*Amir*

I hope Luna wasn't feeling embarrassed. I should have made sure they were tucked away. They were in my pants and must've fallen out somehow. I wasn't planning on anything happening between us, but it would be stupid if we got to that point and I wasn't packing anything. And I know deep down that she wouldn't mind being intimate with me all the way, bare, but it was a little preparation. I hope she didn't feel like I expected something from her, because that was so not the case. She knew I'd never been with a woman, she'd always known, and that little piece of my life had never gotten in the way of us evolving into who are now. We were tethered together for a reason.

I wrapped an arm around her waist as we headed out into the bright July afternoon sun. The streets were buzzing, and the smell was fresh, not too hot. But I was sure it would be scorching hot later on. The southern parts of the States were hot this time of year.

Decker walked by us, his eyes staring down to what I was holding in my hand. "Nice package." 

"Go away," I replied.

He snorted. 

We turned a corner of the motel, and I got a good look at the vehicle they rode in. "Whoa! Who's vehicle is this?" 

Faisal took his shirt off and threw the new one on, and then the guys opened the doors. "It's a rental. It suits us, right?" He glanced back at me like he expected me to pat him on the back. 

He opened the back of the perfectly painted black Hummer and grinned cheerfully. Luna chuckled and nodded while looking at it up and down. She was so adorable looking at the big monster with her dolls in her hand. "Did you guys drive this car all the way here from where the safe house is?" 

Decker laughed. "No. We caught a ride to a local Enterprise company, then we rented it under another name. For security purposes." 

Yeah, I had a feeling Decker's renting was the same way we rented that truck at the hospital. And any vehicle that was in Ahmed or Liberty's name could be tracked now. That was the reason we were about to ride in a stolen Hummer. I headed around the back door and opened it up for Luna. "Do you need help climbing up this thing?" 

She shot me a dirty look and winked my way. "I am good with... climbing... don't ya think?" 

She then grabbed the handle bar and hoisted herself up, but being the kind and helpful guy that I am, I assisted with helping her adjust inside. Her rear was really turning me on in the most taunting kind of ways.

"I heard that," she murmured, looking down at me. "I felt that."

I hopped in beside her and laughed quietly. "Looks like I'm not the only telepathic stalker around here."

"Nope. What you guys can do, I can do as well."

"I'll keep that in mind for later, if you catch my drift." I reached around to helped her with her seatbelt.

"You know, I am totally capable of strapping myself in." I chuckled. "Just do your strapping when it's just the two of us, privately." Hmm... my girl was giving me insight of ways to turn her on. But she failed to understand that I already knew everything. I loved it when we were being flirty like this.

"TMI, you two," Decker remarked from the other side.

"If you don't like hearing too much information, you know how to turn your ears away," I told him, annoyed that he was listening in on our flirtatious chatter.

I leaned over and pressed a soft kiss on her temple, so glad she wasn't in any pain anymore. I lifted my arm, and she snuggled up to me, Aluna and Ibrahim in her grasp. "If you don't want to keep this car, I'll take it," I told them.

From the driver's seat, Decker turned around and laughed at me. "Hell no. This is a good one. A gas guzzler, but I may keep this one. Change all the tags and put it in my alias."

"Just sit back and keep your eyes peeled, guys," Ahmed said from the passenger's seat. "Actually, you may want to wear your sunglasses. The sun shine is bright today, but we'll also be going through a lot of country areas. There isn't much to look at." 

"That's all right." I had my girl beside me. Nothing else was more entertaining. After readjusting my legs, I looked at the front seat, and then I glanced at my cousin. He was tapping his fingers on the side of the window with his arm propped up, eyes gazing out the window. He was soaking everything in on this trip for sure. I looked at the back of Decker's head and wondered if I should trust him. He followed Luna and Sarah back then for Chase. Has he changed? For all I know, he could lead us to the facility that Cami was about to be sent to before we broke her out. It was in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Decker eased us out of the parking spot and pulled us onto the busy highway. My nerves still hadn't calmed down. Later today, I'll call home and cancel anything in my name. Then I'll make arrangements for my house. Faris will help with anything I need. Luna and I were on the run, hiding from hunters out there. I never knew there was such a thing, either.  Being around Decker didn't settle well with me.

Faisal turned his eyes my way, speaking to me telepathically. 'I think we can trust Colin. He and Ahmed are best friends, and we trust Ahmed.'

My eyes narrowed as I kissed Luna's forehead. 'True, but Colin could still turn on us.'

'I understand your concerns. I get it, really.' He cleared his throat and sat up straighter as he looked at both guys talking about sports in the front seat. 'He risked his life and reputation to help everyone. Besides, his wife and son are one of us. They're everything to him.' 

Faisal had a point. But this could still be a setup like it was with Chase. Faisal or Ahmed may not know anything. Colin Decker was sketchy. 

'Colin isn't like Chase. And he wanted to get away from that place just as bad as everyone else did.' 

I didn't know what to say. I was just staying cautious and keeping my guard up. Turning my gaze toward the window, I watched as we passed several small houses and signs along the side of the road as they slightly blurred, and then we moved onto Interstate 10, heading towards downtown New Orleans. It wasn't until I saw the large buildings in the distance that I finally relaxed. Luna was sitting on my side, looking as if we were going on a romantic vacation, deep in thought. She was so beautiful. 

"Did you guys see that sign back there about a haunted tour of a cemetery?" I asked, trying to bring humor into the quiet car. "Anyone feel like going?"

Faisal snorted. "Forgive Amir guys. We don't get the pleasure of experiencing these tourist's traps back home." 

I chuckled. 

Not knowing where we were heading and why nobody would tell us anything didn't settle well with me. I kept my eyes to the window, looking for any suspicious cars that might follow us, or coming too close to ours. About twenty minutes into the trip and passing by the Superdome, Luna dozed off. I reached for the dolls before they fell onto the floor from her grip and laid them on my other side. She's treated them like they were our children. It was sweet, cute, and lovely. I was relieved that she fell asleep. She needed it.

Each time I saw a police car, I couldn't help but tense up, ready for them to pull us over and come up with some silly excuse of why. We had weapons and were riding in a vehicle that wasn't in any of our names. But none of them paid attention to us. Nothing happened on the way over to the safe house, aside from Ahmed and Decker fighting over a football team they wanted to one-up on each other with. I couldn't believe Decker knew him all this time, and what he did just to help us escape. He didn't seem too bad, but everyone had one chance with me. Break that one chance, and they'll regret it. 

I thought about the weirdest things on the drive to Baton Rouge. And I mean some stuff that was really far-out-there. Maybe it had to do with the fact that there were three people in the car who could take a peek inside my mind at any moment and see some things I didn't want them to. Well, Luna was an exception.

It all began when I took a glance down at her and my eyes darted to her parted legs. Her tiny hand was near my thigh, and her head was curled on my side. For a long time, I stared. I stared hard. That would've made her feel uncomfortable if she were awake. But different thoughts kept racing inside my mind. Maybe it was because of where her left hand is? It was only her hand though. It was something much deeper. I know it is.

Ah, I got it. Now I know why I was thinking those things. She once wore my hair string on her left finger, and that was still in Purgatory. Although, I could recreate my hair ring for her. Or give her a real one? I had my grandfather's ring with me. And I wondered if she would still say yes to a life with me. I hoped so. I'm sure she would with all that we had been through. And we wouldn't have to get married right away, unless she wanted to. Having Sarah's approval, first, was much more important. Without that, Luna and I will have to figure something out about our fate. 

Besides, I needed her parent's approval as well. It was important to me as it is to her. And also throw my family in there, too. They will love Luna and Sarah.

Spending the rest of my life with her was something I'd desired, but I didn't expect it to be a possibility. I took a risk kissing her in her room at the hospital, but I had to. I had to touch her lips, just once, just to feel her love embrace mine. And it all worked out. Now we are known as TSE, and that delighted me to the fullest. But we still had many obstacles ahead of us. I wanted to be prepared for anything. I wanted us to be ready. 

But why in the hell was I thinking about all this when our lives were in chaos right now? Maybe I was because everything was a mess, and tomorrow wasn't promised. And I know in my heart I am ready to seal the deal with her, but the question is when? I hated to think about it this early in our relationship, but there might not be a few months or years from now. Anything could happen, and I hoped that if I get Sarah and the Carlyle's approval of me being in their life, then Luna and I could get married soon. Maybe in a few weeks? Too soon? Probably. But when you know, you know. 

I shook my head from these thoughts, and felt Luna's hand tightening around my waist. I stayed focused on the road, driving over a long bridge that was over a huge lake. It was nearly a forty-five minute drive on here. She stirred and brought her head up. "Hey, sleepyhead. You looked very peaceful asleep." 

She rubbed her eyes and sat up straighter, then looked at Faisal and started chuckling. He had his mouth opened and head tilted back on his seat, deeply exhausted. Luna snickered at me and shook her head. "Did you slip him a sleeping drug?" 

I burst out laughing. "I'm glad you think highly of me." 

"It's not like you've never done it before." 

She had a point, but I didn't mess with my cousin's Apple Juice today. Ahmed laid his head onto the side of the window, asleep. And Decker glanced around at us, smiling. "Good to see you're awake, Ms. Carlyle." 

Oh, now he wants to go back to being formal. 

"You can call me Luna. You've called me by my name before. Nothing has changed." 

We finally get off the interstate onto another highway, and he swerved to the left lane so he could speed down the road. His driving was making me even more nervous. He flew over a bump, and now the other guys woke. 

"I wish I thought about it," Luna murmured, narrowing her eyes. 

"Thought about what, Moon?"

"Taking a pit-stop at the studio and my house. I wanted to grab something inside both places." 

"Really... I wonder what they are," I said, teasing her. "But they are both being watched, I'm sure."

Ahmed twisted in his seat and grinned. "If you were wanting to retrieve this," he said, reaching into his pockets, pulling out my necklace from Christmas last year. "Liberty asked Raul to get it for you. She didn't know if Chase was lurking around. He went through the fire escape." 

Luna reached for it, smiling down and tearing up. "Thank you. I mean, wow, I've missed this. I would hug you right now if I could." 

"It's fine. Liberty asked me to bring it with me on our way to the motel." 

She turned to me and kissed my cheek. "I treasure this necklace like it holds the key to life. I adore it so much. Help me put it on?"

I smiled, pressing my lips to a spot just below her earlobe. "Of course. It looks beautiful on you."

She turned slightly, eyes closing. "You're beautiful," I whispered in her ear. "What was the other thing you wanted to retrieve?"

"Your handsome army photo. I had it printed from your Facebook page, and I don't know, I imagined lying next to you in the field."

I gave her a quick kiss on the cheek and ignored my cousin's snickering on the other side of her. As we reached the outskirts of the city, I started getting weary about where the hell the party really was, especially when Decker turned a corner and we passed by a country club with a huge golf course.

We kept heading further and further away from the interstate and continued down a nearly vacant highway. There weren't many things out here expect a few sprawling mansions and one thirty-foot security wall that appeared out of thin air. I didn't see it before. 

I leaned forward, bringing my hands to the back of Decker's seat. "Where exactly are you taking us?"

"Please don't tell me you are still paranoid," he snickered.

Luna glanced at me, her eyes widening at the sight of many sculptures that were on display in front of several yards nearby. Whoever lived out here must be wealthy. I'd never seen anything like this community before. Every yard had a water fountain, nicely trimmed hedges, and beautiful displays out front. But what caught my eye was lead particles shinning brightly along the fence. 

This whole area was surrounded by lead and security cameras.

Decker drove close to an intercom at the front gate. The intercom popped on and he said, "Marco... Polo."

Static and then a woman's voice said, "Who are you?"

"The Winchester's of New Orleans," Decker responded with all three guys giggling.

Luna raised a brow at me, then started giggling herself. I shrugged, ready to get on with this.

From the intercom, "The Winchest-"

"We're here to find some demons." But they were back at St. Matthew's, Decker.

All of us started laughing, and I couldn't contain myself any longer. He was being funny.

Ahmed rolled his eyes after a moment. "It's us! Okay?" He saw the funny expressions on our faces. "What? I gotta use the gentleman's room."

"I have to use the potty myself," Luna said, narrowing her eyes.

There was a loud huff from the intercom and then came the female's voice. "Seriously? You could have came up with something better than that. We're in the middle of watching Supernatural."

"Which season?" Decker asked, but then Ahmed jabbed his arm. "Nevermind. We'll talk inside."

The intercom then said, "Okay. The gate will open. It's slow, so sit tight."

"I can't believe you said that," I told him.

"What?" He remarked, twisting his head toward us. "I knew they were watching the show before we left. I wanted to be funny."

"I thought it was funny," came from Faisal. But of course, he was a jokester himself.

"You're easy to impress," I murmured his way.

"I laughed. Now I want to watch Supernatural," Luna said, smiling my way.

"Well, I can think of many other things I would rather spend my time watching," I told her, whispering in her ear. She flushed.

It took several minutes for the gate to fully open, and Decker pushed on the gas pedal, slowly easing us inside the gated community. We came upon house after house with large yards and massive sculptures decorating them from the outside. Many caught my eye as we looked around, and Luna gulped, amazed how enormous each home was. One home stood at nearly eight stories high, and another one after that had an extra three stories.

I was completely mind-blown by the location we were in. They all had lead in the shape of domes and cameras.

"Are you sure the group is here?" I asked Decker, and he nodded back.

But then, I started picking up other TS who lived within these walls. This was a safe community for Tethered Souls. I couldn't believe it. An entire community of our kind who are undetected and well-protected. I wondered if any of them were the exception like Luna and I were. But I didn't want to question it. I trusted that this community will be safe. It had to be. Each part of it had security cameras directed in several locations, followed by the lead etched everywhere. Anyone from the outside wouldn't be able to detect us. We'd be safe from the hunters.

We'd finally reached another wall, and the gate opened quicker than the first one. This house, it was humongous, and it loomed higher than all the others. And I could tell that we were on a hilltop, overlooking a busy city down below.

"Who lives out here?" Luna asked, a look of awe coming from her lips. "This place is a mansion. Almost a palace."

Her happiness brought a smile to my face.

The place really was huge. Had to be over nine thousand square feet, maybe more, rising four stories, with a small sky dome in the middle part and a helicopter pad sign up ahead. Was this the Senator's house or something? Like the other homes in the small village, it had white sandstone cement and security cameras facing every inch of the property. Lead was also embedded along the sides and around the top of the fence.

Decker followed the curvy driveway, and stopped in front of a set of wide white steps, and a dolphin sculpture beside a large fountain settled in the front. Nice.

"We're here!" Decker said, opening the driver side door and dashing toward the front steps. Ahmed opened his door after looking at us in the back seat. On the steps, Decker looked at us as stayed seated in our spots. "We can go in now."

Taking a deep breath, I grabbed her hand and pressed a kiss on her palm. "Are you ready?"

"Yeah." She gave me a tiny smile. "My little girl is inside, waiting."

I giggled softly. "I'm sure she is ready to see her mother. Her beautiful and courageous mother."

We climbed down from the Hummer and walked around it. She grabbed her tote bag from the motel and stuck the dolls inside, making sure their heads were sticking out from the top. I gave her a tight squeeze, and then we headed slowly toward the steps, preparing for whatever backstabbing Decker had planned. The way he was smiling at me had me feeling icky. Something was definitely up with him, and I couldn't figure out what it was.

We walked closer to the red-painted door as it opened, and a thin figure popped out quickly.

"We've been waiting all day to see you guys, and all you could do was take your sweet ass time," Liberty said, propping her hands on her small hips. Then she tipped her chin up towards me. "It's nice to finally meet you, Amir. I'm Luna's older sister. I have a million questions for you, but you have earned your place in our family."

Ahmed clapped his hands together. "Great. Grill him inside, honey."

***

The big reunion is next! And more of Amir's wedding plans. I love portraying a man from a wonderful land who goes to the ends of the Earth for the woman  he loves. #AlunaArmy