His bedroom is the literal opposite of the rest of the house, black carpeting in place of light wooden floors, polished grey walls and grey furniture all around.

No wood or antique reds, greens or yellows.

Instead of looking like a museum, we have something a little bit more homey. Wolf reaches over my shoulders from behind and peels my jacket off slowly, a smile touching my lips as I let him.

"I don't think you're in the right headspace right now." I say, watching the material drop the ground before he's moving on to the zipper of my dress. I step out of that too then walk out of his reach while taking off my jewellery. I stand in just my bra and matching bottoms, Wolf staring only into my eyes stubbornly.

"You said you wanted to take a shower. I was just helping you." The guy winks, and past his red, bloodshot eyes I see the mischief shining through his gaze. I roll my eyes with a laugh, watching him walk to stand right in front of me, sweeping me up off my feet and nuzzling his face into my neck. "I love you."

"I love you too." I reply, tightening my legs around his waist before climbing down and smiling. "Go shower in one of the many guest bathrooms I know you have and I'll stay here. Give me a kiss."

Wolf frowns at my dismissal but kisses me softly regardless. "Now go, you need a break from everything while you can have one. Take your time."

Instead of saying anything, Wolf simply hugs me and I suck in his warm embrace. It's thanks enough right now, we both know he needs to breathe for a minute. He leaves and I take off the last of my clothing then go shower.

.....

Wolf leans against the shower wall with his eyes closed and his face pointed towards the ceiling, his hands wrapped around himself and clutching tightly. He goes into slight panic about making this decision, not wanting Jamie to regret him and even end up hating him because the life of a witness isn't easy.

He should know. She should know. They should know.

They take them out on missions almost every day. All somebody has to do is make a call and...but he's not afraid of that call, no, it wouldn't be fair if he was and he isn't. He's just afraid that the past ten or so years of making sure Jamie was safe from other people, the person he may have to actually end up protecting her from is himself.

He hates to admit it but it's true and if it comes to choosing between her or himself, then he'd pick her any day. He loves her.

It'd only be fair to put her needs above his own.

But deep down he knows that he doesn't wanna do this alone, he needs her a little bit more than he wants to admit. Everything just turned difficult so suddenly and he wishes that he had met Jamie all over again and relieved the ten years he watched her with the knowledge of meeting her again and when the time came for where they were now, time restarts all over again.

Grabbing body wash, he lathers over himself and tightens his jaw. He doesn't know what to do but he doesn't want to end up losing her with whatever decision he ends up making.

~•Jamie•~

I'm making pasta in Wolf's clearly untouched kitchen while he showers. My bare feet pad on the tiled flooring, wet hair stuck to the back of my neck as it drips down onto the black T-shirt I got from his closet.

I dip a teaspoon in the pan and have a taste of the sauce. Mm, needs a little bit of sugar...and black pepper.

After adding those, I stir, taste again then close it and let it simmer. I bend over the counter and eat from the bowl of trail mix I poured myself to snack on while I cooked.

I'm worried about him. He may seem okay but just like when he had gotten kidnapped, he's at the stage where he's ready to admit defeat and I'm just not sure to what but I hope he'll let me help him through whatever is troubling him. I love him, and I'd do anything for him just as he'd probably do the same–just like he's done the same in the past no doubt and all I want is for him to well...understand.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

I pause and listen for a minute, before going to the living room where I left my purse, grabbing my gun then going to open the front door. I keep my armed hand pressed against the door when I open, revealing a short brunette woman in a jeans, a blazer and combat boots. She's pretty with small eyes and a wide smile, freckles speckled all over her light brown face.

Her eyes trail up and down me but her smile doesn't fall. "Hi, I'm Gretchen."

"Jamie." I shake her hand hesitantly. "You are?"

"The person we're waiting for." An arm snakes around my waist and then the gun is taken from me as Wolf joins us. He smells freshly of soap and cologne, making it hard not to bury my nose in his neck as I look back at Gretchen but I refrain from doing so.

"Please come in." I step aside, look at Wolf who slips my gun in the back of his pants waistband with an arched brow. I shrug, taking in his tight sweater and dark jeans. He looks good.

"Can I get you anything...I'm making a later lunch right now, so maybe a glass of wine?" I offer, placing my hands palm down on the counter and Wolf moves in behind me and places his arms on either side of me.

"Thank you but...I'm alright. Wolf, can we step out for a bit and have a word?" Gretchen lowers her voice slightly but not her gaze before she leaves and he follows her out with an apologetic smile tossed my way.

I finish cooking, then go set the table before taking three plates out of the cabinets and waiting until they're back so the food doesn't get cold. I stand there using my phone, noticing for the first time that there's no signal within the house. Odd.

"No." My ears pick up at the harsh tone and I straighten. It's like whenever Wolf sounds, looks or feels the least bit unease, my senses skyrocket faster than anything and all I can focus on is him. Him. And nothing else but him. "I don't wanna talk about it, Gretch. Stop." I turn around just as Wolf comes into the room and he stares at me for a couple seconds, sensing my tenseness before pecking my lips reassuringly and going to sit in the dining room. I bring out the food and Gretchen joins a couple seconds after.

"Thank you for the food." She says softly and I nod, beginning to eat. "Your passports and tickets will arrive tonight. Flight will be first class on a public plane so you aren't targeted on a private jet. Phones and any other electronics must be left behind, as well as clothing and credit cards. You'll be given new ones when you land.

"It goes without saying, that until I do give you the green light, any contact with anyone who isn't myself is not permitted. Do you understand?" Her words are pointed to me.

Wolf looks at me doubtably but I cover his hand with my own and nod. "We do."

"Great. I don't know how long this will have to last, but I'll look into the parents and until everything is cleared by office, you'll remain under these restrictions."

"Thank you." Wolf says and she nods. The rest of lunch is silent, and then I walk Gretchen out to the door when she tells us she can't stay longer.

Once we step over the threshold, she grabs my hand and I have to stop myself from throwing her against the wall when concerned eyes meet my own. "Do you love him?"

"Yes." I answer without hesitation, staring at her from over my nose defiantly.

"Don't hurt him then."

I tilt my head but simply nod, then smile as though nothing is wrong. "Don't worry about him and I." Before walking back inside and returning to Wolf who stands at the kitchen island but turns to face me when I make my way over.

"You don't have to do this." Is the first thing out of his mouth and I nod.

"I know."

"You have an entire family."

"Yes...but it's temporary and I'll see them again." I shrug, trying not to let my nerves shine through as I wrap my arms around his waist to seek comfort from his grasp. "This is your last chance to smooth things out with Crow."

"No..."

I don't push the matter anymore, sensing that he's not in the mood to talk. I do have to say, "I can't take any of my clothes?"

He chuckles. "It's an inconvenience when we have to go, right now."

"Okay..." I drag out with a smile. "I hope we're going to somewhere with a beach. Bikinis and cocktails galore."

"You're treating this as a vacation?"

"Oh yeah. Just us, alone and...in love."

"Love." The word seems to ignite something in him, something unbelievable because he hugs me tighter. "I love you."

"I love you. How many times will we say it?"

"Until I get sick of it." He murmurs.

"When is that?"

"Never." And then he picks me up and sets me onto the counter, crashing his lips to mine so firmly, I'm pushed back slightly and raise my legs to wrap around his waist so I can pull him back to me.

I have no doubt that we'll have plenty of time for this later but there's something about the raging emotions floating between us that require attention immediately. I want to tell him that it's okay, reassure him that as long as he's there...then I can manage to be away from my family.

I depend a lot on the people I love but I can just as well be on my own. Closing my eyes and tilting my head sideways, I let myself be lifted into Wolf's arms and be hugged, the connection between us strengthening as he buries his face in my neck. I rub his back and kiss his shoulder a few times, listening to him take deep breaths before turning back to me and claiming my lips in his own.

We venture upstairs and into his bedroom and he sits before I climb into his lap and cup his cheeks while smiling. "I love you, Wolf."

"I love you too." He murmurs, before sliding me closer on his waist so our bodies meld into one without even an inch of distance between us if we can help it.

*****

Now dressed in a nude, corset style blazer dress that ends at my knees - a pair of my favourite heels on my feet, I carry only my handbag in hand as I walk beside Wolf through the airport.

This feels good. I don't even feel nervous anymore, I just feel excited about everything. That may have been because of all the reassuring word and looks we shared before making our way here, the various shared whispers and tight grips... Maybe leaving with Wolf is something we both need. The vacation made me see a future with him, one I really liked looking into and right now it's gonna be longer so a proper test run one would say.

I just can't wait to hear about every little thing he's done or gone through because he let me know that it doesn't get more in than we are right now so I deserve to know all of him. If I had anything to hide, I'd be sure to let him know all of me - but for now, I'll think about something along the way.

I glance at him beside me, eyes shielded by sunglasses so I can't tell what they're saying. I believe in him getting past all of this drama with his parents...I'm just not sure about where Crow and him will stand once it's all blown over.

We register our tag-less/trackless IDs and then wait together to be called for boarding. I rest my head on his shoulder and my hand on his leg, staring at my family group chat as I promise to see everyone soon for one last time.

Bear: We love you Jamie!

Me: I love you too.

Honey: Call us the moment you can. Whether that's days, weeks or months from now!

Me: I will.

Baby: I'm gonna miss you so much...

Me: I'm not dead, haha. I love you baby.

Momma Bear: Be safe. Be smart. Be happy.

That's the last text I read before we're being called and I power off my phone. I look at Wolf as he takes out his own, stares at it for a minute then we drop them to the floor in sync. He steps on both the devices, picks them up then removes our sims.

Snap. Snap.

We toss them in the trash, then hold hands and walk to the plane. We walk past commercial, all the way to business class then claim our seats in the middle aisle.

I pull on head phones and connect them to a music player I bought, staring at my feet as we wait to take off. Once we're in the air, Wolf rests on my shoulder and after a couple minutes of me stroking his hair, he falls asleep.

My eyes drift around aimlessly before settling on the passenger beside me...I peel off my headphones and straighten in my seat. She smiles that wide Cheshire grin I've grown all too used to. "Hello Candy."

"Kimmy?" Her black hat is tipped up to reveal her familiar brown eyes and light nude lips which she turns into a smirk.

"Remember when you wanted intel on those two contacts?" I lean forward and Wolf shifts so I unbuckle him and pull him to rest in my lap. Stroking his thick hair again, I wait for him to settle before looking back up at my friend.

"Yes."

"Wolf and Crow Carreira." I nod, even though I didn't know their surname until this very moment and don't even begin to question how she came across that information. "Second and third born children to Tomàs and his wife, Mariana. CIA special agents working under Major Lynx Carreira." My blood runs cold as I stare at her, unable to continue sucking oxygen into my lungs.

"Now you see why your little boyfriend has to be so protected. However, if it's people in the government that are after him, then what witness protection service is taking care of him?"

I look down at Wolf. Double lives...he's not the only one seeing the world from two perspectives. The only difference is that, he's seeing it from the perspective of the victim and the villain. They're playing the hero while being the villain.

This won't ever blow over. It's only the beginning yet it manages to feel like the end. Now I have to be the one to make sure that Wolf is the one that gets out on the other side preferably untouched.

He watched over me for a decade, I guess it's time to return the favour.

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