Protecting the survivors, and those on his team, was something he’d die for.
***
The rest of the evening went off without a hitch, and Apollo enjoyed a state of relaxation around the campfire he hadn’t had in a while.It gave him a sense of satisfaction to see what they’d built here.
Until basic structures and facilities had been built, they’d stayed in large fifth wheels and camping trailers that could temporarily provide what they needed for day-to-day life.They’d been busy over the past year sourcing materials from contractors in Ticonderoga while performing the work themselves.In remote areas like these, it wasn’t uncommon for people to build their own compounds from the ground up.That ensured their group wouldn’t stand out among the many in upstate New York, hidden away in the tall forests and a wealth of wildlife, along the expansive waterways.This location provided them direct access to Lake Champlain, which ran one hundred twenty miles north to south from Whitehall, New York, to the Richelieu River in Quebec, Canada.It would come in handy when shuttling off survivors to start their new lives far from the Noah Group’s clutches.
He watched when Rocko was shown to his temporary lodgings, a trailer, far from the main house and Apollo.The rest of the group retired for the night, and Apollo thought he’d do the same.Hours later, lying in his comfortable bunk, he still wasn’t sleeping.His mind was racing and all he had to look forward to was hours more of staring at the ceiling, willing himself to sleep.Shit, was it too much to ask for one night of peace?Perhaps he could go visit Rocko’s place and lie outside, use whatever weird ability the guy had to get a few hours of sleep…
Apollo growled loudly.No fucking way.He rolled onto his side and stared at the wall for forty minutes.No better.His mind sought out the peace offered by the stranger.He fought it.There was no way in hell he’d be giving in to this, whatever this was.No fuckin’ way.
***
“You okay?”a deep voice asked.
Apollo opened his eyes to find Rocko standing a few feet in front of him.The sun was up and he was sitting in a fucking chair in front of the man’s trailer.Shit.This must look a bit strange.
“What the hell are you doing here?”Rocko asked.
Apollo quickly scanned the area, shocked to find he was sitting outside the trailer he’d assigned to Rocko.How the fuck did he get here?Apollo glanced down and thankfully he at least had his clothes on.All he needed was to be sitting there buck naked.
Rocko looked as confused as Apollo felt.“Why are you sleeping in a lawn chair outside my trailer?”
“Uh.”Apollo stood, looking around, realizing he’d slept here through the night.That had never happened to him before in his bed, let alone sitting in an old lawn chair outside in the elements.
“Wait.I get it.You don’t have to guard me, you know.I swear I’m not here to hurt anyone,” Rocko said.
Huh.Apollo could roll with that until he figured out what the hell had happened to him.
“These people are my responsibility, and I take that very seriously,” he said, clearing his throat with authority, playing along in the deception.Did I sleepwalk?And sleep dress?
“Are you planning on sitting out here every night?”Rocko asked.
“If I have to,” Apollo growled, his frustration getting the better of him.
Apollo knew Brick would never send a threat to him and his people, and that Rocko could be trusted, but the fact that he’d somehow ended up outside the man’s trailer was a serious problem.Was Rocko somehow controlling him?Was his confusion a front to make himself appear innocent?Did Rocko have a power that even Brick wasn’t aware of?
“Then why the hell be so covert about it?Why don’t you come into my trailer and sleep in the second bedroom?It’s empty and a hell of a lot more comfortable than the cold ground.”
As Apollo stretched, he could feel his sore back and muscles, in agreement with Rocko.A warm bed would be a much better option, but was this part of Rocko’s plan?Whatever that plan might be.
“I’ll consider it.Let’s check what Rosaline has cooked for breakfast and start the day.We can revisit this later.”Once he figured out what was going on with him.
“Fine, it’s up to you, but again, I’m not a damn risk to you.I’m no threat to anyone other than the Noah Group.Those assholes I’d bury six feet deep.”
“That’s for me to decide.Let’s go.”Before this shit blew wide open and he’d have to put Rocko in the ground.Apollo couldn’t risk someone having control over him, especially with his varied and deadly abilities.
The two walked back to the main house, and more than one person shot them curious looks as they went by.What did he expect?Of course, his team would notice their early morning walk together back from Rocko’s trailer.
Around the kitchen table, as talk carried on, he could see the unasked questions in most of his people’s faces.What the hell was he going to say?Apollo had no idea how or when he got there.After a few more glances, Apollo had had enough and was about to speak when Rocko beat him to it.
“Okay, let’s deal with this.I swear I’m not a threat to anyone, but your ever-vigilant leader here finds it imperative to guard me at night to make sure I don’t cause shit.Go run amok or fuck around the compound as everyone sleeps, or something messed up like that.However, while finding him outside of my trailer guarding me was a bit of a piss off, I assure everyone it isn’t necessary.”
“Oh, okay,” Hendrix grunted before shoving another piece of bacon in his mouth.
“That makes sense,” Damon agreed.
“That’s where you went to,” Ellen said.“I wondered.”
