strides, Sor stood at the door of the bedroom, seeing a man he didn't recognize on his knees, looking beneath the bed.

"She's hiding…" He turned quickly, his weapon drawn.

"I fucking dare you," said Sor. "Please. Give me a reason to blow your brains out."

The man set his weapon down, staring at the five men around him. Slowly, he stood, his hands raised.

"They'll get to you. And her."

"Who? Who are they?" asked Sor. The man tilted his head in a questioning glance. "I asked you a fucking question. Who is they?"

"Sorry. I don't get paid enough for that."

The red dot of a laser scope hit the man's chest, and he was dead two seconds later. Without concern for him or the shooter, Sor moved to the hidden room, opening it to find Nell trying to stay warm in the small space.

"It's okay, baby. It's okay. I'm here," he said, pulling her into his arms.

"S-Sor," she stuttered. "I was so scared."

"I know. I know, and I'm so fucking sorry," he whispered.

"They didn't say anything. Just that they would find me. I didn't hear anything else," she said, squeezing closer into his body.

"Sor? Take her back to Belle Fleur," said Cam. "We'll handle the bodies and get ID. Joseph took off after the shooter."

"Come on, baby. Let's get you fully dressed and pack your things. You're coming home with me."

Nell didn't bother to argue. It wouldn't have done her any good even if she had. Sor was prepared to toss her over his shoulder and carry her as far away as he could. Although she was dressed, she had no shoes and socks on, and her hair was a mess. Sor gave her a moment, turning so she could gather what she needed. Then he felt her soft hand on his shoulder.

"Don't turn from me, Sor. I need you right now. I need you to see me."

"Honey, I can't help but see you all the time. In my sleep, in my dreams, in the middle of the fucking day. I just wanted to give you some privacy." She nodded, falling into his arms. She hadn't broken down yet, but then again, she didn't really break down with the mess from her ex-husband. She was strong. Stronger than any woman he'd ever known.

"We'll come back and get the rest of your things later," he said. "Just take what you need right now."

She nodded, throwing her things into the large leather duffel. Sor packed up her toiletries, grabbed her laptop and several file folders, and then waited for her. As they stepped out onto the front porch, there were nearly thirty men waiting for them.

"What are they all here for?" she asked, looking at Sor. He laughed, shaking his head.

"For you, babe. They're ensuring your safety."

"Me? I don't think they really wanted me."

"No. I don't think so either," he said. "I think they wanted me for some reason, and I'm so fucking sorry for that, Nell. I'm going to make sure you're safe, and I'll leave you be."

"Wh-what?" she gasped.

"I can't put you at risk, Nell. I can't." She nodded, then looked up at him, biting her lip. Alistair took her bags from her, placing them in one of the trucks. Nell nodded a small thanks, then turned back to Sor.

"Too fucking bad."

"What? Nell, you don't understand," he started.

"No. You don't understand, Sor. You said you loved me. When I texted you, you said you loved me."

"I do. I swear to God, I do."

"Well, lucky for you, I feel the same way. So, too fucking bad if you don't want to risk my safety. I'm not stupid. Whether we're together or not, my life is still at risk because someone knows I'm important to you. I'm not going anywhere, and neither are you. We've been through too much, been hurt too much to ignore this," she said, pointing from him to her and back again. "So, too fucking bad. I'm staying with you. End of story."

"You go, girl," smirked Cowboy.

"Shut the fuck up! I'm putting her in danger," said Sor.

"You don't know that," said Cam. "Not yet, anyway. But we will. Either way, she's right. She's in danger whether you love her or not. What you have to ask yourself is whether or not you could stand not knowing where she was or whether or not she was safe. Could you stand thinking about her being protected by someone else? Maybe we put her in Garr's cottage."

Sor's head whipped around as Garr smirked at him.

"I swear to fuck, I will kill you!" he snarled.

"Whoa, whoa," laughed Garr. "This is your call."

"No. No, it is not," said Nell. "I'm so sick of men making decisions for me. Assuming they know what's best. You love me. I love you. Done." Sor stared at her, swallowing as she crossed her arms beneath her breasts. Her hair was still a bit damp, but he smelled her shampoo and perfume.

"You love me?" he whispered. Nell let out a slow breath, relaxing her arms.

"Yes, Sor. I love you so much it hurts. It hurts in a good way," she smiled up at him. He pulled her in close, kissing the top of her head, inhaling her fragrance.

"Brother. Get the woman back to Belle Fleur. She's exposed out here, and so are you," said Luke. Sor nodded, taking her hand and sliding into the backseat of the SUV. Garr and Cowboy drove them back to Belle Fleur, but Sor never let go of Nell.

When they got out of the vehicle, Ajei, Sophia Ann, Gwen, Kate, and Claudette were all waiting for her.

"Are you hurt?" asked Ajei.

"No. A little shaken, but I'm not hurt," she said.

"Come on, honey. Let me just take a look at you," she said, pulling her toward the massive front porch of the big house. She shivered from the cool breeze, and Sor removed his jacket, draping it around her shoulders.

"Don't leave me," she said, looking up at him.

"I'm not going anywhere, honey. I'll be on the porch with you."

"That's not what I meant, Sor. Please. Don't leave me. Don't leave me alone. We've come too far together. I know all of that probably scared you and made you want to run from me but please don't. We can get through this together."

"Fuck," he muttered, pulling her in again. "I was being stupid, honey. You're right, it scared the shit out of me. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if you were hurt. I couldn't leave you any more than I could stop breathing the air around me. You are the air around me. I'm not going anywhere."

"Good. Because neither am I."