Born to Fight

Chapter 17

Celeste

I had been wandering through the trees for what felt like hours.

In reality, it had probably only been minutes.

But when you’re being hunted in the dark, time has a funny way of stretching.

Every rustle of leaves made me tense.

Every snap of a twig had me wondering if someone was closing in.

I crouched beneath a large tree, hidden behind a thick cluster of bushes, and tried to slow my breathing.

The irony wasn’t lost on me.

Lilly and I had spent the evening watching horror movies.

And now I was living in one.

The last movie we’d watched before going to sleep had been The Predator.

Apparently, the universe had a twisted sense of humour.

Because right now, I was definitely the prey.

My biggest concern wasn’t even myself.

It was Lilly.

And Loki.

I’d left them hidden in the pantry and prayed the men hadn’t found them.

I wanted to go back.

Every instinct in me screamed to make sure they were safe.

But I couldn’t.

If the men were still watching the house, leading them back there would put Lilly and Loki directly in their path.

I couldn’t take that chance.

I stayed perfectly still, forcing my breathing to slow.

My fingers tightened around the g*n I’d taken from my grandfather’s belongings.

The familiar weight should have made me feel safer.

Instead, it reminded me of exactly how dangerous this situation had become.

I knew what would happen if I fired.

One shot.

One flash.

One sound.

Every man in these woods would know exactly where I was.

And then Jamie and Josh’s property would become a shooting gallery.

I silently cursed my lack of a silencer.

Mum’s voice suddenly drifted through my mind.

If wishes were horses, then beggars would ride.

She’d said that whenever I wanted something I couldn’t have.

Right now, I’d have happily traded anything for a little bit of luck.

By now, I was almost certain these were the same people who had killed my mother.

But there were more of them this time.

A lot more.

Who were they?

What did they want from Billy?

And why had Mum been worth killing?

I needed answers.

If I survived tonight, I would find them.

I owed Mum that much.

I also wanted revenge.

God, did I want revenge.

But wanting someone dead and actually killing them were two very different things.

I’d trained.

I’d been taught how to defend myself.

I’d been taught how to survive.

But I’d never taken a human life.

Could I?

If one of these men found me, would I hesitate?

Would I freeze?

Because hesitation could get me killed.

And worse…

It could get Lilly killed.

I couldn’t let that happen.

A shadow moved.

I froze.

One of the men walked past my hiding place.

Close.

Far too close.

I could see his silhouette between the trees.

I watched him carefully.

He didn’t see me.

I glanced around.

No one else appeared to be nearby.

Maybe this was my chance.

One less man meant one less threat.

My finger moved toward the trigger.

I took aim.

And then—

An arm wrapped around me from behind.

A hand clamped over my mouth.

My g*n disappeared from my grip.

Panic exploded through me.

I fought.

Hard.

Then a familiar voice whispered against my ear.

“Calm down. It’s me.”

I froze.

“Jamie.”

I stopped struggling.

He released me.

I spun around.

Josh was standing beside him.

I immediately held out my hand.

“My gun.”

Jamie stared at me.

“Your g*n?”

“Yes.”

He looked at Josh.

Josh looked at me.

“Where did you get a g*n, Celeste?”

“It belonged to my grandfather.”

Jamie’s eyes narrowed.

“That day at the cabin.”

I nodded.

“You had it hidden in the coat.”

“Yes.”

“And the rifle range?”

I sighed.

“Yes.”

“You wanted to make sure you knew how to use it.”

I didn’t answer.

I didn’t need to.

Jamie already knew.

He handed me the g*n.

“You only use this if there is absolutely no other option.”

I nodded.

“Do you understand?”

“Yes.”

His expression hardened.

“And don’t think for one second we’re not talking about this later.”

“I wouldn’t expect anything less.”

He stared at me for another second before turning toward Josh.

“Okay. Let’s finish this.”

He looked back at me.

“Stay here.”

“What?”

“Freeze will stay with you.”

I glanced at the dog.

Then back at Jamie.

“But—”

“Stay.”

His tone left no room for argument.

Then he and Josh disappeared into the darkness.

I blinked.

One second they were there.

The next…

Gone.

I shook my head.

It’s true what they say about SEALs.

They’re ghosts.

⸻

Jamie

Josh and I moved silently through the trees.

We didn’t need to speak.

We’d trained together too long.

We knew how the other moved.

How the other thought.

Where the other would be before they even got there.

The man Celeste had been watching was still searching the area.

He had no idea we were behind him.

Josh moved first.

The man never saw him coming.

I glanced toward Celeste’s hiding place.

Nothing.

No scream.

No movement.

She’d stayed exactly where I’d told her.

I couldn’t help wondering what she’d thought when she saw Josh take the man down.

She’d already watched her mother die.

Seeing someone killed in front of her had to be triggering something.

But she didn’t move.

Didn’t make a sound.

That worried me more than if she’d screamed.

We kept moving.

One by one, we found them.

One by one, they disappeared into the darkness.

These men had come here expecting easy prey.

They had made one hell of a mistake.

Eventually, only one remained.

He looked around.

Then seemed to realise something.

His friends were gone.

Panic crossed his face.

He ran.

Josh and I immediately gave chase.

The bastard was fast.

Faster than he looked.

He had enough of a head start that by the time we reached the road, he’d already reached the vehicle waiting down the street.

The engine roared.

Then the car disappeared into the darkness.

Josh and I stopped.

We watched the taillights vanish.

One man had escaped.

And that was a problem.

Because now someone knew exactly where Celeste was.

And whoever had sent these men would eventually know too.

I looked at Josh.

He knew exactly what I was thinking.

“This isn’t over,” I said.

“No.”

“We need more people.”

Josh nodded.

“People we trust.”

Because the truth was simple.

We couldn’t protect Celeste every second of every day.

And now that her enemies knew where she’d been hiding, we couldn’t afford to pretend otherwise.

⸻

Celeste

By the time we returned to the house, I was exhausted.

Physically.

Mentally.

Emotionally.

I went straight upstairs.

I needed a shower.

I needed to wash away the dirt, sweat and cold night air.

But I didn’t feel safe.

Not anymore.

I placed my g*n on the vanity within easy reach before stepping into the shower.

Every tiny sound made me look toward the bathroom door.

Every creak made my stomach tighten.

The men knew where I was now.

I’d brought them here.

To Jamie and Josh’s home.

I’d brought this danger into their lives because I’d called Jamie that night my mother died.

I’d been scared.

I’d needed someone.

And he’d come.

But now I couldn’t help wondering if I’d made the biggest mistake of my life.

Jamie didn’t deserve this.

Josh didn’t deserve this.

Lilly certainly didn’t.

And yet somehow, they’d all been dragged into my nightmare.

I finished showering and dressed quickly.

Then I grabbed my g*n and headed downstairs.

Jamie, Josh and Lilly were sitting around the kitchen table.

The broken glass had already been cleaned up.

They were talking about repairing the windows and bringing in additional security.

I immediately felt guilty.

Again.

Everything they were discussing was because of me.

Lilly sat beside them, stroking Freeze, who had his head resting happily on her lap.

The moment I walked into the room, the conversation stopped.

I pulled out a chair.

Then placed my g*n on the table.

Lilly’s eyes immediately went wide.

“Where did you get that?”

“My room.”

Her eyebrows shot upward.

“Your room?”

She looked at Josh.

“Is there one of those in my room?”

Josh stared at her.

“No.”

“Definitely not,” Jamie added, barely suppressing a grin.

Lilly frowned.

“Why does she get one?”

“Because it’s mine.”

“Well, where did you get it?”

“That isn’t your business.”

Lilly opened her mouth.

I raised an eyebrow.

She closed it again.

Jamie sighed.

“Okay. Girls. Enough.”

Josh leaned back.

“You two don’t want to start fighting before Dad gets here.”

Lilly frowned.

“Why is Dad coming here?”

Josh stared at her.

“Are you serious?”

“After what happened tonight,” Jamie said, “of course he’s coming.”

“He wants to see that we’re all safe.”

My stomach tightened.

Billy.

Of course he was coming.

I didn’t want to see him.

Not tonight.

Not ever.

I stood.

“I’m going to bed.”

Lilly looked up at me.

I smiled sweetly.

“You two have fun with your dad when he gets here.”

Then I picked up my g*n and walked away.

I heard Lilly mutter behind me.

“She’s still not claiming us as family.”

“Nope,” Josh replied.

I smiled bitterly.

At least they understood that part.

I reached my bedroom and shut the door.

Loki immediately climbed onto the bed beside me.

I curled up next to him.

I was exhausted.

Completely exhausted.

I should have fallen asleep instantly.

But I couldn’t.

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw shadows moving through the trees.

I heard breaking glass.

I felt the hand over my mouth.

I remembered Mum.

I reached over and touched the drawer beside my bed.

My g*n was inside.

Loki was beside me.

And still…

I was terrified to sleep.

Because somewhere out there was a man who had escaped.

And he knew exactly where I was.

⸻

Josh

We’d crossed a line tonight.

We both knew it.

But there hadn’t been another choice.

I’d called in a few old favours, and before sunrise, men we trusted had arrived to remove the bodies.

No police.

No questions.

No attention.

The fewer people who knew what had happened here, the better.

The last thing we needed was the neighbourhood waking up to rumours about dead men turning up on our property.

Jamie and I finished cleaning the remaining glass.

Lilly sat at the kitchen table with Freeze, still visibly shaken.

I knew tonight was going to stay with her for a while.

Then again, maybe she’d surprise me.

Maybe she’d become one of those people who went quiet when they were scared.

One could only hope.

I loved my sister.

But sometimes she could drain the life out of a person.

I’d already called Dad.

He was coming.

And he was bringing people.

We were going to need them.

Because tonight had proved something we could no longer ignore.

Celeste wasn’t safe.

Not here.

Not alone.

Not anywhere.

And we weren’t going to be able to protect her twenty-four hours a day.

I also knew something else.

Celeste was going to fight us every step of the way.

She didn’t want our help.

She didn’t want our father.

And she definitely didn’t want to admit she needed any of us.

But maybe I understood why.

She’d lost her mother.

Her entire life had been ripped away.

And now we’d suddenly appeared, claiming to be her family.

Maybe accepting us felt like betraying Tina.

I looked toward the stairs.

I felt sorry for her.

Then I heard footsteps.

Celeste appeared.

The conversation stopped.

She pulled out a chair.

Then casually placed a g*n on the table.

Lilly stared at it.

“Where did you get that?”

“From my room.”

Lilly looked at me.

“Is there one in my room?”

“No.”

“Definitely not,” Jamie added.

Lilly frowned.

“Why does she get one?”

“Because it’s hers.”

“Where did she get it?”

Celeste looked at her.

“None of your business.”

I bit back a laugh.

Lilly looked ready to explode.

Jamie stepped in before World War Three could begin.

“Girls. Enough.”

I leaned back.

“You two don’t want to be fighting when Dad gets here.”

Lilly’s expression changed.

“Why is Dad coming?”

I stared at her.

“Seriously?”

Jamie shook his head.

“After what happened, of course he’s coming. He wants to make sure we’re all okay.”

Celeste stood.

“I’m going to bed.”

She looked at Lilly and me.

“You two have fun with your dad.”

Then she picked up her g*n and walked upstairs.

Lilly watched her go.

“So…”

She sighed.

“She still doesn’t think we’re family.”

“Nope.”

“Dad’s patience is going to be tested.”

I snorted.

“That’s putting it mildly.”

Lilly giggled.

Jamie looked at her.

“Give her a break.”

“What?”

“She just survived an attack.”

“I know.”

“She lost her mother.”

“I know.”

“She thinks we’re the enemy.”

Lilly’s smile disappeared.

“She treats us like we are.”

“Because she doesn’t trust us.”

Lilly looked down at Freeze.

“How are we supposed to build a relationship with someone who won’t let us get close?”

I shrugged.

“The same way Dad said we would.”

“How?”

“Patience.”

She sighed.

“I hate patience.”

“I know.”

She glanced toward the lounge room.

“Are you going to bed?”

“Not yet. I’m waiting for Dad.”

“I was thinking about sleeping on the mattress in the lounge room.”

She hesitated.

“But I’m still kind of freaked out.”

“You’ll be fine.”

“Take Freeze with you,” Jamie said.

Lilly looked surprised.

“You don’t mind?”

“No.”

Her face brightened.

“Okay.”

She stood.

“There is a mattress in the lounge room calling my name.”

She disappeared.

Silence settled over the kitchen.

I rubbed my face.

I was exhausted.

Not physically.

Mentally.

Lilly had a talent for draining a man’s last remaining brain cell.

I looked at Jamie.

“You know, I honestly think Celeste might kill Lilly before the month is over.”

Jamie grinned.

“Celeste’s a fighter.”

“She doesn’t take crap from anyone.”

“Nope.”

“And Lilly doesn’t know when to stop.”

“Also true.”

I shook my head.

“Lilly is grabbing a tiger by the tail.”

Jamie laughed quietly.

We settled into silence again.

Waiting for Dad.

Waiting for the next problem.

Because after tonight, neither of us believed this was over.

The men had come for Celeste.

One of them had escaped.

And now he knew where she lived.

Which meant only one thing.

They would come back.

And next time…

They might bring an army.