The Badass Protector

COLT

“I COULDN’T believe she did this out of what? Jealousy? Attention?” Frost shook his head after seeing the aftermath of what Cora had done to the garden.

“Remind me again how old she is. A preschooler?” Darick started picking the remnants of the plants. “Tsk tsk. Pretty much nothing left to fix. I wonder how long did it take for her to destroy these.”

Iris was pretty shaken.

I understood her outburst earlier because the garden had been a big help to fill our empty stomachs. Since she felt better, she spent most of her time in this garden, only to be ruined by Cora in a fucking heartbeat.

I watched her disheartened. She hadn’t said a word as she just pulled off the roots in frustration and continued the task at hand.

“Squeeze some of the ripe tomatoes. I need those seeds,” she finally spoke.

“Yes, ma’am,” I answered, and I wished she had turned to look at me, but that didn’t happen.

“I’ll be right back, guys. I have an important thing to do.” Frost strode away.

“What’s so important, Frost?”

“To do the right thing!” he yelled.

“What was that all about?” Lois asked, placing the fruits she was able to grasp beside me.

I knew Frost had a soft spot for Lois, and she was also concerned about him.

Darick yanked his shirt off. “Move to the side. I need to dig the soil while the sun is still not hot.”

“I heard what happened. Here, use my mattock,” Dr. Hull offered his tool to Darick. “I’m sorry to hear about your garden, Iris.”

“Thanks, Dr. Hull. It’s pretty bad.”

“Maybe there are seeds next to the pet shop,” the old doctor implied.

“Really?” Iris’ blue eyes lit up. “I didn’t get a chance to check it out. I guessed planting had not crossed my mind at that time.”

“I think there is.” Dr. Hull nodded.

“Great. Thank you, Dr. Hull. I’ll go and check with Frost later.” I gripped his shoulder.

“Guys, we have a problem.”

Groaning, I stood as soon as I heard Frost at my back.

“What is it?” We still had an unsolved problem, and here came the other one. Just fucking brilliant.

“Cora is gone. She used the main gate this time and left it open.” Of course, since there was no guard today. Frost propped his hands on his hips, feeling confused and disappointed.

“What about her things?”

“Gone.”

“That’s good news, right?” Darick snickered.

“She’ll die out there,” Iris berated him.

“And we are all safe inside.” Darick shrugged.

“You can’t be serious,” Iris said, narrowing her eyes at him.

“Well, I am. I can’t believe you still want her back after what she did to this.” Darick pointed down to the ground. He had a point, but we couldn’t wish Cora dead because of what she did. She deserved to be grounded, but leaving her outside alone was too cruel.

“You know she won’t survive out there alone, right?” she said.

“You did,” Lois pointed out.

“Did you inform Gael?” I asked Frost.

“Yeah, I told him everything, but he didn’t seem surprised, though.”

“How so?” My brow cocked. It didn’t seem like Gael.

“Because of this.” Darick showed the bullet in his hand he had just fished out from his pocket.

“Where did you get this?” I picked up the 9mm bullet from his palm.

“My thigh.”

“And?” Lois asked him.

“Cora shot you, and you didn’t tell anyone?” I asked him annoyingly.

“I was not sure if it was an accident or she did it on purpose. When she threatened me not to tell you or anyone, especially Gael, that’s how I figured out she was the shooter.”

“You could have told me, Darick.” My jaw clenched in anger. How could he keep this from Gael and me?

“Then what? You’ll shoot her?”

“It depends on Gael or what’s her reason. I’m sure she has one because we don’t just shoot someone for fun, do we?”

“I was busy tossing supplies into my backpack. When I called her, she didn’t answer. It was dark. Then I heard footsteps and murmurs, so I hid behind the shelves, then a single shot echoed inside. A moment later, I realized I was shot. My blood was gushing through my jeans.”

“I’m sorry, Darick.” Tears filled Lois’ eyes.

“Have you recognized the voice? Male or female?” I asked.

“I don’t know, but I was sure we were not alone. I think she was talking to someone. Either she was asked to shoot me, or she gave her gun to someone instead. Then she rushed and cried, saying she came right away the moment she heard a gunshot.”

“She could have killed us all in our sleep.” We turned to Gael’s voice, who was walking limply toward us. “I think she was recruited by a group and needed to prove herself before they took her in.”

“Well, damn. That’s some kind of a next-level way of recruitment if you have to kill first before you’re in,” sneered Frost.

“You seem so surprised, playboy billionaire. Mafias and cabals did that,” Lois replied, rolling her eyes.

“In your fiction book, Heloisa,” Frost scoffed.

“Well, Templeton Gunner Frost III, may I remind you everyone wants power. Remember what they did to Iris?”

“She’s right. Ever heard of human trafficking? Some cartel sells organs and not only drugs. Right now, they sell humans. I’m afraid Cora’s life is in danger.” Iris was damn admirable. Despite what Cora had done to her, she still didn’t wish Cora would be dead.

“Gael, what’s your plan?”

“You need to go to those campers and bring her back.”

“Campers?” Iris inquired.

“Near our hunting zone.”

“You didn’t go hunting, Colton?” Her tone was firm, eyeing me suspiciously.

“We’re leaving in a minute,” I informed Gael.

“I’m coming with you,” Iris insisted.

“You can’t. Those men could be your previous captors.” Gael stopped her and left before Iris got a chance to reply.

“Good. Let me check out if it’s them.”

“Too risky. I had the training, Iris, and you just have to trust me on this.”

“You can’t be serious about going out there, just the two of you, even though you have training. You need my help, Colton.”

“Why do you have to go and bring her back? She left because she’s a terrible person. Do you think she’s willing to come back after what she did here?” Darick was on point, but if Gael ordered to bring her back, that was what we were going to do.

“Gael didn’t point out dead or alive, right?” Lois asked.

“Alive, Lois.”

“He can’t be serious,” Darick disagreed.

Frost cleared his throat. “I honestly don’t feel like going back there even if it’s Gael’s order. If I know, she already sold our soul to the devil.”

“Let me come with you. I might be able to identify those men. I might know them.” Iris’s proposal was appealing, but I would not put her life in danger.

“Iris, no ID-ing, and you’re not coming with us. That’s Gael’s order. You’ll stay here inside the camp.” I looked directly into her eyes. “You will not go out no matter what happens.”

“You’re scaring me.” Horror filled her eyes all of a sudden, and I felt a knot in my stomach.

“I can only do my job if I know you will keep your words, twig. Promise me.”

She nodded despite her disagreement. “Okay, I promise.”

“Good. I need to get ready.” I grabbed her hand to the armory.

“Can I help?” Darick followed.

“Just look after my girlfriend while I’m away.”

Frost whistled. “Now that’s what I’m talking about.”

“Got it, man!” Darick shouted, amused.

Lois giggled. “Let’s go clean up the garden, Darick.”

Frost brought his backpack and put some ammo for him and mine. I yanked my gun, checked the magazine, and slipped two into my back pocket. I always had a boot knife, just in case, it was needed.

I could feel the worry in Iris’ eyes. As much as I wanted to promise that I would be back alive, I didn’t want to end up breaking it.

What happened today? I didn’t see it coming-no one did.

Cora came for breakfast as if nothing had happened. She truly knew what to do-to lie and manipulate people.

“You two, just be careful.”

“Yes, ma’am. Don’t worry about us. Just do what he asks you to do, and I’ll watch his ass there.” It was a relief that somehow Frost made her smile.

“We’ll be back as soon as we spot Cora.” I kissed her forehead.

“My cue.” Frost left the armory, leaving Iris and me alone.

“Be careful out there.” Without hesitation, she kissed me. Hard.

My heart melted that she felt the same way as I did. I returned the favor, capturing her lips, kissing her hard, deep, and fierce, delving my tongue inside.

If something happened to me today, I’d die happy with the sweet intoxicating taste of her on my tongue.

My heart almost combusts with its strong beats, and I knew she could feel it against her palm spread on my chest. My hand dove at the back of her head as I unleashed the feelings I had for her through the kiss.

“Point taken,” she whispered when our lips pulled apart.

“Good.”