We had been driving for what felt like hours. My hands had eventually relaxed, my fingers wrapped in the fabric of his black shirt. Every time Christian would take a sharp turn my fingers would flinch into the hard muscle of his abdomen.

Christian drove the motorbike as well as he fought, it was as if the bike could read his mind, following his instructions with swift and effortless movements beneath us. The wind was beating down on us, tearing through my coat and stabbing at my skin with its icy fingertips. I shivered against Christians back and would occasionally feel the brush of his long hair against my face as he would check behind me before turning his attention back to the road.

A few more minutes passed before he pulled up to a petrol station. It was a secluded building, the street lights casting shadows over the area and causing me to look around uneasily. I watched as Christian scanned the area, his dark eyes sharp as he took in every crevice of the perimeter.

"We're half an hour away from my friends, we'll go there and get some rest." Christian informed me as he turned off the engine and headed for the petrol pumps.

"Your friends?" I repeated in confusion, "We're not going home?"

"You can't go home." Christian responded immediately

Panic flooded through me like ice cold water. Ever since you were little you were told that home was the safest place you could ever be. My home in Russia had taken a while to get used to, it was incredibly different to London where me and my family initially came from. Russia was harsh and busy, a city where only the people with ambition strived, but it had become home. Our luxurious apartment where me and my parents would spend nights in front of the TV watching one of those old black and white films my Mum loved, The thought of not being able to go home, back to my comfortable bed or to the smell of my parents food, back to the place that held so much memories, truly scared the death out of me.

"Nadia," Christian was suddenly in front of me, his hands carefully placed on my shoulders, "Nadia listen to me."

"What do you mean we can't go home?" I questioned with baited breath, "I have to see my parents, they'll be worrying about me, I need-"

"It's not safe Nadia!" Christian interrupted me, "Listen as soon as I get you somewhere safe, you can call them. It was obvious that they had followed you, which means they probably know where you live."

I tried to nod but it seemed I had lost all control over my body. I couldn't stop shaking as flashbacks of the people had tried to kidnap me washed over me like a tsunami. I felt as though I was being smothered by my fear, all I wanted to do was run away but it was as if I had been rooted through the ground, my fear wrapping around me like black iron tendrils to prevent me from escaping.

"Nadia, you're having a panic attack." Christian's voice sounded as if he were miles away, as if I were underwater and being drowned by my fear.

Warm hands wrapped around me and gently guided me to the floor. One hand rested at the nape of my neck, pushing away my dark strands of hair as he pushed my head between my legs. His other hand came to rest in the middle of my back, his calloused fingers rubbing shapes in the skin beneath the fabric of my top.

"Breathe Nadia." Christian urged me, his voice deep, strong and calm as he guided me back to myself.

I sat in that position for a few minutes until my breathing returned to normal. A wave of nausea washed over me as I attempted to stand back up. I stumbled slightly and Christian moved forward so that my shoulder fell in line with his.

"Just relax." Christian ordered, his hand finding my back once again.

"How do you know how to do this?" I asked curiously, "I doubt the soldiers from St. Starks suffered from any sort of anxiety."

"You would be surprised." Christian said, a slight edge to his voice.

I looked up slowly, afraid that I would feel dizzy again. Christian wasn't looking at me, his expression thoughtful and his eyes looking at a past that I would never see.

"I'm sorry." I said, "I forget that I barely know you."

Christian turned to look at me, that strange faraway look in his eyes disappearing. He stared at me for a moment, his dark irises studying my face before he turned away. I had a suspicion that he had wanted to say something to me, but once again I reminded myself that no matter how hard I tried; I never knew what Christian was thinking or feeling.

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"We're staying here?" I questioned, unable to hide the disdain from my voice.

"Well I'm aware it's not a five star hotel Miss Wolfe," Christian retorted, his eyes rolling at my fearful expression, "But it is safe." He added seriously.

We had arrived at a block of apartment buildings, they all appeared to be squashed together, as if the builders had decided to play a game and see how many one roomed apartment buildings they could fit onto each other until it was deemed unsafe. Christian had hid the motorcycle around the back before we walked through the dimly lit parking lot. His hand was wrapped firmly around my forearm as he steered me in the direction of the stairs which lead to the second floor. The stairs were rickety beneath my feet and I felt the urge to glance over my shoulder every five seconds. I felt like we were being watched; I could tell Christian felt it too the way his eyes swept the area as if he were an eagle searching for prey

We arrived to an apartment building with a worn white door with the numbers 207 at the front in dull gold metal. Christian searched the perimeter once more before he knocked the wooden surface. His knuckles gave two sharp knocks before he stepped back. He sighed after a minute went past and the door had yet to open. He pressed his ear against the wood, his expression concentrated as he waited to hear any noise from the opposite side of the door. .

"He's not home." He murmured, more to himself than to me.

I watched as he moved to the small window, his eyebrows furrowed in thought. It happened so fast I couldn't stop the small shriek which sounded from my lips, one second Christian was just standing there, the next his fist had struck through the window, the glass shattering around him. He stepped back, seeming to be proud with his handy work as it hadn't made much of a noise.

He finally looked at me, his lips twitching at the outraged expression on my face, "What, I'll fix it for him." He winced slightly, "Eventually."

I watched as Christian climbed through the window, his athletic body showing no strain as he heaved himself up, dodging the jagged pieces of glass easily before he slid into the apartment. I followed after him, my clumsy movements causing the glass to crunch under my trainers. I reached the window and attempted to climb through on my own. Strong hands clasped my elbows and I looked up to see Christian before he practically lifted me through the small space.

"Thanks." I mumbled, slightly embarrassed that he had seen my pathetic attempt at copying his swift movements.

He nodded, obviously unfazed by my bambi on ice moment as his eyes searched the dark apartment. The apartment was simple; nothing like my home. It had a simplistic style, white walls, minimal furniture. You wouldn't be able to picture any sort of person who lived here, there were no photographs, no painting, not even a plant pot, the room was completely void of any personality or taste. It suddenly occurred to me if that was the point.

"Who is this friend?" I questioned uneasily.

"His name is Willem," Christian answered as he opened the door which I presumed leaded to the bedroom. "I trained with him, we were very close."

"Where do you think he is?" I pressed.

"Probably with his charge, he's also a bodyguard." Christian replied.

Christian walked into the kitchen after he deemed it safe that no one else was here. He started rooting through the cupboards, his face furrowing into a frown as he pulled out some healthy looking protein bars, "God, he was always such a health nut but this is just sad."

I smiled slightly, seeing Christian this way was odd. In the entire time I had known Christian he had never divulged anything about himself. Seeing him rooting through cupboards, scoffing and rolling his eyes as he searched through his friends food was not only amusing but allowed me to see Christian when he wasn't in his 'terminator' mode.

"Well...this is the best thing I could find." Christian sighed, holding up two packets of chicken flavoured mug shots, "Believe me, it's the lesser evil."

"That's great." I said, suddenly very aware of how starving I was. I hadn't eaten for a few hours now, and the stress of tonight's events had made me completely about human necessities such as food. Christian flicked on the kettle and poured the sachais into two mugs.

We stood in silence for a moment, me leaning against the kitchen counter while Christian maintained his straight and upright posture. An awkward silence settled between us, I had never been in a situation like this with Christian. Normally he just stood in the background while I attempted to avoid his watchful eyes, now we were forced together and I didn't know how to even speak to the man.

"What made you do it?" Christian questioned suddenly, "What made you run away?"

I stared at him, noticing how he looked slightly uncomfortable. It seemed he hadn't been able to hold back the question for any longer.

"I..." I faltered slightly, unsure how to explain why I had ran away, "I just felt like I woke up one morning and my whole future had been written out for me, and suddenly I realised that that future was the last thing I wanted."

Christian studied me, his dark eyes thoughtful, an emotion I couldn't identify hidden in them.

"You're not happy with the soulmate chosen for you?" Christian assumed.

"Not happy that I had been told I would be forced to spend the rest of my life with a stranger? Surprisingly I wasn't thrilled." I said sarcastically. I knew it was wrong to direct my anger at Christian when I was only angry and the situation but I couldn't help it. "We're you happy with yours?" I questioned.

Christian pursed his lips, his arms folding as he assumed his usual closed body language. It became clear to me that although Christian was willing to protect me after tonight, he still had no intention of opening up to me.

"Yes." He said simply before turning around to pour the boiling water into the mugs, effectively ending the conversation, if you could even call it as conversation. I glanced at the piece of leather fabric which covered his tattooed wrist. I couldn't help but think about his answer, if he was happy with his soulmate, why wasn't he with her now?

"Here," Christian handed me the warm mug and I took it gratefully, blowing at it in attempt to cool down the liquid. "Make yourself comfortable in the living room and eat that, I need a shower." I nodded when I saw the splatters of blood on his collarbone. He had obviously done some damage on our attackers, not that I was surprised after seeing the way he fought.

I followed him into the next room and made my way to the sofa. I reached for the remote and searched the channels before I came across a film. I watched the TV screen blankly, not paying attention and just allowing my eyes to relax until the actors on the screen simply became blurs. Worry gnawed at me as I thought about my parents, were they worried about me? A pang of fear hit me as I considered the fact that perhaps my attackers had returned to my home, that they could potentially be hurting them right now and that I had no way of knowing or no way of preventing it.

"Nadia," Christian's voice interrupted my inner turmoil.

I glanced at him and saw that he was standing beside me, his brown eyes fixed on my face. It was obvious he had attempted to get my attention a few times. He opened his mouth to say something, his eyes betraying his worry for me, before he seemed to think better of it.

"Stay inside ok?" He finally said, his tone betraying nothing.

I only nodded and turned back to the TV, allowing my worries to wash over me once more as Christian disappeared into the bathroom.

A/N - First of all may I say how incredibly sorry I am that I have neglected this story for over a year! I want to say thank you to everyone who has remained patient and interested in this story! It means the world to me! I hope this chapter was worth the wait and I promise I will begin to update more regularly as my life has finally seemed to calm down!

Also I made a twitter so make sure to follow me to keep updated with any new updates, writing things and just to see me fangirling about various things! Also it's a great and easy way to communicate with you guys so feel free to tweet me because I love hearing from you!

My username is @LittleFighter97 , and I've also put it in the external link.

Lots of love and hope you enjoyed x