Page 114 of Forget-Me-Nots and Apricots

It didn’t look like a fortress. Theo unbuckled first, turning in his seat to face me. His expression was tight, but his voice was steady when he spoke.

"This is my home…," he said simply, reaching out to brush his fingers lightly over the back of my hand. "One of them, anyway. A safe house we keep for emergencies. It’s fully stocked, secured, and off-grid. No one knows about it but us."

I nodded stiffly, not trusting my voice. I was still trembling, my body buzzing with leftover adrenaline that had nowhere to go.

“What about Dakota and Gabriel?” I asked, the two had stayed behind.

Lucas's hands tightened on the steering wheel. "They're securing the scene and questioning the intruders. Gabriel will join us later, once he's certain the threat is contained."

"And Dakota?" I asked, my voice sounding small even to my own ears.

"Staying behind to coordinate with local law enforcement," Theo explained, his analytical mind clearly processing details even in crisis. "We have protocols for situations like this."

I nodded, trying to process everything that had happened in the last thirty minutes. One moment I'd been asleep in Theo's arms, feeling safe and protected, and the next...

"Come on," Lucas said, his usual playfulness replaced by a quiet intensity I rarely saw from him. "Let's get inside. You're shivering."

I hadn't even noticed until he mentioned it, but my body was trembling uncontrollably. Theo helped me from the car, his arm firm around my waist as we made our way to the front door. Lucas took point, scanning the surroundings with alert eyes before unlocking the door with a key from his pocket.

The interior was surprisingly warm, with soft lighting that activated automatically as we entered. It was smaller than Gabriel's mansion but meticulously organized—everything in its place, nothing extraneous or unnecessary. It felt distinctly like Theo's space—practical, efficient, yet unexpectedly comfortable.

"Security system engaged," Theo announced after tapping a code into a panel by the door. "Perimeter sensors active. We're secure."

I stood in the entryway, arms wrapped around myself, suddenly aware of how disheveled I must look—hastily thrown on clothes, no shoes, hair wild from sleep and panic. The events of the night crashed over me in waves: the alarm, the gunshots, the frantic escape. Lucas noticed my distress immediately, moving toward me with a gentleness that contrasted with the fierce protectiveness I'd witnessed earlier.

"Hey," he said softly, reaching out to steady me. "You're safe now. I promise."

My legs suddenly felt like they couldn't support me anymore. Lucas caught me before I could fall, guiding me to a nearby sofa where I sank down, my whole body trembling harder.

"She's experiencing an adrenaline crash," Theo observed, his analytical mind still functioning despite the chaos we'd just escaped. He disappeared briefly into another room, returning with a soft blanket that he wrapped around my shoulders. "The physiological response is entirely normal after what we've just experienced."

Lucas sat beside me, his usual playful demeanor replaced by quiet concern. "Deep breaths, flower girl," he murmured, his hand rubbing gentle circles on my back.

“Scenting her may help calm her.” Theo told Lucas, moving to sit on my other side. "Alpha pheromones can trigger a parasympathetic response, counteracting the stress hormones currently flooding her system."

I looked between them, still shaking. "I can't believe they found us," I whispered, my voice cracking. "How did they get through all that security?"

"Professional job," Lucas said, his voice hardening. "Whoever's behind this has resources." He leaned closer, his warmth seeping through the blanket as he gently pulled me against his side. The familiar scent of him—pine and citrus—wrapped around me, providing an anchor in the storm of my thoughts.

Theo's hand found mine, his thumb tracing small, precise circles against my palm. "The statistical probability of a random attack is negligible," he said, his analytical tone somehow comforting in its certainty.

"Which means they had specific intelligence on our location and security systems." His eyes met mine, serious behind his glasses. "They knew exactly where to find you."

A chill ran through me despite the blanket and Lucas's warmth. "So they were watching us? All this time?"

"It's possible," Theo acknowledged, his voice measured. "Though more likely they've infiltrated our information networks somehow."

Lucas's arm tightened around me. "Which means we have a leak. Someone who knew about the safe house, the security protocols."

"Gabriel will handle that angle," Theo said with quiet confidence. "For now, our priority is ensuring your safety and recovery."

I leaned into Lucas's warmth, drawing comfort from his steady presence. "I feel so useless," I admitted, my voice small. "You're all risking your lives for me, and I can't even—"

“Calm.” Lucas muttered, pushing out some of his scent and trying to get me to calm down. I relaxed a little bit, his scent letting me come out of my panicked haze.

“Thank you.” I mutter, but it didn’t stop the worry I still had about the situation.

"Your safety is our priority," Theo said, his analytical voice softening as he noticed my continued distress. "Gabriel and Dakota will identify how the security was compromised."

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