Tessa didn’t feel up to driving. Sitting in the soft, leather seat of Atticus’s truck, the smell of dirty tools and sweat wafting into her nose, she said not a word. She had cried most of her tears on the way out of the house and during the first few minutes of the drive, but as the truck rumbled down the road, bouncing gently with each dip and bump, a stray tear would form in the crook of her eye and hold there for a moment before dripping down her cheek.
Atticus’s eyes were fixed on the road ahead, one hand on the wheel, the other on Tessa’s leg, only removing it to shift gears. Tessa was glad that she was with Atticus, though she didn’t know him very well. The presence of a man like him instilled in her a modicum of safety.
“Where are we going?” she asked, her voice still caught with sobs, speaking the first words that she’d uttered since leaving her home.
“My place,” he said, still looking ahead.
Atticus sensed quickly that Tessa was unsure of this, possibly wondering if letting her guard down around a man she barely knew was the prudent thing to do.
“I know this is a lot, but you’re going to have to trust me. My place is safe,” he said. “Probably the safest place in the area.”
Tessa nodded, feeling a little better. Though she still had her reservations, his calm and self-assured manner made her feel as though she could trust him.
They took the road around town, not driving through the center of Branlen, instead staying on the roads shrouded by the woods. After a time, they curved around Bear Mountain and turning onto another road leading up, which Tessa realized would lead them to a place that could likely be reached simply by walking through the woods on the mountain. Atticus had never been too far from her.
Tessa saw the compound appear in the distance through the trees, the boxy form of the buildings visible under washes of light from tall towers that seemed to be positioned to keep an eye on the perimeter. The two made their way through the gates and pulled up to the massive property.
“This is…huge,” said Tessa, looking left and right across the property, unable to believe that such a place could’ve existed in the area without her knowing about it.
“Like I said- safest place in the area.”
“No kidding,” said Tessa as she looked down the length of tall, barb-wire-topped fence that encircled the area.
The compound was certainly built with the intention of keeping away unwelcome guests and Tessa was already feeling better knowing that she would be staying here.
Atticus pressed the garage door opener and drove the truck into his usual parking spot. As they entered, Tessa scanned the interior of the garage, noticing the array of sports cars and motorcycles that filled the space.
“My brothers have expensive tastes,” said Atticus, noticing her gaze.
“I’ll say,” she responded.
Then a thought struck Tessa: She barely knew Atticus, let alone his brothers.
“Um, your brothers, are they…”
“They’re all completely trustworthy,” said Atticus, his voice calm.
“Good,” said Tessa. “The last thing I need is more strange men.”
“Well, I can’t promise that they’re not strange,” said Atticus with a warm smile.
The truck slowed to a halt and Atticus killed the engine.
As she stepped out of the vehicle, Tessa was struck by how sleek and modern the garage was: the walls were a flawless, stainless-steel, the concrete floor was spotless, and the lights above gave the space the bright appearance of a showroom floor. It wasn’t at all what she’d expect from a place referred to as a “compound.”
Atticus led her up the stairs to the first floor and as they stepped into the living room, Tessa let out a small gasp when she looked around the room, noting with awe the luxurious, spacious nature of the place. The clear wall looked out onto the property and the dark-shrouded woods beyond, a fire crackled in the enormous stone fireplace, and classical music piped in through a built-in speaker system. Tessa noted that the place made her cabin look even more humble than it already was.
And seated in the room on various, modern-styled chairs and couches, were Ian, Roland, and Clyde. Busy with what they were engaged in- Ian with a book in his hands and headphones on his ears, Clyde with a video game that he was playing on the enormous, wall-mounted TV, and Roland at a corner desk, piles of papers in front of him- and didn’t so much as look up when the pair entered.
“Everyone!” called out Atticus, finally getting the trio’s attention, their eyes snapping right to Tessa, who felt immediately nervous. “This is Tessa, she’ll be staying with us for a while.”
“Oh, really?” asked Ian as he slipped a bookmark between the pages of what he was reading and softly closed the pages.
“Hi, Tessa!” said Clyde, pressing pause on his game and giving her a friendly wave.
“Hmm,” muttered Roland, stacking a pile of papers.
“That’s Roland at the desk, Ian with the book, and Clyde at the Xbox,” said Atticus, stepping out of his boots.
“Hey,” said Tessa, giving a shy wave.
Ian stood up and approached the pair with his usual slinky saunter. Tessa looked him over, noting that while he had the same general features as Atticus- sandy hair, hazel eyes, and a muscular build- in the specific details he looked dramatically different. Where Atticus was wide-shouldered, square-jawed, and projected masculinity, Ian was slim-bodied, with lean muscles, straight hair, and a face that was more beautiful than handsome. He had a different aura to him, one more androgynous.
“Didn’t think to run this by us first?” he said, looking Tessa up and down in a way that made her feel self-conscious.
“I’m the alpha, I don’t need to run things by you first,” said Atticus, not perturbed in the slightest by his brother’s needling.
A look of playful disappointment crossed Ian’s face.
“Fine, just don’t touch my books.”
“Sure,” said Tessa, realizing that Ian meant no harm and that he was simply busting her chops in his own way.
Roland stood up from his desk and walked over with a stiff-backed, confident stride. He struck Tessa as more business-like, his expression serious and appraising, his business-casual clothes pressed and tailored, his hair slicked back and in a hard, right-side part. His body was strong and muscular in the way you’d expect from someone who put in his requisite hour of weightlifting and cardio per day.
“Welcome to the compound,” he said, extending his hand towards Tessa and giving hers a firm shake. “I’m Roland Swift.”
He then turned his eyes to Atticus.
“Do you know for how long she’ll be staying? If she’s your guest, she’s, of course, welcome, but I’d like to know in terms of how I’ll need to adjust the numbers this month for her added food costs and electricity usage.”
Atticus put up his hand and gave a quick shake of his head, indicating to Roland that this wasn’t the time for such details. Roland picked up on this quickly and returned to his desk as Clyde approached. Tessa looked over this brawny, tall man, who had a bit of an ungainly manner to his walk.
“Nice to meet you, finally,” he said, shaking Tessa’s hand enthusiastically.
“You, too,” said Tessa, the word “finally” sticking in her head.
“Tessa’s had a rough day,” said Atticus, his voice firm and clear. “I’m going to show her to where she’ll be staying tonight.”
The three men nodded and returned to their activities and Tessa followed Atticus down the long hallway lined with tasteful, modern art hung on the walls in black frames, her shoes clicking against the glossy, birch floor as they walked. Reaching a flight of stairs, they ascended to the second floor, and after a time, they arrived at a door at the end of the hallway, which seemed to be away from the rest of the home. Tessa still couldn’t get over just how big this place was; she felt that her own home could be stuck in a faraway corner of the place and forgotten about.
“This can be your room for the time being,” said Atticus, opening the door to the room, the lights flicking on a revealing a cozy space with the same glass-wall style that looked out onto the woods beyond. “There should be some women’s clothes in the walk-in, and if you want privacy, just hit this button.”
Atticus pressed a button on the wall which turned the glass wall opaque.
“And if you need anything, just let me know. I’m the room at the far end of the hall with the double-doors. Help yourself to whatever you want in the kitchen.”
He turned to leave, but before he did, he stopped himself and faced Tessa.
“And you’re free to leave whenever you want, of course, but I really recommend you stay on the compound until we get this whole situation sorted out.”
A moment passed. Tessa was unsure of how to act around Atticus. He was treating her as a house guest but though they had only known each for a brief period, she wondered if she was something more.
Atticus knew that Tessa must’ve been feeling overwhelmed by everything that was going on, however, and rather than complicating things by inviting her to his room, he instead chose to keep things platonic for the evening.
“Goodnight, then,” he said, turning and walking down the hall.
Part of Tessa wanted to follow him, to grab him by the shoulders and plant a deep kiss on his lips, to slip her hands behind his belt and pull him into the room. But as she looked at the bed, the events of the day began to weigh on her mind, and shutting the door behind her, she pulled her clothes off piece by piece. Once nude, she took one look at the swaying branches of the trees visible through the window before collapsing onto the bed and falling into a deep sleep.