Cameron

The response was instantaneous, we were out of the base in a matter of minutes, I was driving as home, whilst Leo sorted out transport and other protective measures.

Alara had been deathly quiet, she was chewing on her lip far too much, that the skin at broken and a thin line of blood ran down her lips, she didn't care though her eyes glazed over, like she was in another world entirely.

We reach home and while I pulled out my keys I wonder how much time would pass before we could be back here.

It could only be us two that went, we needed to cut ourselves off from the rest of the gang, we needed to limit those who knew where we were, only Mel, Leo and Echo had a vague idea where we were going but I had withheld the specific location even from them. I could not take any chances, not when it was Alara's life on the line.

Losing her, was not an option.

She was already in out room, pulling at her luggage, I stopped her, "We can't take much, grab a backpack fill it with a few clothes and anything else you need, that is all we can take."

"Ok," she whispered still not meeting my eyes.

She grabbed a pitch black backpack and folded a few t-shirts and jeans, pressing them further into the recesses of the bag, before piling in a toiletry bag and a few snacks, I did the same.

"Darling, I'm going to need your phone," I pressed outstretching my hand.

She handed the phone I had bought her to me, I slipped off the back and removed the sim, snapping it in half, before tossing the phone out of the window, it smashed against the concrete, and I repeated the process with my own phone.

I went over to my side of the cupboard and lifted a shelf up, behind it was a hidden safe, I punched in the numbers and pulled out a wad of cash along side some forged IDs, I had had some made for Alara as soon as she moved in, even though I didn't think we would have to use them, I wanted to take all the precautions possible and I was glad I did.

I pulled out a burner phone for us each, beaten up phones, that had been through the ringer, impossible to track and having had too many users before to have any data on us, all that we had on the phone was mixed into the masses of previous owners.

Handing her her new identification and phone, she slipped the phone into her pocket and documents into the front pocket of her bag.

"Ready?"

She nodded slightly, a look of realisation settling on her face, "What about Theo? We have to tell him,"

I shook my head, a look of pity awash over my face, "We can't do that sweetheart, it's too dangerous for him and you,"

"But after looking here, home will be the first place they look, what if they hurt him, and Ma?"

"I'll send guards to watch over, and if I know anything about Theo is that he can hold his own," I pulled her close wrapping an arm around her waist and settling my hand on the small of her back, "I'm sorry Alara, I'm so sorry this is happening to you, but I swear by all that is true I will protect you until my dying breath,"

"Don't say that," she murmured her voice as fragile a glass.

"Why ever not, sweetheart?"

"Don't put yourself in danger for me, if it comes down to it, I want you to save yourself."

I couldn't believe the words that were coming out of her mouth, I turned to her so we were face to face, so I could see each crease of worry throughout her perfect skin, her trembling lips and a the slight sheen in her eyes, as she tried to hold my gaze whilst wanting to look anywhere but there.

"Never," I whispered to her, softly caressing her cheek watching as a slight blush tinging her cheeks, "Darling, if it comes down to it, I will save you always. I will always choose you. I will always lay down my life for you, because you deserve to live far more than I do."

A look of pure affection painted itself on her features, it was a look I liked very much, "You deserve the world Cameron, and I mean it."

"Why would I need the world when I have it right here" I clasped her hands in my own, pulling her close and capturing her lips with my own, I could feel her melt into me, her eyes fluttering shut as she reacted to this kiss, parting her lips slightly as they brushed against my own and suddenly there was a fire in her, she pulled me closer to her, and began to kiss me hard. Kiss me like the world was ending. Kiss me like there was no time left in the world.

I followed suit, giving just as much passion, not caring about Il Venditore or the Blood Diamond, for a moment none of that mattered, all that mattered was her.

The kiss was finally broken when I heard the beep of a car horn from outside, one look at the window and you could see Leo waving his arms and shouting at us to get down there.

So taking her arms in mine, I led her downstairs.

Leo stood next to a beat up Chevy next to Mel, he was grinning wildly as though he had won all the awards in the world.

"Isn't it just beautiful," he gestured towards the car and infection grin breaking out on his face.

"It really is," Alara entertained him.

Leo tossed me the keys before engulfing me in a hug slapping my back and reminding me to look after Alara, "Bring Alara back in one piece, in time for the wedding, I wouldn't want my best man to miss my big day,"

He easily slipped in the comment just as he did with Mel during his proposal, Leo always was the sneaky type.

"What a great way of asking me to be your best man," I laughed.

"I'm sorry we all can't craft a soliloquy like you do,"

"I thought you liked my speech," I fake scowled.

"Oh I loved it, it's just not my style."

"You have no style Leo," Mel chimed in, to which Leo turned around a feigned look of offense on his face.

"Baby, I'm all style."

Alara laughed slightly at his antics, rushing over to pull him into a hug, I could see tears falling down her face, as she hiccupped slightly, hugging Mel next, "You guys are awesome, you don't know how much joy you have brought into my life, I don't know what I'd do without you. Look after each other please, I want to come back and everything be exactly the way I left it."

"Don't worry we'll be fine. Enjoy your vacation."

"It's hardly a vacation," I deadpanned before smirking at Alara, "Think of it more like a road trip."