Prologue-epilogue Part 2
Julian Masters POV
Early morning shows as the snow settles upon the land around the cabin. I usually wake up first before Sienna and Drake. They are heavy sleepers--and love their sleep. So, I tend to stay quiet as best I can while getting ready to head out for work. When we arrived on this property, I couldn't let the people in town think Sienna and I were outcasts. So I picked out a basic labor job as a "woodsman" working in the town lubber yard. About two months in, they gave me a raise because I've managed a triple inventory of split wood. If only they knew my endurance and speed isn't like any other normal human being--thanks to the S serum.
Putting on my boots and tying them off, I head out the front door, and a soft creaking noise falls behind me, which causes me to pause on the porch. I could hear a fly a yard away from my hearing, and this is Drakes attempt to sneak out of his room and follow me again to work. This'll be his third attempt this month. "Drake." I call out his name in a calm, cool tone, sleep still edging my voice from a restless night from my nightmares.
From the corner of my eye, I see his tiny stature coming out from behind the corner of the threshold. He is still in his pajamas, "You promised me someday to take me to your workplace, Papa."
Sigh.
I did.
"Julian, are you still here?" A soft, sweet, delicate voice soothes the air as Sienna appears behind Drake. Her palm rests on his tiny shoulder.
Her eyes are still sleepy looking, her lips flushed and plumped looking--pink and glossy. Her nose has a bit of a rose color on the tip--meaning she cried last night...
For years, she had cried over that bastard.
Am I fed up with it? Yes. Do I get to tell her he isn't worth her tears...No, because I am supposed to support her in living this life and we talked about how we both needed to create a line between each other after that last time seeing Nicolai in the helicopter.
Sucks but I will always be granting her wishes.
Like tonight for supper, she wants me to cook her favorite meal, beef curry on rice. So after work, I need to go to mid town and grocery shop for beef--since can't find beef in the woods, only deer, rabbits, bears and the occasional mountain lion I hunt down.
I give her a soft smile, one of which I wish she could see the Levi smile she misses at time and time again. Sometimes, I feel like she knows, but then why not say anything?
"Drake wants to go to work with me. Should I finally keep my promise?" I ask.
She bites her bottom lip while looking down at the dark head full of hair before replying, "Only if he changed into warmer clothes, yes, he can go."
Drake jumps up and down in excitement, "yesh! Yesh!" Fist pumping up in mid-air before bolting down the hall to his room.
Sienna and I chuckle simultaneously before I speak, "How did you sleep?" I couldn't help myself to ask.
Suddenly, she stops chuckling, and her expression changes into a frown, her eyebrows furrow, "Fine."
Sure.
Okay, big boy breaches on now.
I take a daring step towards her and lean my head ever so slightly close to her face. She inaudible gasps at the sudden move. Placing one of my hands over the front doors mantle while the other hand reaches for her arm, caressing my thumb over her skin by the wrist, soothingly.
I whisper close to her ear, my breath touching her dark strands of hair, "I'm a great massaganist, little bunny. Maybe tonight I can help you relax so you can get a goods night sleep?"
This is me stepping over that line.
Siennas face flushes as she takes a step away from me, eyes looking anywhere but me. She clears her throat, "I've told you this before, Julian...if--if y-you need some kind of relief maybe go to the towns bar and pick up a woman or--
I shake my head and laugh, "You blush too easily. I'm kidding." I wasn't, but I'm usually good at keeping composer, and in the face of rejection, I hide it behind humor.
"I'm ready!" Drake shouts from behind his mother and makes his way to the front door where I stand, "Let's get to work!" He cheers with a red ballcap on and his warm winter clothing of a blue heavy jacket and snow boots.
Sienna leans down and kisses Drakes cheek with a big smacking noise, "I love you, be careful and stay close to Papa, okay?"
"Yes, Mama." He nods.
I give Sienna one last lingering look before heading out with the short human following behind. The snow is thick and cold around us as the sun shines from the horizon through the dead tree branches.
As we headed out, I couldn't help get this feeling out of my head.
As if eyes are watching us.
I have to keep on alert... especially with my Drake with me.
Sienna should be safe, at least in the cabin, I set traps and weapons all over that place, even a call bell that sings if anyone near a 5 mile ratius of the property decides to arrive. An escape route if anything was wrong and need a way out.
It's been five years, but I know that doesn't stop the Pakhan of Bratva, Nicolai Stone, for coming for what is his.
He would have to go through me first.
"Let's take the wood way instead the road way, okay?" I say.
"Okay! Will I be able to do stuff at your work? I want to help!?" Drake pleas in a whiny tone. Spoiled prince.
"I wouldn't have brought you if you weren't going to put in the work, kid."
My eyes keep steering left and right, and my senses heightened at this moment.
Something is wrong, but I can't do anything. I need to play this day as if any normal day I've been doing, same routines--keep to the routines...
I keep my mind on my sights until a scent reaches me, fuck.
The smell of fucking blood...
Human blood.
