Page 34 of Master Vidar & Vali

The walk back to the house was fast even though I was carrying her. She’d fallen asleep almost as soon as Colin wrapped her up with the blanket. We were both more than a little surprised that neither of us had woken when she’d slippedfrom the bed. She was highly skilled in disappearing. What if she’d still been drunk or had fallen and hurt herself? What if she hadn’t brought her phone?

Anxiety raced through me as I thought of all the possible things that could have gone wrong. This couldn’t happen again. Colin and I would have to make our boundaries clear. Looking down at her peacefully sleeping face, I took a deep breath, taking comfort in knowing she was safe.

Colin led the way back to the house using his flashlight to illuminate the way. He moved with a silent, deadly grace. Barely a twig snapped as he moved through the woods, the sounds of the night and my own steps were the only things I heard. He was a born leader, although he rarely saw himself as such since we’d left the service.

I knew he was berating himself just like I was. If we’d remembered to set the alarm, she never could have gotten out without waking us. If we hadn’t slept so soundly, she couldn’t have snuck out. Could of, would of, should of, all thoughts that were pointless, but that wouldn’t stop both of us from cycling through them.

If we were going to keep her safe, something would have to change. How different my life was since I’d originally tried to convince Colin to hand her off to someone else. There was no way now that I would trust anyone but the two of us to be in charge of her.

I could tell from Colin’s stiff shoulders and the chaotic energy radiating from him that he was beyond angry, but also completely in control. He had every right to be furious, Zara had defied both of us by going out in the dark unprotected. Thankfully, she stayed on the property, but only because the property was so big. She knew we’d meant to stay within sight of the house.

Yeah, definitely strong boundaries that she would be expected to abide by would be set in place. If this had been any other time, we may have been able to laugh it off, or maybe turn it into a game, but with the Albanians presence now confirmed as being in Philadelphia, it was no laughing matter.

I placed her back in bed and she didn’t even stir. Her jaunt through the woods and the alcohol had their effect. Colin motioned me out of the room and we went downstairs. We headed to the kitchen just as the beginnings of dawn showed in the morning sky.

I went to place Zara’s abandoned water glass in the sink, then changed my mind and left it, taking her seat on the stool. Gazing out the huge picture window, I tried to see what she’d seen and what drew her from the house and into the darkness of the cool woods.

My gaze tracked to Colin and I watched him get busy making us coffee. He moved with the grace of a tiger stalking its prey through the grass. His outfit was the one he’d worn last night, having grabbed it from the floor when I’d woken him.

It was reminiscent of our Ranger days. There were so many missions where he was up first, making sure the men, including me, had what we needed. He was the most selfless person I’d ever met, and at times, I felt that fed his insecurities regarding his past choices. It was also why he chose the field in security instead of hiding behind tech like me. He needed to do something active. To feel useful.

I couldn’t handle people invading my space on a daily basis, not like before our service. There were only a handful of people I made room for in my life, and they were my found family. It had been years since I added a new name to those few I could tolerate. Zara was the first. Though with her, much like it was with Colin, it didn’t feel like making room or sharing. Instead,I felt like she belonged with me, and when she was gone, something was missing.

Colin placed the coffee in front of me and I lost myself in the swirling steam that rose from it. “I love you.”

We didn’t say those words to each other often, but we both knew it was a simple truth between us. He was the other half of my soul.

“I love you too.” He sat down on the stool opposite mine.

“I love her too.” My throat felt tight as I admitted the truth that meant there was one more person in this world who’s loss would wreck me beyond repair.

He took a sip of his coffee and stared down into the liquid as if it held the answers to the mysteries of the universe. “I do too. It scares the shite out of me. It’s why I wanted us to have some time before she woke up. We need a plan, and I’m not talking about wiping out the Albanians, though we need a plan for that also. We need a path forward.”

I nodded my head. “I get it.”

“Let's start with her punishment. We’ve never been in the position to actually punish a sub. It’s always been scenes and funishment. This feels different, and I need it to leave a lasting impression without going too far.”

“I agree, she needs to learn her lesson regarding personal safety, but also, that we will be consistent and deliver on what we say. Plug, paddle, and orgasm denial?” I knew I would have to wield the paddle, but that was okay.

Colin nodded and took a sip of his coffee. “That should do the trick. Now, here’s a big one… where do we live?”

I laughed, almost choking on my coffee. “We live where we… oh, I see what you're saying, you mean our tiny side-by-side apartment in the industrial end of town and close to work may not be the right place for the three of us? I totally agree, but where?”

Colin was lost in thought while I went through what I knew about Zara. She’d grown up poor and never had anything to call her own. Even her most recent place was a bedroom with roommates. I glanced out the window at the picturesque backyard with the forest beyond. I knew she loved it and had commented often on the unused gardens and if she was going to be here for a while she should restore the vegetable and herb gardens to their former glory.

I glanced at the open side pantry, a spot where she loved to spend time and tried to picture her in there drying leaves and making tea. Would she enjoy that? I thought she would, she had no experience, but good instincts. Her parents had grown up on farms; they had known how to grow things. She’d mentioned her grandparents with a fond tone in her voice. Was it possible that they instilled that love of nature in their only grandchild in the short time they were in her life?

My gaze was pulled to the patio door where a squirrel looked in as if waiting for her. I noticed the open bag of peanuts and remembered the empty hulls on the back lawn. I got up and opened the door. The little rascal only moved a few feet away, trusting I wouldn’t hurt him, and I tossed out a few handfuls of peanuts. Colin watched me puzzled.

“Here,” I said as I took my seat.

“Here what?” Colin asked.

“Let’s make this place ours. We can buy it from the company. When we need to be in the city, we can buy a loft and let her design it with all three of us in mind. What do you think?”

The house’s proximity to Asgard was a big drawing point. The secure and secluded location meant we didn’t have to worry about neighbors or what they might see or think. When there had been a long-term need for a safe house during a job, it was always our first choice. After living here with Zara, the thought of going back to our cramped quarters in the city was about asappealing as hour-old cereal. Going back to the life we had a few months ago would be hard. For me, there was nowhere to go but forward.

“Well, the two of you do seem to like the fish pond.” The corner of Colin’s mouth lifted in amusement.

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