Safe and Sound

The black helicopter landed on the open ground and two people emerged. Clara sighed from the tension, grateful Liam succeed his mission.

Noah ran to them and the siblings stared at each other for a minute before their arms enveloping each other.

Xander had approached them too. He patted Liam on his shoulder.

"You did well, brother."

That was the first time Liam get praised by his cold cousin. He grinned widely and when his eyes catched Clara, he waved his hand.

Noah and his sister walked together to the mansion. Norah hid her face on his brother's chest.

"Norah, I want to introduce you to my new friend, Clara. She worried about you all the time."

But Norah refused to lift her head up.

Clara just smiled sadly at Noah, "It's ok. You take her inside first. She probably needs a rest. Gemma had lay out her clothes in the guest room."

Maybe Norah was embarrassed to have other woman watching her in that state. Xander ignored her too and walked inside. There was only Liam that stopped in front of her.

"Hello, beautiful. You sure know how to light up someone's dark day by presenting that face alone." Liam winked at her.

"Liam! I missed you. Come, you must be tired from all your hard work." Clara smiled sincerely at him.

"Thank you for bringing Norah back." She kissed his cheek as the reward then walked ahead with a blush.

"I might like to do this hero role again in the future." He shouted out to her.

"Maybe not in the near future, Liam." Clara said and disappeared to the second floor.

Cursing, Liam wondered if he was still banned to step his foot there. His body was tired and spent as hell, even his man down there might not get up for some time. Suddenly feeling so old, he retreated to the guest bedroom he used last time.

***

The next day, Clara peeked from the crack of opened door in Norah's room. She was still on her bed with Noah talking to her.

"Norah, you must counsel with a psychologist. You don't want to tell me what happened back there? Fine. But you had to talk to someone.."

The police had not interrogated her, they gave her time to heal. Daniel Rodriguez was being hunted by police and FBI when his illegal works highlighted by the media. The person was on a run and hiding somewhere.

She answered heatedly, "For a hundred time, Noah, I'm fine.. Don't push me again. I don't need to talk because I don't have anything to say. Look, not even a single scratch on me." She stretched her arms to her brother.

"I'm grateful you are back safe and sound, thanks to Liam. Just talk to the damn psychologist then if they cleared you out, I won't pestering you anymore."

Norah just shook her head, "How's Gabby? I want to see her soon."

Noah suddenly grew quiet, he dodged this question the last time his sister asked.

"What's wrong, Noah? Is she okay? I want to see her now." Norah got up from the bed but his brother hold her.

"Gabby… You won't be able to see her anymore.."

Tears gathering on her eyes, "W-why?"

"Her parents forbid you to meet or talk to her anymore."

Norah shrugged his arms away and ran to the door. She stopped abruptly when she came face to face with Clara.

The beautiful woman gave her a friendly smile, "Hello, Norah. I'm Clara.. Sorry I don't mean to eavesdrop, I just want to see you.." She tucked a strand of silky brown hair beside her ear.

Norah ran back to the bed and buried her body inside the bedcover with reddened face.

"I'm sorry Clara.. My sister doesn't mean to be rude." Noah approached her.

"No no.. I'm the one who disturb her rest. Please forgive me." Clara stepped back and closed the door.

Did she just ruined her chance to befriend Noah's little sister?

She cursed herself. In her impatient to meet Norah, she didn't consider the girl's feelings. She just thought they could share something in common.

But her situation was different from her now. Norah finally rescued by someone while Clara was still a captive.

Xander catched Clara walked past his office door, he followed her to the garden.

"Hey, you finally talk to Norah?" Xander asked her, they walked side by side along the pathway to the pond.

"No.. She is resting." Clara just looked at the summer flowers. Soon it would be autumn, she wondered if the gardener will added new one. "How about you?"

"Not yet. I don't really know her and we rarely talk to each other. But I still remember the first time I met her, still so young and had to suffer so much."

This was the first time Xander showed his gentle side to her, Clara was stunned by the softness in his face.

The storm inside her heart was calmed down instantly whenever this man beside her.

Then she listened when Xander told her the story but with his version.

"I just done my leader's order for that day when I came accross some thugs beating the life out of a small child, or so I thought. When I approached near, there were two people on the ground. The boy shield his sister, took most of the blows."

"They finally realized who'd watched them and ran away. I took them to my place and let them stay there. Noah was gradually joined me, for his sister…" He shrugged his shoulder, both of his hands in pants pocket.

"I don't really noticed her and suddenly she grew up so much when I saw her last day." Then he was silent for some time, having finished his story.

"You have that kindness inside you, Xander. You even didn't sleep much these past few days to prepared everything in motion." Clara touched his cheek.

His jaw tightened and deep green eyes burning, watching the goddess in front of him. Her smooth white hand on his cheek.

"Then maybe you can accompany me to sleep."

He teased her but Clara was too far in her own mind.

"I think what I don't have is a brother to save me from my kidnapper." Clara laughed jokingly.

Xander slapped her hand away from his cheek and gripped it hard. She whimpered from his roughness, the tenderness in his face was gone.

"You two are not the same. Norah is an innocent girl. Daniel's problem is with her brother but he decided to act like a coward."

Xander leaned his face, stare straight to her hazel eyes, "But you.. You are not that innocent inside, babe."

Clara was fuming, "Then you are a coward too, prude!"

He tapped his forefinger on her temple, "You don't understand what I said? Daniel kidnapped an innocent woman, but I don't. Because you are sinned."

Clara yanked her hand away from his grip, but he didn't let go.

"Then enlighten me. What is this sin you've mentioned from the first time you brought me here."

Xander released her arm, "Not yet, sweet pea. I'll save it for the last."

Then he walked back inside, leaving her at the garden. She was breathing heavily, holding back her tears. When his body disappeared behind the door, a single tear dropped on her cheek.

Clara turned and walked towards the white gazebo, she couldn't hold back anymore and wept there alone.

*** End of Chapter 34 ***