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Chapter Three - Precautions

Judah Jackson's P.O.V.

I park the car and wince at the thought of what's coming before getting out. It's dark and quiet but the house's lights illuminate a warm glow to show me the way. Hopefully the kids should be asleep by now, I think to myself. Just before I reach however Ella opens the door with a wide smile which instantly disappears at the sight of me.

"Guys!" She yells worriedly before I have a chance to shut her up.

"Right...see you never." I salute her before turning to run off.

"Judah Jackson get inside right the hell now! What happened to you?!"

I groan as Ryder appears by her side in an instant and his expression darkens at the sight of me. Hunter and Zoe follow suit with worried looks before I'm tugged to the sitting room. The girls fawn over me before realizing all my wounds have been tended to save for my heavily bruising skin and cuts.

I look around but don't spot the kids anywhere which means they're probably all in bed. Ella had Alistair and Zoe had twin boys, Matteo and Micah, a few months ago so I know they've been trying to get everyone to sleep around the same time.

"Girls..." I take their hands and sit up with a serious expression. "You've got to admit...I look ten times hotter don't I?"

They don't miss a beat and I receive two smacks to where I haven't been hit. I dramatically groan and writhe in pain regardless. "You've killed me! Never did I think my sisters-in-law would be the reason I die! Think of all the women you've denied!"

I stop immediately when they pinch my ears and fold my hands apologetically. They let go and I relax against the couch once again. Ella shakes her head as she cuddles up to Ryder whereas Hunter pulls Zoe onto his lap as they all stare at me for an explanation. I scratch the back of my head before deciding to tell them everything.

"You know how I helped Charlie with the whole Liam situation? Well, the leader of the Mexican gang Liam was involved with is behind bars but I've pissed off Quintana who's the leader of a gang in Venezuela. His weapons shipment got busted and he lost several men because of me." I explain as I rest my elbows on my thighs. "He didn't see Charlie thank fuck so she's safe but I was running around with the police so he connected the dots and now he's after me. His men have been out looking for me and roughed me up again today after I left the new office."

"We're getting you a security team." Ryder states in a no-nonsense tone.

I still open my mouth to protest but get cut off by Hunter. "Don't object to this Judah, you could get seriously hurt. It's for your protection."

"I can handle it. He hasn't caught me –"

"How you look right now just proves his men are getting closer Jude." Zoe speaks up in a soft tone and I clench my jaw in frustration.

"Look...I'll go into hiding or something. I don't need a security team!"

"You're definitely going into hiding but not without a security team. End of discussion Judah." Ryder states with a stern look and from arguing with him over the years I know he's not going to budge.

"Fine!" I huff before storming off to the balcony outside.

I silently sulk as I watch the city lights twinkling in the distance with the stars above me. It's getting colder now that we're in Autumn and I pull my jacket closer to keep the heat from escaping. Only a few more minutes go by before I hear the door creak open. I look over my shoulder to see Ella and Zoe step in with small cautious smiles.

"Come in my loves." I wave them forward before turning back to the view. "I knew you wouldn't be able to resist me – ow! Fuck!"

They glare at me playfully after smacking the back of my head. "We wanted to check if you're okay but you just had to ruin it like always."

"I'm sorry about that...it's just frustrating." I shrug but the knowing look in their eyes makes me sigh. "Okay and scary. I really don't want to be shot again. But I'm not used to being scared! I'm Judah, I'm reckless and a troublemaker! I don't know how to handle this."

"Please just listen to them." Ella pleads and I sigh when her big green eyes meet mine. "We don't want to lose you."

"A security team will help you stay safe. You can't do it on your own Judah." Zoe adds and I nod in resignation.

"Well...since I'm probably going to miss Charlie's birth I took pictures so you can show my new nephew his favorite uncle." I sigh as I fish them out of my pocket.

"Jude...why are you shirtless in these?"

"Oh...my bad! Those are for you two, my special girls." I wink before handing them the right ones. I yelp when they pinch my sides. "Motherfucker! Okay this is for him. As you can see...fully clothed. Don't I look cute?"

"Oh, shut it! Your ego is much too big already!" Zoe rolls her eyes playfully.

"And promise me you guys won't tell Charlie?" I beg them and they glance at each other unsurely. "It took her a long time to stop feeling guilty and she's about to enter her last month of pregnancy. You know how badly this will affect her. I don't want anything to go wrong because of me."

"You're right, we won't." Ella sighs with a determined nod. "Roman's facilitating this too so the guys will have a team for you tomorrow morning. Are you staying the night?"

"Yeah and can I have pancakes tomorrow?" I plead with my puppy dog eyes that they can never say no to. "I mean, I am leaving for god knows how long. Pretty please?"

"Alright." She smiles and ruffles my hair with a quiet chuckle.

"And expect a call from your parents tomorrow." Zoe grins cheekily and I groan as I put my arms around them.

"Fuck my life!" I whisper-shout as we walk inside with their giggles echoing in the otherwise quiet night.

***

Right after breakfast the next day I meet the Falcon Security team. It's a team of three men and one woman; Griffin who is the leader, Parker being the doctor, Cole who specializes in weapons and Reece is an explosives tech.

Griffin and Cole look quite similar which makes sense when Griffin explains that they're cousins. Both have brown eyes, equally brown hair and olive complexions. Griffin is just a lot more built but Cole has the sharper features. Parker, on the other hand, has softer features with pale skin that has dark freckles scattered across the bridge of his nose. He's muscular too but they're not as defined.

Lastly, Reece is very ripped and gives the boys a run for their money. She has silvery grey hair in a pixie cut with dark black hair peeking out at the back. Her light caramel skin compliments it and she has a baby face with dimples on both cheeks which makes her look the least intimidating out of the group.

"So, I take it the only thing you have in common is your love of tattoos?" I blurt as my gaze runs over their inked skin. Parker and Cole have a little less than the other two.

That gets a chuckle out of them before they tell me they were all in the military at some point. Parker and Reece were in the Navy whereas Griffin and Cole were in the Army.

They brief me on the plan for two long hours. I'm to go back home, get my shit and disappear for an unknown amount of time. My brothers remain firm on their decision and I finally accept defeat when Griffin tells me the situation I'm in will most likely harm my family members and friends if I continue to stick around.

"What about my friends, Kenzo and Aiden? Surely Quintana saw me with them by now?" I ask with a frown.

"We'll be moving them to separate safe houses out of the country with their own protection. Your family will also have protection around the clock just in case as well as the interim CEO of your company." Griffin replies as he types away furiously on his laptop. "We're leaving for the plane in an hour so this is your time to say goodbye. There will be no communication until the threat is eliminated."

Out of the corner of my eye I see my brothers and the girls frown worriedly. With a sigh that barely conceals my stress and anxiety I plaster on a fake smile before standing. "No time to waste then! Who wants the first hug?"

I spend the first few minutes receiving hugs and kisses from my family and the children before I call Callum, who will be stepping into my position while I'm away. I debrief him and my secretary on everything that needs to be done before making a few more calls.

"Hey Ma." I wave but my smile falters when she's clearly about to burst into tears. "Ma, you know I don't do well with crying women! Where's dad?"

"Right here son." Dad takes the phone off her and comforts her for a moment. "We heard about what's going on. Be safe Jude and come back to us in one piece you hear me?"

"Cross my heart and hope to die." I wink with a chuckle.

"Judah! Don't say things like that!" Mom snaps at me and I grin in response. "Take care of yourself and listen to the team okay? Don't skip any meals like usual and –"

"Ma...I'll be fine. I promise." I reassure her before blowing them a kiss. "I'll miss you both."

"We'll miss you too. I love you." She replies quietly with a weak smile.

"Love you son." My dad grins but I can tell it's fake. His eyes hold so much worry that I can't take away.

"I love you too. Take care of yourself and I'll be home soon." I smile sadly before bidding them goodbye.

Roman picks up on the first ring when I call him next. Elena is quick to sit beside him and she waves with a worried smile. She groans with me when Rome launches into his spiel about me staying safe. I see Parker smirk in amusement when he walks into the room to grab my bags before gesturing to his watch.

"Rome I've got fifteen minutes and I still need to call Theo!" I interrupt and Elena snatches the phone off him.

"Kick Quintana's ass to the moon my love." She winks whereas Roman glares at her.

"You will do no such thing! Stick with the team and do not, under any circumstances, go near Quintana!"

Elena rolls her eyes before winking at me. "Say, are they letting you take your flamethrower and spiked metal bat onto the plane Jude?"

"Ugh, I wish!" I shake my head in disappointment. "It'd make things so much easier!"

She giggles which makes me grin before I demand to see my nieces and nephews. I eventually bid them all goodbye before making a call to Kenzo and Aiden. As expected, they're not worried in the slightest and spend the entire call cracking jokes on how much of a wimp I am agreeing to a security team. But in the end they become serious and start lecturing me like everyone else on staying out of trouble.

"See you later boys." I salute them with a grin before hanging up and dialing the last number for the day. "Charles, my glowing girl!"

I grin when she huffs in annoyance. She scrunches her nose at the nickname as she waddles over to the couch. "I told you to stop calling me that!"

We talk about her pregnancy, job and Aria. I so desperately want to tell her what's going on but I know Charlie. She's going to freak out before thinking it's all her fault. It took many months for her to stop believing that and I'll be damned if I send her back into that headspace with her due date so close. Thankfully Theo joins minutes later and she groans before handing the phone over to him.

"I need to pee...again. Be right back." She mutters before leaving for the bathroom.

"Roman told me." Theo states as soon as he knows she's out of earshot. "I'm sure everyone's told you to be safe and all so I won't lecture you with that. You're smart enough to know how dangerous this situation really is so please take care of yourself. I'm serious Judah."

"I will as long as you don't tell Charlie."

His eyes widen before he sighs. "But I –"

"Don't be a weak little shit! Make up an excuse!" I frown at him and he rolls his eyes in response. "Tell her I'm on one of those zen retreats where I rediscover myself without internet or something. Sounds like something I would do anyways. Besides she needs to stay relaxed for your baby's health. Now does sending her down an anxious spiral sound relaxing to you?!"

"Okay! Okay!" He snaps back with a huff. "I won't tell her."

"Won't tell me what?"

We both freeze when Charlie comes back into the room. She takes a seat next to Theo again and stares between us in confusion when we don't answer. I bite my lip as I rack my brain to come up with any excuse and blurt out the first thing that comes to mind.

"Dick problems."

Clearly I'm not a normal human being.

"What?!" Theo hisses whereas Charlie grins in amusement.

"Oh really? Sounds like you're lying to me Judah." She crosses her arms as she drawls.

"My love, I would never lie to you." I wink before sighing dramatically. "I was just explaining to Theo how difficult it is for women to adjust to my generous size. I have been blessed with too much."

"Judah!" She gasps with a hand to her heart. "What happened to you searching for the one?!"

"I must sleep in many beds to find the right one." I reply seriously and she nods understandingly.

"Well, when you finally fit then I guess you've found the one. I wish you the best of luck my little player." She jokes while clearly holding back laughter.

"I bet I'd fit in yo –"

"Judah!" Theo yells disapprovingly with disgust tainting his features. He then stares at Charlie grumpily when she can't stop laughing.

"I love you Judah. Visit soon okay?"

At that my smile falters before I force it back up. "I promise."

Theo's jaw clenches before he meets my gaze. "Love you brother. We'll meet soon."

"That we will. Love you guys." I wave and slump against my seat when they hang up.

"Jude." I look up to find Ryder and Hunter standing in the doorway. "Ready to go?"

"Do I really have to?" They smile at me sadly as I walk up to them before pulling me into a hug. I clench my eyes shut before pulling away and exhaling deeply. "Let's get this show on the road."

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