11. Sophia
ELEVEN
Sophia
Blake’s twin brother, Carter, approaches with a protective arm wrapped around Jenna’s waist. Beside them, a large German Shepherd pads along, alert eyes scanning the room. Max’s slight limp, the aftereffects of a bullet wound, catches my eye.
Guilt twists in my stomach; Max took that bullet because of me. He was protecting Jenna, but it never would have happened if I hadn’t arranged her abduction.
“Speak for yourself, pretty boy.” Blake stands, pulling his brother into a brief, tight hug. “Some of us work for a living.”
The team chuckles at the twins’ banter. Jenna catches my eye, offering a warm smile that sends another pang of guilt through my chest.
“It’s good to see you.” She steps forward, arms open for an embrace. How can she be so kind after everything I did? “How are you settling in?”
“Pretty good. I’m a little in shock, honestly. I never would’ve expected such generosity.”
As we talk, Max settles at Carter’s feet. His watchful gaze never leaves Jenna .
“Yeah, they’re something else. Where did they put you up?” Jenna’s tone is warm and friendly.
“One of the dorms. It’s a whole apartment.”
“Have you thought about helping out at the shop?”
“I don’t know if I can help. I know nothing about coffee.”
“She’s right about that.” Blake chuckles. “Her coffee is foul, with a capital F.”
Jenna laughs. “I’ll teach you everything you need to know. I thought it might give you something to do rather than sitting around all day twiddling your thumbs.” She pauses, her expression softening. “Not that you have to, of course. I just… I thought it might be nice. For both of us. We could hang out and catch up.”
Her smile falters slightly, a shadow passing over her face as she realizes what she said. The memories I’d share aren’t pleasant ones.
“Thanks. I’d like that. Maybe we can make new memories instead of revisiting the past.” I force a small, reassuring smile, hoping to ease the tension.
“Then it’s done.” Jenna beams at me, relief evident in her tone. “Wonderful. Oh, and I wanted to invite all of you to the grand opening next week.” She turns her attention to the men.
“Guardian HRS moves fast.” Blake raises an eyebrow in surprise. “One week? You’ve only been here a few days.”
“This place does move fast, but Jenna moves faster.” Carter grins, reaching down to scratch Max behind the ears. “Once she sets her mind to something, there’s no stopping her.”
“It’ll be nice to have decent coffee around here for a change,” Gabe quips. “Any chance you’ll be serving your amazing blueberry muffins?”
“Blueberries have no business being in muffins,” Walt argues good-naturedly. “Do you make any with chocolate chips?”
“I do,” Jenna replies, her smile widening at the team’s enthusiasm. “They’re just as good as the blueberry ones, but I make scones, not muffins.”
The table erupts in laughter, and Max’s tail thumps against the floor, picking up on the jovial mood. As Jenna interacts with the team, her resilience amazes me .
A part of me aches for the life I could have had and the friendships I could have formed if my life had turned out differently—if I had been able to escape the way Jenna did.
As the conversation flows, I sit back and observe the group dynamics. Blake and Carter, so similar yet so different, share a shorthand language born of a lifetime together. Jenna, once a victim like me, radiates a quiet strength. And Max, ever-vigilant, is a constant reminder of the dangers lurking around the corner.
Max’s ears perk up at the mention of food as the conversation circles around favorite pastries and coffee blends. Carter slips him a small treat, earning a gentle nudge from the dog’s nose.
I lean back, taking it all in. The warmth of community, the easy affection between friends, even Max’s loyal presence—it’s everything I’ve ever wanted.
It’s the worst form of torture—showing me what my life could be like while knowing it’s something I can never have.
Ethan stands, clapping his hands to gather everyone’s attention. “Alright, folks, time to wrap it up. We’ve got a training exercise at the range. Let’s get moving.”
The team responds with groans and laughter. Everyone gathers their plates and busses the table. The camaraderie is palpable, the playful banter underscored by a shared sense of purpose.
“I’ve got to head out.” Blake’s hand finds the small of my back, his touch both comforting and unsettling. “We’re training at the range today.”
A flicker of disappointment crosses my face before I can hide it. Blake’s brow furrows with concern.
Rigel’s eyes light up. “Hey, if you’re interested in checking out some of that tech we mentioned, you could always drop in on Mitzy. She loves showing off her cool toys.”
Blake scratches his head, furrowing his brow. “I guess I could take her there, maybe after lunch?”
“She can come with us,” Carter says. “Jenna and I are headed there.”
Blake’s eyes find mine, searching. “What do you want to do?”
I pause, the question hanging heavy between us. The weight of making my own decision, a simple choice, is as thrilling as it is terrifying.
For so many years, every decision, every movement, was dictated by someone else. Blake waits, giving me space to think. The reality of being allowed to decide is monumental. I glance at Blake, his supportive eyes encouraging me. A small, nervous smile forms on my lips as I take a deep breath.
Finally, I meet his gaze. “I’d like to go with Jenna and Carter if that’s okay.” My voice grows stronger as I continue.
A mix of emotions flashes across his face—pride, concern, and something darker, more primal.
“Are you sure?” He steps closer, his voice low.
“I’m sure.” My heart races at his proximity.
Blake’s eyes darken, a silent conversation passing between us. His hand finds the small of my back, fingertips pressing ever so slightly. He leans in, his breath warm against my ear.
“I can’t wait to see you later.” His voice is husky.
As he pulls back, raw desire flashes in his eyes, quickly masked. His thumb traces small circles on my lower back, promising things to come.
“Already, I miss you.” Blake leans in for a kiss, his lips brushing my cheek. He lingers there, his breath warm against my skin.
My heart skips a beat at his words. Blake pulls back slightly, his eyes locking with mine. The intensity in his gaze makes my breath catch.
“We’ll talk more when we’re alone. And Sophia…” He leans in again, voice dropping to a husky whisper.
“Yes?” My voice trembles slightly with anticipation.
His hand tightens on my waist, fingers digging in just enough to remind me of his strength. A thrill runs through me, equal parts excitement and trepidation.
Blake’s eyes darken, a predatory gleam flickering in their depths.
A low growl rumbles in his chest. “You’re doing great.” His approval washes over me like a warm wave. “Enjoy the freedom to make your own choices now. Later... you’re mine.”
My breath catches. The promise of surrendering control to Blake, of letting go completely, is intoxicating. So very different from the fear that accompanied every moment of my previous life.
Images flash through my mind—Jonathan Greaves’ cruel smile, the constant terror, the pain of disobedience. His command to call him Master , to bow and scrape, and serve. I shudder, pushing the memories away.
This is different.
Blake is different.
With Blake, submission is a choice—a gift I give willingly, not something ripped from me. The trust between us is fragile and new, but it’s there, growing stronger with each passing moment.
As thrilling as exploring Guardian HRS might be, a part of me is already counting down the hours until I can lose myself in Blake’s arms and surrender to his need.
It’s a heady feeling, this power to choose. To say yes, knowing I could say no. To give myself over to Blake, not out of fear, but by a choice born out of desire and trust.
Yet a small voice in the back of my mind whispers.
Can you truly trust anyone after what you’ve been through? Aren’t you trading one form of control for another?
I push the thoughts aside.
This is different.
I am different.
With Blake, I’m not a thing to be used, abused, and put away until it’s time to do it all over again. I’m an equal partner, cherished and protected. I say equal as if I know what that means, but for the past few years, I’ve been anything but.
I’ve been subjugated and forced. Yet, with Blake, I believe someday I’ll truly understand what it means to be equal.
“Sophia?” Blake’s deep voice pulls me from my thoughts.
“Yes?”
“Are you okay? You zoned out for a minute.”
“I’m good. Just deep thoughts.” Anticipation and submission color my tone, but there’s something else there, too—a hint of wonder at my own capacity to heal, trust another, and actually desire physical intimacy with a man .
Blake’s eyes soften as if he can read the complex swirl of emotions behind my words. His thumb brushes my cheek, a tender gesture that speaks volumes.
“So am I, sweetheart,” he murmurs. “So am I. Have a good tour. I look forward to hearing all about it… later .” Blake steps back, his professional demeanor sliding back into place, but the heat in his eyes promises so much more.
The word later hangs between us, loaded with anticipation. As Blake leaves, the charged atmosphere in his wake makes my skin tingle in every place he touched me.
“Look at the lovebirds.” Gabe leans back with a grin.
Blake crosses his arms, growling, “Knock it off.”
“Our boy’s growing up so fast.” Walt shakes his head with a smirk.
Blake flips them off. “Mind your own business and play with your guns.”
As Blake leaves with his team, I fall in step with Carter, Jenna, and Max. The German Shepherd’s nails click against the polished floor, his watchful gaze never leaving Jenna.
“So, Sophia,” Carter’s voice is warm, “are you excited about helping at the coffee shop?”
“I think I am, but I’m nervous. I don’t think Jenna realizes how helpless I am, but having something to do will be nice.” I’m surprised by my enthusiasm.
“I can’t wait for you to start, and you’re going to do just fine.” Jenna beams at me as if it’s settled. “I’m thinking of calling it ‘Guardian Grounds.’ Too cheesy?”
“Definitely too cheesy.” Carter groans playfully.
“I don’t know. I kind of like it.” I shrug, and Jenna’s smile widens. “How about The Guardian Grind?”
“Perfect. I like that.” Jenna leans forward, her eyes bright with interest.
“Has anyone talked to you about the programs available here?” Carter turns to me, genuine concern evident in his expression.
“Not really.” I shake my head. “Blake mentioned the Facility and what they do there, but I’m not allowed to leave HQ… ”
“Well, it’s true that you can’t leave the grounds,” Carter says, leaning against the counter, “or rather, you shouldn’t, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take advantage of their services. Therapists who can come talk to you are on site if that’s something you’re interested in.”
“Maybe. I’ll think about it.” The idea of therapy makes my stomach churn, but I force a nod.
“No pressure. Just know it’s an option.” Carter’s expression softens.
We approach the Tech building, a towering structure of glass and steel that gleams in the morning sun. Security checkpoints line the entrance, each more advanced than the last.
“Wow,” I breathe in, taking in the array of scanners. “How does all this work?”
“Everyone has access cards.” Carter pulls out a sleek card from his pocket. “They’re encrypted with our biometric data and clearance levels.” He swipes the card, and a green light blinks. “Different areas require different levels of clearance.”
We pass through a series of scanners—retinal, palm, full-body. The air hums with unseen energy, making the hair on my arms stand on end.
As we enter the central atrium, a blur of color and energy comes barreling toward us.
“Welcome to my playground.” A petite woman with psychedelic rainbow hair rushes us. Glitter shimmers in her pixie cut as she bounces on her toes.
No introduction is needed, as I remember Mitzy from the briefing when I explained the nine Sentinels to the Guardians.
“Blake asked if you could give her the tour.” Carter chuckles at Mitzy’s boundless energy.
“Yes, he did. Texted me, too. Told me to show you everything.” She wraps an arm around my shoulders. “Come on, let me show you the cool stuff.”
She leads us down a corridor, chattering a mile a minute. We stop at a large room filled with strange equipment. Hexagonal platforms cover the floor, each with a harness and headset dangling above it.
“What is this?” I stare at the room, confused by what I see.
“This is our VR suite,” Mitzy announces proudly. “State-of-the-art training simulations. It’s Forest’s love child. He’s a freak when it comes to VR, and we’re finding all kinds of new applications every day.”
“How do they work?” I step closer, examining the sleek headsets.
“Put one on and find out.” Mitzy’s grin widens.
With trepidation, I slip the headset over my eyes after Mitzy gives me a brief ‘how-to.’ Instantly, the world around me disappears, replaced by a startlingly realistic cityscape. I take a hesitant step forward, and the platform beneath me moves, allowing me to “walk” through the virtual environment.
“This is incredible.” I turn in a slow circle. “How do you make it so realistic?”
“We use schematics when we can.” Mitzy’s voice comes through the headset’s speakers. “For places we can’t access or don’t have the architectural schematics for, we send in our bumblebee drones to map everything out.”
“Bumblebee drones?” I remove the headset, blinking as my eyes readjust.
“Oh, you’ve got to see these.” Mitzy practically vibrates with excitement. She leads us to another lab, this one buzzing—literally—with activity. “They’re great for getting covert intel on the ground. No one pays attention to bugs. Beyond that, we’ve found applications for them in search and rescue.”
“Search and rescue?”
“Oh yes, we just used them recently for one of our own. Bumblebees can search debris better than humans. They can move through the tiniest openings, locate survivors, and radio back to rescuers. We’ve already put them into production in the civilian sector specifically for that.”
Tiny, insect-like drones flit about the room. Some are no bigger than my thumbnail, while others are the size of my palm.
“Look. This is one of our bumblebees.” Mitzy holds out her hand. A tiny black bumblebee drone lands on her palm. “Perfect for recon and surveillance.”
“And the bigger ones?” I lean in, marveling at the intricate design.
“The dragonflies are a bit bigger. They can operate autonomously or with the help of a human. We developed them first but are finding the hive is superior.”
“Hive?”
“Bumblebees come in hives.” She doesn’t provide any further explanation, and before I can ask, she flits over to a four-legged robot that looks like a large dog or a small sheep. “This is one of our greatest successes: RUFUS.”
“RUFUS?”
“Robotic Ultra Functional Utility Specialists.” Carter supplies. “They work with the Guardian teams.”
Between Mitzy and Carter, I learn more about robots than I ever knew or wanted to know. However, I catalog and memorize everything… for later.
As we move through the building, I take in every detail. The layout, the security measures, the glimpses of restricted areas behind frosted glass. My heart races with a mixture of genuine fascination and calculated observation.
We pass by another lab, this one filled with rows of computers. A woman looks up as we enter.
“Hey, Mitzy, what’s up?” A striking woman with flowing, jet-black hair that cascades down her back in glossy waves, her beautiful eyes, dark and expressive, draw me in with their captivating depth.
“This is our cryptology division,” Mitzy announces. “And this is Jinx. Jinx, meet Sophia, Jenna, and Carter. Carter’s new to the Guardians, assigned as Jenna’s Protector, but he comes to us with a strong background as a detective.”
“Nice to meet you.” She shakes our hands while complex algorithms scroll across her screen before we move on.
Max pads along silently throughout the tour, his watchful gaze never wavering. Carter and Jenna exchange occasional glances, their fingers intertwined. A pang of envy and longing tugs at me, stirred by their easy intimacy.
As we near the end of the tour, guilt gnaws at me. These people have been nothing but kind. Mitzy’s enthusiasm is infectious, Carter’s quiet strength reassuring, and Jenna’s warmth inviting.
For a moment, I imagine what belonging here might be like. It’s easier to think about that than the reality ahead of me.
I glance at my watch. Blake is probably back from working with his team by now.
“Wow, I didn’t realize how much time has passed. Thank you so much for taking the time to show me around.” My words are sincere. “This was fascinating. There’s just so much to take in. I’d love to come back if that’s allowed… If only to drool at all the marvelous tech.”
“I get that a lot around here, and you’re more than welcome to visit anytime you want.”
As we leave the building, I take one last look around, cementing every detail in my mind. I’ve done what I came to do. Now comes the hard part.