21. Tyson
TWENTY-ONE
TYSON
What Carter wants, Carter gets.
As much as my brain is telling me this is an awful idea, my heart only wants to make the beautiful girl beside me happy.
Controlling Massi is easy, I know exactly where his limits lie, but Carter is a wild card, either succumbing to the liquor straight away, or staying up all night until every last drop is gone, all while seeming stone-cold sober.
Which version of her we get will be up to the powers that be, but nothing will stop me from protecting her, especially since our stock of weapons is waiting at the cabin.
My father’s old friend was happy to let us stay, supplied us with a few pieces from his collection, and left us a gassed up car that can’t be traced by the Cassini’s.
I’ve done everything in my power to ensure we’re moving incognito, almost like ghosts in the night, and while we recuperate in the woods, the people trying to guess our next move will be so far ahead of us, they’ll be scrambling to pick up even a trace.
The only blip thus far is Carter's father not believing our story right off the bat, but it was always a long shot, considering he knew I was the one who abducted her.
The trail Jasper left will undoubtedly keep him busy, but by the time those dead ends are combed through, we’ll be even further away than we are currently.
“Massi, get the lady whatever she wants,” I say as we pull into a liquor store, handing him a stack of funky looking bills, the cash we exchanged at the border looking like a rainbow.
“Vodka. Maybe a little juice for you boys, if you need it,” she giggles, winking at me while Massi runs into the store without a smart ass remark.
“What’s the matter with him?” I muse, tapping into Carter’s mind, since she lives inside of Massi’s head just as much as mine, and that hasn’t changed, even with how long we’ve been apart.
“He was tense when we went into the gas stations, too. Probably worried about cameras, which we should be trying to avoid,” she says, shrugging while staring daggers at the front of the store, her breathing slowed as she waits for Massi to exit.
“Hacking internationally, in real time, is quite the challenge, even for the most skilled techie,” I tell her, hoping it eases her worried mind, and allows her to breathe while we make stops over the course of our journey.
The second Massi exits the store, she audibly exhales, her shoulders relaxing as he walks toward the car, carrying a rather large bottle of vodka, and cranberry juice.
“Aw, did someone need a little juice? Did you buy a sippy cup, too?” She laughs, poking the bear so to speak, but Massi doesn’t even bat an eye, flicking her in the back of the head while she howls like a hyena at her own joke.
“Not everyone can knock back a line of vodka shots straight, my little party trick,” he snarks, referring to the one time we attended a party at our old house, watching with pride as she drank all the frat boys under the table, and then some.
She was an animal that night, and while they all fawned over her beautiful frame, she ran into our arms, the two of us struggling to spin her around while she latched her legs around our waists.
It was a rare night where we blended in with the crowd, felt like normal college kids, and had the chance to let loose, rather than always being the terrifying products of our parents.
“What are you thinking about, all silent and mysterious?” Carter regains my attention, her pretty blue eyes staring up at mine as she rests her elbows on the middle console.
“The night you showed those frat boys who was boss,” I laugh at the memory, but Massi freezes behind me, his stare burning into the back of my head.
“Ty, don’t,” he warns, and I pinch the bridge of my nose, suddenly remembering a very morbid detail about the night of the ambush.
It never sat right with me how the soulless mercenaries dispatched by Carter’s father executed those poor kids, the haunting massacre Massi witnessed, and then explained to me, being something I’ll never forget.
“What?” Carter wonders, her gaze shifting between us, but I understand Massi’s stern tone, and the reasons why we should nip this in the bud, now.
If Carter never knows, she’ll never put their blood on her hands, because as tough as she is, there’s still an emotional hurricane threatening to be unleashed under all that armor.
My eyes meet Massi’s in the rear view, the two of us exchanging a quick, but knowing glance, falling directly on the same page.
“Nothing, Principessina. We’re taking it easy tonight, that’s all. Ty shouldn’t be reminding you of the absolute spitfire you were that night … especially once we got upstairs,” he jokes, spinning the conversation back into something lighthearted, and for that, he deserves some kind of medal.
“Jesus Christ, I don’t think we slept until the sun came up,” she smiles, the most genuine one I’ve seen since we got her back, and it warms every single nerve-ending in my body.
“We’ll have one of those nights, and many more, once we sail away to somewhere tropical, Stellina. I promise,” I say, following the directions up the mountain, our cabin retreat only a few miles away.
“Tyson, will you help me take a shower? I really, so desperately, want to wash my hair,” she says after a few minutes of silence, and although her plea shocks me, I roll with it, acting nonchalant to chalk it up as no big deal.
“Absolutely. I’m pretty sure I got everything you need, including the diffuser,” I smile, catching her eyes as we roll through a stop sign.
“You did, but I need you to help me. Make me get under that water,” she reiterates, that tough tone of voice representing a version of her that immediately sends a shot of fear down my spine.
Carter has a unique way of getting what she wants, using her power of persuasion to push the needle in the direction she so chooses, but right now, I have to drag my heels in the sand, for her own good.
“I won’t be another person who forces you into something that feels like torture,” I argue, never one to stunt her growth, but also not interested in being another reason she loses control due to her trauma.
“You’re the only one I trust. Just like Jasper, he’s the only one I trust to help me through the nightmares. Please?” She begs, her voice breaking as her eyes meet mine, the tears welling while she attempts to blink them away.
There’s always been a reason why the three of us were brought together, and the perfectly balanced relationship we share is the exact remedy that Carter needs to put her pieces back together, with Massi and I playing different roles, but keeping the same goal in mind.
Over time, we’ve become masters in all things Carter, and six months apart hasn’t changed that, both of us finding a weakness in her and vowing to be the one to help her through it.
“Only because you said please, baby girl. Name the time and place,” I concede, not wanting to fight the beast, and choosing to do the thing that might break her down further than when we found her.
“Right when we get settled. I have to do this completely sober, without fear that we’ll be caught, or any of the scenarios that my mind conjures about my father finding me,” she says, sharing another glimpse into the inner workings of her mind, a very clear pattern as the ideas of capture are still at the forefront of her fears.
Rather than continue to harp on the fact that we’d quite literally die to protect her, I validate her feelings, giving her the safe space she’s searching for.
“Whatever you need. It’s not going to be easy, but we’ll get through it together, I promise,” I tell her, hoping that although they’re just words, she can find comfort in the open line of communication we have.
The road that leads to the cabin is long, windy, and a treacherous trail, but once the old wooden home comes into view, the journey we took to get here feels small, like everything that’s on the horizon is much bigger than we even imagined.
Covered by trees, the cabin sits atop the mountain, with nothing around for miles as we fall into our own private slice of heaven.
On the outside, it’s nothing spectacular, just wooden slats screwed together, but the old-fashioned, wrap-around front porch stands out, the best quality on its otherwise old bones.
“Wow,” Carter breathes, using one word to encapsulate the beauty we’re surrounded by.
“It’s as secluded as we could get,” I laugh, putting the car in park and finally inhaling a deep breath, the mountain air already feeling refreshing.
We travel light, so it only takes one trip before we’re unlocking the door and piling inside the outdated space.
As you’d expect, the walls are littered with dead animal heads, their creepy eyes following our every move as we make our way through the house.
It’s small, Massi and I stomping around like giants, but with two beds, one bathroom, and a kitchen, there’s nothing else we need.
“Come on, Principessina. We need to analyze the sleeping arrangements.” Massi leads Carter toward the bedroom, but she stops for a second, pressing her lips to my cheek.
“Go unpack, baby girl. I need to set up a few security measures,” I tell her, snaking an arm around her waist as I sit at the desk with my laptop.
“Find me when you’re done?” She asks, a small smile creeping across her lips, a playful demeanor radiating off her body, something I’ve dearly missed.
The further we’ve gotten away from her old life, the more relaxed she’s become, and while there’s no telling what’s next, I’m confident in the phases to come.
Before anything else, I set up small spy cameras, angling them toward the only exit, while placing a few around the common spaces as well.
While there’s no security system in this old cabin, I’m making due with what I have, placing a motion detector above the door, and on the front windows.
I don’t expect any unwanted visitors, but ultimately, I’d rather waste my time ensuring we’re protected, rather than end up sorry for not having our cabin completely covered.
The final step is gathering weapons, and just as he promised, my father’s friend stashed a pile of pistols, a couple shotguns, and an automatic gun, which I know Massi will appreciate.
For now, I reach for two handguns, slipping one in my waistband and saving the other for Massi.
Carter’s new blade is in my suitcase, along with the sheath, so I add that to my stockpile, knowing she’ll want it once we get cleaned up.
After weeks of planning, we’re finally here, at this cabin, and while the rest of the world passes us by, we’ll be holed up, letting our enemies think they’ve gained the upper hand.