Hiding In the Mountains

KAIA'S POV

Xander didn’t wait for an argument, he stormed out, barking orders on the phone. His entire demeanor shifting from calm and collected to sharp and dangerous.

Within minutes, he had two men in black suits outside the apartment, and a sleek, black SUV waiting downstairs.

“Pack a bag,” he said firmly. “We’re leaving.”

“Where are we going?”

“Somewhere safer, One of my private estates.”

He didn’t elaborate, and honestly, I didn’t feel like pushing. That call rattled me, it felt like they were watching.

I packed what I could quickly, mostly essentials: a few clothes, toiletries, and my phone charger. Xander took one look at the tiny duffel and added, “We’ll buy what you need when we get there.”

Once we were in the SUV, I noticed a second vehicle trailing behind us, it seemed like more guards. I didn’t realize how tense I was until we exited the city and hit the highway.

Still, my hands wouldn’t stop fidgeting in my lap.

“You okay?” Xander asked, glancing over.

“I… I don’t know,” I admitted. “That call… it felt personal.”

“It was.”

I didn’t respond. There was a part of me that wanted to believe this would all blow over. We drove for over two hours. The sun dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the road.

Xander didn’t talk much, and neither did I. I tried to close my eyes and rest, but every bump on the road startled me.

After few minutes, there was a loud bang, the SUV swerved violently to the right. I screamed, bracing myself as the car slammed to a stop.

“Stay down! Gunfire!” one of the guards shouted.

Theb Sharp, terrifying bursts followed after. Xander threw himself over me, shielding me with his body. One of the guards outside shouted something I couldn’t hear over the pounding in my ears.

The second vehicle pulled up beside us, the men inside jumping out and returning fire. “They’re not showing their faces,” one of them muttered into a radio. “Cowards.”

The shots stopped as suddenly as they started.

Xander yanked the door open, checking the area. The attackers were gone.

I was shaking so hard I couldn’t move.

“Come on,” he said, grabbing my hand. “Let’s go. We need to get to the estate.”

My legs felt like jelly, but I forced them to move. Back in the car, surrounded by guards, I couldn’t stop replaying the attack in my head.

“Who the hell are they?” I whispered.

Xander didn’t answer, he looked furious and Focused.

It was late evening by the time we reached the vacation house, if you could call it that. The place was massive, tucked in the mountains, surrounded by thick forest. Tall fences, motion sensors, cameras at every corner.

Inside, the space was modern but warm, it had stone walls, soft lighting, floor-to-ceiling windows. It looked like a luxury retreat.

But I still didn't feel peaceful, I felt like I was being watched. Xander had tripled the usual staff, I was given a room upstairs, with guards outside my door.

Night came fast, I tried to sleep, I lay on the bed, eyes open, staring at the ceiling. The silence was too loud, I could hear my own heartbeat.

Eventually, exhaustion pulled me into a deep sleep. immediately I closed my eyes, I was back in the SUV, and we were under attack. Only this time, Xander didn’t shield me. The door was ripped open. A masked figure dragged me out by my hair, whispering, "You thought this marriage would save you?"

I screamed and screamed—

Until I jolted awake, drenched in sweat. I looked around the room, heart racing. There were no masked men, no gunfire, Just the soft hum of the air conditioning.

I pushed the blankets off and sat on the edge of the bed, trying to calm down. Then a floorboard creaked outside, then another creak, my heart skipped a beat.

I grabbed the nearest thing I could find, a heavy glass vase and tiptoed to the door. My hands were trembling.

I opened it just a crack.

One of the guards was there, stretching his arms and yawning. He noticed me and straightened immediately.

“Miss Wallis. Is everything alright?”

I let out a shaky breath. “Yeah… just had a nightmare.”

He nodded. “You’re safe here.”

That’s what scared me the most, because no matter how many walls or guards were between me and the outside world, I didn’t feel safe.

The next morning, I didn’t bother pretending to be okay, my hands shook when I held my coffee. Xander noticed.

“You had a rough night?” he asked.

I nodded. “Yeah. You?”

“Didn’t sleep.”

“We can’t live like this forever.”

He leaned back. “We won’t. But until we know who’s targeting you… I’m not taking any risks.”

I didn’t argue.

Later that afternoon, I noticed him on a call, pacing outside the room. He looked tense. When he came back, he said, “I had your blood test run again. Just in case.”

I blinked. “For the pregnancy?”

He nodded. “It came back negative. You’re not pregnant.”

I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.

Then my phone rang, it was an unknown number.

I hesitated, then answered. “Hello?”

The line was silent for about three seconds before the same low voice replied.

"You think hiding in the mountains makes you safe?"

My blood ran cold.

"You think marrying him makes you invisible, Kaia? It just painted a bigger target on your back."

Then the line went dead, I slowly lowered the phone from my ear.

Xander saw my face. “What is it?” I couldn’t speak. Just handed him the phone.

His eyes darkened as he redialed the number, it didn't go through.

The silence stretched. Then Xander looked at me, his jaw tight.

"I don't think this is about your ex Kaia.”

That’s when I realized something else, his was about the marriage. Someone wanted me scared, and they were just getting started.