38. Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Six
Sunny
I jolt awake, heart hammering against my ribs. The sheets tangle around my legs like restraints, and for a moment I'm back there—pinned down, helpless, Garrett's breath hot on my neck.
No. I'm at the safehouse. In Z's house.
My T-shirt—Z's T-shirt—clings to my skin with cold sweat. The digital clock on the nightstand blinks 2:47 AM in harsh red numbers. Sleep feels impossible now, the nightmare still clinging to the edges of my consciousness.
I swing my legs over the side of the bed, pressing my feet against the cool hardwood floor. The contact grounds me, helps push back the lingering panic. I need to get out of this room.
The hallway is dark but there's light spilling up from downstairs. Voices drift up—low, male voices that make me freeze for a split second before I recognize them as Wolf and Chase.
I pad down the stairs, careful to avoid the creaky third step I noticed earlier. The kitchen light spills into the hallway, and I can see them hunched over laptops and papers spread across the kitchen table.
"No, look—" Wolf points at something on the screen. "Eddie and Jake will be here tomorrow evening. If we put them here and here during the night shift..."
"Hey Angel—sorry, Sunny." Chase notices me first, his massive frame straightening. "Everything okay?"
"Yeah, just..." I wave vaguely at nothing. "Couldn't sleep. Thought I'd come down and get some water."
Wolf immediately stands. "Here, let me—"
"I can get it." I move to the cabinet I saw Z take glasses from earlier. "Don't let me interrupt."
"You're not interrupting." Chase pushes back from the table. "We're just going over security protocols for when the boss gets here in a couple days."
My hand trembles slightly as I fill the glass. The boss. Levi.
"Want something to eat?" Wolf asks. "Z went out earlier and got some of those protein bars you said you liked."
The offer catches me off guard. I mentioned them in passing. A week ago. "Sure, thanks."
Chase pulls out a chair. "Join us."
I settle into the chair, accepting the bar Wolf hands me. The papers spread across the table are blueprints of the property, guard rotation schedules, security codes.
"I don't want you to get in trouble. Isn't this all super-secret, or something?" I say, taking a bite and waving my hand over the stacks of papers.
"Are you a spy?" Wolf says, his tone serious.
"No."
"Then no worries, right?" His face breaks into a wide smile, and Chase chuckles.
"So, Eddie and Jake, from Sirens? They're coming?" I ask.
"Yeah, Z called them earlier. He seems to trust them, and they jumped at the chance to make some real cash. It doesn't hurt that they seem to have kind of a sweet spot for you. They'll be part of the night shift rotation." Wolf taps the schedule. "Day shift will be mainly us and the guys coming with Levi and Colt."
"How many..." I clear my throat. "How many people are coming?"
"About a dozen." Chase's voice is gentle, like he understands why the question's important to me. "All good guys. But most of them will be sleeping in the bunkhouse out back. There's only going to be a few more guys in here. With us. You're gonna love Rex. He’s hilarious."
I manage a small smile at that.
The casual conversation helps ease some of the tension in my shoulders. I watch as they continue working out the schedule, pointing out different access points on the property.
"Main gate code changes daily," Wolf explains, making notes while Chase listens. "Secondary gates every three days. Emergency override stays the same."
Chase scribbles a number down on a piece of paper with a long list of numbers written on it.
7726. I memorize the number and a few of the locations they discuss on the blueprint. Just in case.
"These motion sensors," Chase points to red X's on the paper. "They'll be live 24/7 except during shift changes. Anyone tries crossing that line, the whole place goes into lockdown."
"The kind of lockdown where you need that override code?" I ask before I can stop myself.
Wolf's eyes crinkle at the corners. "Smart girl. Yeah, exactly that kind."
We fall into comfortable silence as they continue working. The protein bar settles my stomach, and the nightmare feels further away with each passing minute.
"You know," Chase says after a while, his deep voice surprisingly soft. "It's good having you here. Place feels less... I don't know. Heavy."
"What he means is it's nice having someone around who can put Z in a good mood," Wolf adds with a grin.
I find myself smiling back, genuine this time. "Well, thank you. I guess."
Their easy banter washes over me as they finish up the schedules.
"You should try to get some more sleep," Chase says eventually, gathering up the papers. "A lot going on over the next few days."
The reminder of what's coming sends a fresh wave of anxiety through me, but I nod. "Yeah, probably should."
"Hey." Wolf's voice stops me as I stand. "We've got your back, okay? No matter what happens."
I swallow hard against the sudden tightness in my throat. "Good night."
I climb back upstairs, my feet dragging against the carpet. The conversation with Wolf and Chase left me feeling oddly lighter, despite everything. My bed welcomes me back, sheets cool against my skin, and before I can spiral into thoughts about Levi's arrival, sleep claims me.
Sunlight streams through unfamiliar curtains when I open my eyes. The clock reads 12:07 PM and I bolt upright. I never sleep this late. Ever. Never more than a few hours at a time. But here, in this strange house full of dangerous men, I've somehow managed the deepest sleep I can remember.
The house buzzes with activity when I venture downstairs. Voices and footsteps echo from different rooms, along with the occasional power tool whirring. The smell of something amazing cooking draws me toward the kitchen. Again.
Z and Jayce work in perfect sync, moving around each other like they've done this a thousand times. Z chops vegetables while Jayce stirs something on the stove that makes my mouth water. They're mid-conversation, both grinning.
"Man, you should've seen his face when Wolf told him the security system was voice-activated." Jayce laughs, adding spices to whatever he's cooking.
"Chase actually believed that?" Z shakes his head, sliding diced peppers into a bowl.
"For like ten solid minutes. Kept trying different voice commands."
Something in my chest aches watching them. Their easy friendship, the inside jokes, the comfortable silence between words—it's something I've never really had. Even Jade, as close as we are, only knows the carefully edited version of my life I've allowed her to see.
Z spots me hovering in the doorway and his whole face lights up. "Look who finally decided to join the land of the living."
"Sorry, I didn't mean to sleep so late."
"Are you kidding? I'm glad you finally got some rest." He waves me over. "You've got to try this soup Jayce is making. He thinks he's some kind of master chef."
"I am a master chef, thank you very much." Jayce holds up a spoon. "Here, taste this and tell Z he's wrong."
I take a careful taste. The soup explodes with flavor on my tongue—rich and spicy and perfect. "Oh wow."
"See?" Jayce points the spoon at Z triumphantly.
"Speaking of cooking," Z says in a serious tone, "did I mention that you are standing in the presence of someone who burned water?"
"Z!" My cheeks heat up. "That was one time."
"She set off the smoke alarm. Boiling water. Just water."
"How do you even..." Jayce stares at me in mock horror.
"I got distracted! And anyway, I do just fine without cooking."
"Oh yeah?" Jayce raises an eyebrow. "How's that?"
I pull out my phone, showing them my favorites list. "I have an excellent relationship with every delivery place in town. Speed dial and everything."
"That's it." Jayce shakes his head. "No way. You're learning to cook. This is unacceptable."
"I'm really good at microwave meals too," I offer, which makes them both groan.
"Basic life skills, Sunny." Z bumps my shoulder with his. "You can't live on takeout forever."
"Watch me." But I'm smiling, caught up in their playful energy.
"Nope. Starting tomorrow, you're getting cooking lessons." Jayce points the wooden spoon at me. "Non-negotiable."
"Will you teach me how to make your soup?"
"If that's what it takes?" He grins.
Z watches our back and forth with something soft in his expression that makes my heart do a funny little flip. For a moment, I can almost forget why I'm here. Almost.