Counting Sheep

Chapter 28

"Stop, stop, stop, STOP!" She laughed hysterically, tears streaming down her face as she tried to buck away from them.

"Stop, I'm going to pee my pants! Stoooop!" She half-scream/half-laughed, vaguely hearing above her Julian's own rumbling laugh mixing with Hazel's small tinkling one.

The fun and games didn't last long, though.

The sound of a car pulling up made each of them freeze. Layla's eyes open as she shot into a sitting position, all three of them slowly turning to find a big black escalade pulling up outside the house. Layla and Julian looked at each other and he could see the question on her face.

'Are you expecting someone?'

He shook his head.

No, he wasn't.

He pushed himself up so that he was standing, watching with growing dread as the car door opened, Dave and Antonio got out.

That bad feeling in his stomach only grew when he saw the grim looks on their faces. "Back here!" Julian shouted, hands cupped around his mouth.

He didn't really need it, considering his voice was as loud and as deep as a lion's roar. Hazel ran into Layla's arms, her skin suddenly cold and clammy.

The two men came into the backyard, taking in the food and drinks laying on the brown and cream colored blankets spread out on the lush green grass.

"A lunch picnic, eh?" Antonio asked with a forced smile and Julian could tell the man had been up all night.

Dave looked just as disheveled, making Julian's hands fist.

He didn't even ask. "One moment and I will meet you out front." He said and bent down to drop a kiss on Layla's forehead before he went walking towards the house.

Layla pointed at Hazel and the little girl nodded, watching as Layla jogged after Julian, disappearing into the house.

"Were you expecting them?" She asked, out-loud this time as they cut through the kitchen. Julian shook his head, lips tight as he pulled his shirt over his head and made his way into the back bedroom. "Well, what do you think it is? What do you think they want?" She asked, anxiety pitching her voice an octave higher.

Julian pulled out some new clothes to put on. "I don't know," He said honestly. "I don't know why they are here. If it was just another scene to clear up than they would have texted me and given me the address. I wasn't expecting them here at all." He said.

He felt a lump in the pocket of the jeans he put on and as he felt it, he realized it was the dead man's phone.

He had totally forgotten about it and he didn't want to take it with him and have the chance of  being caught with evidence that could potentially get him killed by the family.

So, quickly and discreetly, he stuffed it into the bedside drawer. It wasn't working anyways. He turned to Layla, finding that she was right behind him, hands by her mouth and looking more than concerned.

He sighed and walked up to lay his hands on her shoulders, tipping up her chin. "I am sure it is nothing." He said, hoping it was the truth. "Don't worry, okay? Just stay here with Hazel and just try not to stress yourself too much." He said and she let out a cold laugh before meeting his gaze head on.

"I will always stress when you are out there and I don't know where you are and if you are safe. I will always worry about you because I love  you." She murmured and his heart beat faster.

He didn't think he'd ever get used to hearing that and he never wanted to.

The feeling it gave him...it was indescribable.

"Just...Just promise me that you'll come home to Hazel and I. We need you."

He sighed deeply, not wanting to promise her something that he wasn't sure he could keep it. She forcefully grabbed his face in her hands, glaring at him.

"Promise me." She growled, but he could see the fear in her eyes. They stared at each other for a long minute and before he realized what was happening, the words were leaving his lips.

"I promise."

Her shoulders deflated slightly and she smiled up at him.

"Thank you," She whispered and leaned up to press her lips against his in a hard and fast kiss that made his blood run hot.

She pulled back ever-so-slightly. "I love you."

He kissed her again. "I love you too, babe." He said, grabbing his jacket off the bedpost before he turned and walked out.

They were going in the car that Antonio and Dave had pulled up in and Julian found that the men were just as tense as they had been-if not more.

Dave got in the back and Antonio got in the driver's side.

Just as Julian was about to get in the car, he turned and looked over his shoulder to see Layla and Hazel staring after him, Hazel in Layla's arms with her head on her shoulder.

He tightened his grip onto the car-door until it was to the point of pain, staring at his girls and hating the worry and sadness on their faces. With a soft snarl, he turned away from them and got in the car.

Antonio didn't wait one second longer before he was speeding away.

"What's with the hurry?" Julian asked and Antonio only let out a tired laugh in response.

"Call a guy to watch over the girls, please?" Julian asked after another moment of silence. Antonio nodded and reached in his pocket for his cell-phone before giving it to Dave in the backseat to type in a message.

Some of Julian's tension eased knowing that Hazel and Layla would be safe. He turned slightly to look at Antonio.

"Are you finally going to tell me what the ever-loving fuck is going on?"

Antonio's jaw clenched as his teeth ground together and when he spoke his words made Julian's body go ice cold.

"The boss has personally requested a meeting to talk to us."

Julian forced some saliva into his mouth so that he could speak. "And that's bad?" He asked with a forced laugh.

Antonio smiled coldly, looking at him from the corner of his eye.

"Very bad." He said.

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AHHH! All done!:) I hope oh so much that you guys liked this chapter and I will be starting to work on the next chapter tomorrow. I am so excited for you guys to see what happens next! VOTE. COMMENT. FOLLOW. SHARE. I love you. -Hannah xx<3