Page 118 of Hot Chocolate & Hitmen

Atlas’ gaze finds mine, his blue eyes intense. “Stay safe.” His voice leaves no room for debate, but his hand brushes against mine, a touch that grounds me.

“Will do, Attie,” I whisper back with a quick nod. He raises an eyebrow, trying to look annoyed, but there’s a glint of amusement in his eyes that betrays him.

And with that, the three of them melt into the shadows, leaving Jason and me crouched in the snow.

In the silence that follows, I can barely make out their silhouettes moving through the trees, slipping closer to the cabin with a chilling precision that’s both impressive and eerie. Jason shifts beside me, clearly restless, frustrated by how easily they move and how out of place he feels.

Before I can comment, a muffled shout breaks the quiet. A second later, I hear a series of quick, decisive thuds from inside the cabin. I hold my breath, trying not to think too hard about what’s happening in there. Just as I manage to exhale, Teddy’s voice calls through the trees.

“Little One! Can you come here?”

I’m on my feet in an instant, hardly registering Jason’s irritated look as I hurry toward the cabin. My heart races as I dash over the icy ground, not stopping until I reach Teddy, who stands by the doorway with a look of relief.

“She won’t let us near her,” he murmurs quietly, stepping aside to let me through. “She’s terrified. Think you can help?”

I nod, swallowing hard as I step into the cabin. The scene inside has nothing on the Christmas dinner of a lifetime we just experienced, but there are a few lifeless bodies to maneuver around. The girl–a small, trembling figure wrapped in a torn blanket–presses herself against the far wall. Her wide, terrified eyes dart between Atlas, Key, and Teddy as her breath comes in short, sharp pants.

“Hey there,” I say softly, holding up my hands to show I mean no harm. “It’s okay. I’m Grace. We’re here to help you.”

She doesn’t move, but her eyes lock onto mine, a raw desperation in them that makes my heart clench. I step a little closer, careful to keep my movements slow, and kneel a few feet from her.

“I know you’ve been through a lot,” I whisper, keeping my voice gentle. “But these guys? They’re the good ones. They’re here to protect you. And so am I.”

She sniffles, glancing back at the men standing a respectful distance behind me. Her shoulders relax a little more, and when she extends her hand toward me, I move close, wrapping an arm around her trembling frame. She grips me tightly, like I’m her only tether, and I can feel her trembling beneath the thin blanket, the chill seeping from her skin as she clings to me.

“Let’s take a minute, okay?” I say softly, guiding her to sit on a small couch against the wall. “You’ve been through a lot, but you’re safe now. No one’s going to hurt you.”

She looks at me, still dazed, her eyes flitting over my face as if searching for some sign that all of this isn’t just another trap. I keep my movements slow and my voice gentle, and slowly, her breathing evens out.

“Can I check to make sure you’re okay?” I ask, keeping my tone light. She hesitates but nods, loosening her grip on myarm a bit. I kneel beside her and carefully start with her hands, examining her wrists where bruises tell their own story. “This is just to make sure nothing needs treatment right away,” I reassure her, taking her pulse gently with my fingers.

Her skin is cold, so I slip off my jacket and drape it over her shoulders, smiling softly. “I’m a nurse, so I promise, you’re in good hands.” I see something like relief flicker in her eyes, a faint but hopeful light.

As I move on to check her arms and then her ankles, I keep talking, filling the silence with gentle, simple words. “You know, I’ve got these three men who probably seem really intimidating right now,” I say with a slight smile, nodding over my shoulder toward Atlas, Teddy, and Key, who are waiting quietly in the background. “But they’re here for you. They’re actually pretty decent once you get past all that grumpy tough guy stuff.”

She huffs a shaky, almost-laugh, and I take that as a small victory.

“Everything looks okay so far,” I say as I glance over her arms and legs, feeling for any swelling or tenderness. Then, I ask the question I’ve been dreading since the moment I walked in. “Did the guys that had you, did they…”

Her eyes widen at the insinuation, but she jerks her head rapidly in a no and I breathe out a deep sigh of relief.

“That’s good. That’s really good,” I whisper in relief. Smiling softly, her eyes water at my concern. Clearing my throat, I reach out to tuck my jacket around her shoulders more snugly. “I think you will be just fine. Nothing that a little rest and a warm blanket won’t do for you. What do you say?”

She gives a tiny nod, her grip on the blanket tightening as she acknowledges my words.

“You’ve done really well,” I tell her, a reassuring smile on my lips. “Honestly, after everything you’ve been through, you’re doing amazing. You’re stronger than you think.”

Her eyes fill with tears, and she leans into me, shoulders shaking as she finally lets herself break a little. I hold her, rubbing her back in slow circles as she cries, murmuring soft words until her sobs fade. The quiet in the room feels heavy but peaceful.

Eventually, I pull back, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “How about we get out of here?” I say gently, glancing over at Atlas, Teddy, and Key, who are ready to guide us safely back through the woods. “A hot drink and something to eat sound good?”

She nods, her grip on my hand tightening again as I help her to her feet.

Walking her outside with the guys flanking us, I feel a sense of calm settle over me–a rare, complete feeling that I can’t quite explain. In a way, this moment feels like a piece of something I didn’t know I was missing. The guys are here to protect her, to take down the threats; they’re the strength, the shield. But I realize now that I have my own role to play with them, one that feels just as right.

I’m the one who can be there when the dust settles, the one who can offer warmth, kindness, and a gentle hand. I can help people in the way that only someone who understands both strength and softness can. I can be that bridge, the healing they need after the storm.

This is what I bring to our team. To our strange, beautiful life together. A purpose I can share with them.

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