The forest was too quiet, like the trees themselves were holding their breath after what had just happened. James's grip on my hand tightened, as if letting go—even for a second—might give Mitch the chance to come back.
His silence said everything—James wasn't just angry; he was afraid. I could feel it in the way his muscles tensed, in the way his jaw clenched as if he were holding back a storm of thoughts. Mitch wasn't just some old friend; the weight of his name alone was enough to put James on edge. Whatever history they shared, it haunted him—and now it was haunting us.
James picked up the pace, moving deeper into the shadows, pulling me along as if sheer distance could erase Mitch's threat. His stride became a near march, his hand gripping mine like a lifeline—but it wasn't comforting. It was punishing. His fingers locked around mine so tightly that my knuckles ached, my nails digging painfully into my palm.
I tried to keep up, my lungs burning with every hurried breath, but James didn't slow down. He didn't even notice the tremor in my body or the way my breathing became sharp and ragged. The forest thinned, the crunch of leaves giving way to the harsh sound of gravel beneath our feet, and then suddenly—we were at a crossing, headlights flashing in the distance.
Only then did I realize I was being dragged, not led.
James's head snapped around. His eyes widened as if reality had just slammed back into him. Slowly, almost fearfully, he loosened his hold on me, and I watched his fingers release mine like they were guilty of a crime.
He stared down at my reddened hand, his face heavy with regret. "Oh my god… Lexi, I'm so sorry—I didn't… I didn't know." His voice cracked, and for the first time, I saw something raw and fragile in him.
"I'm okay," I whispered, forcing a smile even though my hand still throbbed. "Really… I promise."
The silence between us hung heavy, filled only by the distant hum of cars. James kept his eyes forward, jaw tight like he was holding the world together by sheer force. I hesitated, then finally spoke, my voice soft. "Is Cara… okay?"
His head turned slightly, expression unreadable for a moment. Then he exhaled slowly. "She's fine. I made sure she was safe before all this," he said quietly. His voice carried the weight I'd noticed every time her name came up.
I nodded, pretending that answer was enough, but the thought still nagged at me. I had never fully understood why Cara was so important to him… until now. And maybe it was the same with me. Since day one, James had been helping us, protecting us, and somewhere along the way, I realized I mattered to him too.
James finally tore his gaze from the empty road and started moving again. His hand still held mine, but he wasn't dragging me anymore—just guiding, though the tension in his movements made it clear he was still on edge.
We crossed the main road carefully, keeping to the shadows, and turned around a corner. The noise of traffic faded behind us, replaced by the echo of distant footsteps and the faint hum of underground machinery.
"Where… are we going?" I asked softly, my voice barely above a whisper.
James didn't answer right away. His eyes scanned every shadow, every alley, before finally settling on a set of stairs leading down. "Somewhere safe… for now," he said finally, his voice low and measured.
We descended together into the underground train station. The air smelled faintly of oil and concrete, damp and stale, and the fluorescent lights overhead flickered sporadically. The platform stretched out before us, empty except for a few scattered commuters who glanced up as we passed, oblivious to the tension coiling between us.
James released my hand for the first time in what felt like hours but stayed close, his protective presence almost suffocating in its intensity. "We should be able to blend in down here," he muttered, more to himself than to me, his eyes never stopping their restless sweep of the station.
I shivered, half from the cold, half from the awareness of just how close Mitch could be at any moment. But despite everything, I felt a flicker of relief. For now, at least, we weren't out in the open.
I took a hesitant step closer to him. "Lexi…" I murmured quietly, trying to meet his gaze, "I mean… I know Mitch is dangerous, but I trust you. I know you'll keep me safe."
His eyes softened, and he glanced down at me, jaw unclenching slightly. "You… you mean a lot to me, Lexi," he admitted, voice low, almost a whisper. "I don't care what it takes. You're not going to be a problem. I'll handle it."
The words wrapped around me like a fragile shield, but the unease lingered. Mitch had promised trouble, and I could still feel his presence, somewhere in the shadows outside the station. Even with James beside me, the knowledge that he was out there kept my heart racing.
James stepped toward the edge of the platform, scanning the tunnels. "We can catch the next train out," he said, pulling me gently along. "It'll get us farther away, at least until we can figure out our next move."
I nodded, gripping his arm lightly this time, feeling a strange mixture of fear and comfort. Together, we waited in the flickering light, knowing that Mitch wasn't done with us yet—but for now, we had a moment, a fragile sense of safety in the underground shadows.
James bought our tickets and led us onto the train, his movements precise and purposeful. He said we were heading to a place he called home—or at least that's what I assumed. A sense of unease washed over me as we stepped inside, like shadows were clinging to our heels. I could almost feel figures hovering just behind us, their presence heavy and watchful.
The train lurched forward, the wheels screeching against the rails, and my stomach flipped with every shudder. Despite the movement, the fear didn't ease—it only grew, curling in my chest like smoke. I glanced at James, trying to read him, but his expression was calm, controlled, like he had faced this kind of danger a thousand times before.
The moment we took our seats, three men appeared before us, stepping into the aisle like a wall. There was no way for James and me to move. Each of them wore a smirk that made my skin crawl.
James's eyes narrowed, his body tensing instantly. "It was Mitch, wasn't it?" he asked, his voice low but dangerous.
The men glanced at each other, then back at me, letting out soft, mocking laughs.
"Mitch tipped you guys off, didn't he? That prick," James growled, his hand tightening around the armrest as if ready to strike.
Without warning, the first man lunged at James. James didn't even blink—he sidestepped, grabbed the guy's arm, and twisted it hard. The man yelped and stumbled back, clutching his shoulder.
The second guy swung a metal briefcase at James's head. James ducked, the briefcase slamming against the seat with a loud clang. Sparks flew. James didn't hesitate—he delivered a quick uppercut to the man's jaw. He staggered, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
I pressed myself into the seat, my chest tight, watching in terror. My hands trembled, my heart felt like it would burst. Every punch, every grunt made the fear inside me grow.
The third man came at him fast, trying to tackle him. James pivoted, using the man's momentum to throw him into the wall of the train car. The impact echoed, and he crumpled to the floor groaning.
James's chest heaved as he looked back at me. "Lexi… stay down!" he barked, his voice low but filled with danger.
The three men got to their feet, their smirks gone. Now it was anger, pure frustration. They advanced together, but James didn't flinch. Every step he took, every muscle in his body screamed "don't mess with me."
One of them tried to rush him again, but James was faster. He grabbed the guy's arm and sent him crashing into the train door with a deafening bang. The other two froze, clearly thinking better of it, and James slowly advanced toward them, chest heaving, eyes sharp.
Finally, they backed off, muttering under their breath, leaving us alone in the train car. My knees gave out a little, and I gripped the seat, still trying to catch my breath.
James wiped a trickle of blood from his lip and glanced at me. "Stay close, Lexi," he said, his voice rough but soft. "I've got you."