24. Julian
CHAPTER 24
JULIAN
I awake to the soft light of early morning filtering through my curtains, casting a warm glow around my bedroom. Everything is the same as it's always been, the minimalist furniture, the pictures of Aria atop the dresser. But it feels completely different—lighter somehow—with Natalie lying beside me in my bed.
Memories of last night rush back: Natalie naked beneath me, all her walls down, our deep connection reaffirmed in our lovemaking again and again. She’s still asleep, her face relaxed and beautiful. A stray lock of golden hair rests across her cheek, dancing slightly in her easy breath that raises her bare chest. The sight fills me with a rush of affection, and I lean over to gently kiss her forehead, careful not to wake her.
I’d love for this moment to last forever—the two of us resting peacefully in the early morning light, safe and protected here in my room—but if I don't pull myself away now, I never will.
Carefully, I slip out of bed and make my way to the bathroom. In the shower, I let the cool water run over me, rivulets trailing down my tattoos like raindrops on stained glass. The fog of sleep leaves my mind, and I feel refreshed and ready for the day.
When I return to the bedroom, wrapped in a towel, Natalie is still asleep, looking peaceful and undisturbed. I dress quietly, and as I pull on my shirt, I check my phone for the first time since going to bed and notice a missed call.
It's an unsaved number. My curiosity piques, as does my concern. It could be one of the old acquaintances that I reached out to in my search for any tiny breadcrumb that might lead me to an answer.
My alert heightens, stomach clenching as I decide to return the call, and I try to steel myself for who might be on the other end of the line, what clues may be uncovered, or—most likely—only further disappointment.
Stepping out of the bedroom to avoid disturbing Natalie, I hit the call button, my heart rate climbing as I wait for the other end to connect.
"Hello?" The voice that answers is instantly recognizable despite the years of silence; a deep baritone that brings back a flood of memories from my military days.
“Hey, Mark. It’s Julian. Thanks for calling, man,” I say, momentarily relieved that the unfamiliar number belonged to a familiar person.
"Yeah, good to hear from you," he continues, though there's a hesitancy in his tone. "I got your email. What’s been going on?"
Something tightens in my chest, debating how much information I should share. “We've had a few incidents at my construction site; vandalism, threats. And there's a few things that just… Well, everything is pointing to Mason.”
The line is quiet for a moment, the only sound my own heartbeat pounding in my ears. “I was just wondering if you've heard anything about him,” I finally prompt, concerned by Mark's silence.
Mark's reply comes with a sigh, long and heavy. "Look, I don’t know all the details, but I do know Mason's been asking around about you. And not in a good way. Looking into your whereabouts or something. It doesn't sit right with me.”
It's my turn to pause, a chill creeping down my spine. My fears have been confirmed; all the coincidences involving Mason truly have been deliberate, targeted. He's been actively seeking me out.
"Thanks, Mark,” I finally manage. “I appreciate it. It’s getting pretty serious here. Every piece of information helps.”
"Stay safe, Julian. We both know how Mason can be. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to reach out. Not sure what I can do out here in Texas, but hey, I’ll try."
Mark’s offer does little to comfort me, instead conjuring more disturbing images of what might be in store for us. “Can you tell me anything else?” I ask.
"There's not much, but he’s been talking to some of the guys from the old unit. He seems... I don't know, obsessed? Like he's got his mind set on something and he can't let it go."
A knot forms in my stomach. “It's been so long. It's strange that he would be doing all this now.”
“Yeah, well, he must have caught wind that you were going back home or something. Decided now’s the time to… I don’t know…" Mark trails off, leaving the unsaid words hanging between us.
"Yeah, I get it. Thanks for letting me know, Mark. Seriously, this is helpful."
"Anything you need, just say the word." Mark replies, his voice firm with the unspoken bond of old comrades.
"Will do. Take care, Mark," I conclude, my mind racing as I end the call.
As I turn around, my heart skips a beat. Natalie stands in the doorway, my t-shirt draped loosely over her smaller, feminine frame. "Who was that?” she asks casually, stepping closer.
I hesitate, the details of my past with Mason suddenly feeling too heavy, too dark to bring into this moment. But I owe her the truth, especially now. "That was an old military friend, Mark. We were talking about the situation with the Langford, and we think it might be connected to someone we served with—Mason."
Nat folds her arms around herself. "Why would this Mason guy want to hurt you? What’s going on?"
I sigh, knowing this conversation is necessary, yet dreading it all the same. “Remember what I told you about that incident in the military, the one where I was injured?”
Natalie nods, her mouth pulled into a thin line. I lean back against the wall for support before I continue.
“Well, that operation—it was Mason's operation. I can't disclose the details, but basically, there was a major misstep in protocol during that mission. Nobody died, but it did lead to my being injured, along with a few others. It was really serious. All the blame landed on Mason.”
Natalie listens intently, her eyes never leaving mine. “So why would he be angry at you?"
"It’s complicated,” I try to explain, struggling to find the right words without revealing anything classified. “I was part of the investigation after, since I was there. Based on the evidence, I genuinely believed he was at fault. I couldn’t defend him, not when everything pointed to his negligence. He was pissed that I didn't back him up, but I couldn’t lie. It went against everything I stood for."
Her features soften as she digests the information, understanding the difficult position I was in. "So he thinks you betrayed him?"
"It seems that way. I knew he took it personally.” I shake my head, already feeling drained. “I guess he’s still holding onto that grudge."
Natalie steps forward, her hand finding mine, her touch a grounding reassurance. "That's a heavy burden to carry. You did what you thought was right. You can’t blame yourself for his actions now."
I nod, grateful for her support, but still unsettled by the potential threat Mason poses—not just to me, but to her and anyone close to me. "I know. Before joining the military, Mason was involved with some shady people. I was hoping that serving had helped set him on a better path, but who knows where he actually ended up. I’m not sure what he’s capable of now. We need to be careful."
"We will be," Natalie assures me, squeezing my hand. "We’ll handle this together, okay?"
After sharing a brief, reassuring kiss, I remember that I need to pick up Aria from her friend's house before Nat and I are due at work. As I mention this, Natalie's eyes light up with a genuine warmth. "I'd like to come with you," she says, "I really like Aria, and I'd love to get to know her more. If that’s okay."
Her statement catches me slightly off guard, and I don’t miss the vulnerability in it. The image it conjures—Natalie, Aria, and me, something like a family—is intensely domestic, and it stirs a mix of emotions within me. Part of me yearns for that kind of normalcy, the simple pleasure of shared afternoons and mutual affection. Yet, another part recoils, wary of the risk, of the danger posed by their proximity to me.
Despite my reservations, I nod in agreement, aware of how much Aria enjoys Natalie's company. “Of course. Aria will be thrilled to see you," I say, holding onto what little shred of optimism I can grasp.
We head out to the car, and as we drive, I can't help but bring up the topic of Nat's safety again. The threats that have been circling me keep Nat and Aria at the forefront of my mind. I outline some of the precautions I've been considering, emphasizing the steps I'm planning to take to ensure everyone's safety.
Natalie listens for a while, but then her stubborn streak emerges. "Julian, you're focusing a lot on keeping us safe, which I appreciate, but you need to think about your own safety too. You can't protect us if you're not safe."
Her concern is touching, but it also feeds into my instinct to protect, to be the one who shields others from harm. "I know you're worried about me, Nat, but I can handle myself. It's you and Aria I worry about."
"It’s you Mason wants," she insists, her voice firm. "You can't just brush that off. And besides, we're in this together, remember? That means looking out for each other, not just you looking out for us."
Her words make sense, and deep down, I know she's right. Still, the urge to ensure her safety over my own is overwhelming; a protective instinct that has always guided me but has now become a point of contention between us more than once.
We lapse into silence for the remainder of the drive.
When we arrive to pick up Aria, the sight of my daughter running towards the car with a bright, carefree smile momentarily lifts the weight from my shoulders. Her eyes light up as she spots Natalie in the front seat, and she hops into the car, her energy infectious as she chatters about the previous night with her friend.
Aria seamlessly pulls Natalie into conversation, the two of them instant friends. As I listen to them interact, the picture of what could be—a life that Aria and I both share with Natalie —softens some of the harder edges of my apprehension. Maybe Nat could be the final piece that's missing from our lives. Maybe, just maybe, I could allow myself to embrace this potential domestic bliss without letting my fears overshadow it completely.
As we drive back, Aria excitedly recounts her adventures, from the backyard treasure hunt she and her friend devised, to the make-believe game that had them running around as characters from their favorite fairy tales. Her enthusiasm is contagious, and even the weight of my worries lightens a bit as I listen to her animated chatter, and the way Natalie matches her energy perfectly.
Drawn into the vivid world Aria is describing, Natalie encourages her, laughing and asking questions. "So, who found the treasure first?" she asks, glancing back at Aria with a smile.
"I did, but I shared it with her," Aria replies proudly.
"That’s very kind of you, Aria," Natalie responds, her tone warm and supportive.
My care for the two of them swells in my chest like a balloon, nearly cutting off my air. I want to be content, to enjoy this simple moment, but my surge of feeling carries with it an unwelcome anxiety, drawing my thoughts once again back to the matter of their safety.
Initially, I thought that letting Aria stay the night at a friend's house would be good for her, and for me. But now that I know the reality of our situation—that Mason really is behind the sabotage, that he's been here in town, that he's coming for me—I can't take risks like that anymore. If anything were to happen to Aria when she was outside of my protection, I could never forgive myself.
"Aria, I was thinking," I interject, catching her eye in the rearview mirror. "Maybe we should take a break from visiting our friends for a little while."
Her excitement falters, her brow furrowing slightly. "But why? I love sleepovers!"
Natalie turns to me, her expression serious but unreadable.
"I know you do, sweetheart," I reply gently, trying to soften the blow. "I’m having some problems at work, and I’d feel a lot better if you were at home with either me or a sitter for now."
Aria’s face falls, her disappointment shifting into worry. "Is something bad going to happen, Daddy?"
"No sweetie, nothing bad is going to happen to you. Daddy always keeps you safe,” I assure her, even though my heart clenches at the uncertainty. It’s better she doesn’t know the extent of the threat.
Natalie remains silent during this exchange, her brow furrowed slightly. I can sense her discomfort, but this is ultimately my decision. As Aria's father, I get to decide what's best for her, how to keep her safe. And I hope Natalie will be able to respect that despite her stubborn tendencies.
The rest of the drive home is quieter, with Aria mulling over my decision in subdued thought. Natalie tries to brighten the mood by switching topics, discussing a new book she thought Aria might like.
“Do you like to read?” Natalie asks, attempting to inject some enthusiasm back into the conversation.
Aria perks up a bit. “I’m not very good at reading yet, but I like it when Daddy reads to me!”
“Maybe I could let your daddy borrow it, then?” Nat suggests. “You can keep it for as long as you like.”
“Of course,” I answer, grateful for Natalie’s help in navigating this delicate conversation. “That sounds like a great idea.”
As we pull into my driveway, Natalie’s hand brushes mine briefly, a silent gesture of support that I feel deeply. Even without words, her presence is comforting, helping to balance the scale between caution and normalcy for Aria’s sake.
I almost wish I could keep Nat tucked safely away in my home with Aria, too.