The Badass Protector

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“JESUS CHRIST.” I strode to follow her, who had just thrown up. “Are you okay?” I rubbed her back as she wiped her mouth clean.

She grabbed a bottle of water I offered, emptying it. She then held up. “A roasted dog, seriously? Poor dog. Isn’t it supposed to be a man’s best friend? What’s wrong with these people? And lizards?”

“A few people from the Middle East eat Uromastyx lizards.”

“Really? How about rats, and what was that the other one?”

Before I could answer, Gael appeared with hands full of plastic bags. “Guys, I got seeds for Iris, a box of protein bars, a few packs of dried eggs, and three cans of chicken soup. How about you?”

“We got a roasted fucking dog,” I answered.

“A what?” He gave me a confused look and eyed Iris.

“That crowd over there? They’re selling dogs. As in woof woof kind of dog,” Iris answered, still looking pale. “How could they kill dogs?”

“Is that why I got a lot for one deer?” He snorted.

“You’ll probably get one RPG for a deer,” I sighed deeply. “I’m not trading the ammo, probably just guns. I’ll check if we can exchange these with gasoline or your medicine.”

“What medicine? Are you okay?” Iris asked Gael.

“For my Diabetes, Iris. Good idea, Colt, but I don’t know if we can find anything here. We have to look around.” He looked at Iris one more time. “You okay, Mrs. Danger? You seem pale.”

Iris pointed at the lines of containers painted in fuchsia pink with a woman silhouette logo in black. “Yeah. This is just from the furious hormones and morning sickness.” She took a deep breath, then grinned at Gael. “You should check that out, old man.”

“Tempting, but we stick to our plan. I don’t want distractions right now,” Gael said.

“Come on, Gael. And I can check out a few things around while we’re waiting for you. Unless Colton wanna join you,” Iris insisted.

“That sounds pleasing, pregnant woman, but I am faithful and loyal to my hand.” Gael’s answer made us look at each other and then laugh.

“You didn’t just say that to me, Gael,” I shook my head, amused.

“I just did, and my answer remains the same. Our plan comes first.” He tipped his head to the other old trailer van with bar signage.

I almost trembled at the thought of a cold beer running through my throat. Whatever kind of booze they were serving there, I didn’t give a shit, and I was going to have a taste of it no matter what. I fucking miss it.

“I would love to have a bottle, Gael.”

“Fine by me,” Gael agreed. “Let’s go.”

“Oh, my God,” Iris muttered. Before I could ask, she was sprinting toward the crowded people, leaving us perplexed and unsettled.

“Twig!”Damn it!”Hope, wait!”

We raced toward the crowd and followed her, but she was gone so fast, and judging by her size, she could easily slip through the pack of people.

I was furious to even think of a plan. My chest was heaving as I thought of something worse outcome if we could not find her faster.

We had to press against the stinky crowd to move past them.

Abruptly, a violent array of emotions flooded through me. “Gael, let’s separate. If you find her, wait for me at the roasted dog stall! If not, meet me in fifteen minutes!” I yelled at him.

“Okay, I’m going to the right!”

I spun around, but I couldn’t see someone that matched what she was wearing.

Where did she go?

Who was she following?

I checked people in the crowd, but I still couldn’t find Iris. All the fierce emotions raging inside me made me unable to concentrate and think straight.

What if they already took her?

What if they’d been watching her since we got inside?

What if this was a death trap?

God, no!

Breathing hard, I walked forward and heaved a sigh when I spotted her. “Thank God!” There she was. I slipped my hand through the bunch of people and pulled her to me.

When she turned, it surprised me. “Sorry.” I released her hand quickly. They had the same hair, but it was not my Iris.

My next move was to ask the traders. I spotted a female vendor who looked kind.

“Ma’am, have you seen a woman who ran over here? She has short brown hair, wearing a plaid shirt and sunglasses. I got separated from my wife, and she’s pregnant.” I smiled sadly.

The woman gave back a sad smile and shook her head. “I did not notice someone by those descriptions, young man. I’m sorry.”

“Thanks, ma’am.” I walked away, defeated.

I asked a few traders, but none of them had seen her. My hope had gotten thinner.

I found a lot of flyers on the wooden post, pictures of wanted people for stealing, murders, rape, and lost and found children. I pulled one black and white flyer with a picture of a woman that looked very familiar. My pulse raced as I took a closer look at the picture.

WANTED [ALIVE]

Name: Blue Iris Clayton

Age: 24 years old

Hair color: Natural blonde

Eye color: Rare Blue

Height: 163 cm

Body type: Slender

OFFENSE: Stealing West Colony’s property

REWARD: Ten cartons of goods. Protection and granting citizenship of the West Colony.

CONTACT US IMMEDIATELY

“Fuck!” Dread bolted through me.

“Have you seen that woman?” I stiffened, and my hand tightened the hold on the poster.

“Excuse me?” I eyed the man beside me.

He had thick dark blond hair. Shorter than me by a few inches but had a few pounds and deep brown eyes, something in those orbs gave me unsettling chills. He was wearing a clean shirt for someone who came to trade.

“The woman on the flyer.”

“Oh, this one? Nope.” I shook my head and played cool though I was burning with rage inside. “But I am up for the reward. Not the reward from the West. How can I contact them?”

I balled my free hand into a fist and fought hard the urge not to break this asshole’s face. I mentally prayed Iris or Gael would not come and find me because this man did not come here alone, and someone was watching me from a distance. I could feel it as the hair rose at the back of my neck.

And there was only one thing I was sure of- they didn’t have Iris. Yet.

“What reward do you want?”

“Who are you?” Hyper-vigilant, I asked, pinning my gaze to his.

“Ah, you’re in the military.”

“What made you say that?”

“Your posture, you are cautious and interrogative. And you wanted another reward instead.” He looked down at my fingers. “Not married and no family.”

“Damn right.”But that’s where you’re wrong, motherfucker!

“She must have stolen something very valuable to the West.”

“You could say that.” He shoved his hands in his pockets.

“I want weapons.”

His brow rose. “Weapons? How many?”

“Five AK-47s with two magazines each, ten grenades, and one crossbow.”

He laughed. The fucking asshole laughed at me. “What made you sure you know how to find that bitch?”

Fuck you!

I kept my expression stoic. I didn’t want this asshole to see that I wanted to splatter his brain to the ground.

I squinted. “I won’t ask if I don’t know what to do. I’m an ex-military and a bounty hunter.”

“You’ll get the prize once you bring the bitch to me. I’ll be here every day. You tell the security guard you want to talk to Otis Wise, and he will bring you to me.”

“How can I assure you that you won’t double-cross me and put a bullet in my head once you have the girl?”

“I only want that woman. Alive.”

Motherfucker, I will skin you alive before you have a hand on her. That’s a promise.

“We have the deal then.”

“Untouched.” He stared at me intently. “And unharmed, Mister?”

“Rule number one: No name. I’ll deliver the package, get my reward, and our business is over.”Yeah, that’s Frank Martin, asshole.

I left before I could kill him. I folded the flyer and slipped it into my pocket.

An odd feeling rippled down my spine. My gut never lied to me. When I looked around, two thugs from three o’clock averted their gazes, and on the left, a man lifted his chin in recognition.

Shit.

The crowd thickened. It was time to meet Gael. I was hoping he found Iris before they could. Despite that, I found Gael, then he quickly squatted down, probably his signal. Striding toward him, I sat down and played along with tying my shoelace.

“We’re being watched. The flower is safe somewhere. Meet me in the car. We’re leaving now.”

“Copy that.” I stood up and straightened my spine.

In a fast-paced, I headed toward the gate.

“Sir!”

Fuck!

“Mr. Danger.”