The Badass Protector

Iris

“PUT ME down. I’ll follow the trail.” It was a complete lie because I didn’t have a map and no idea where I was heading.

Since I stayed with them, I didn’t get a chance to survey the area. I know now how to get back to the road.”

“You’re not going anywhere, Iris. Gael is waiting for you at the camp.” He put me down on my feet. “I’ll knock you out if you try to continue walking away from me again and lock you inside the cabin if you try to escape the camp one more time.”

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“You’re not a prisoner, but it’s not safe for you to wander outside the camp.”

I faced him, meeting his gaze. “Have you not gotten the memo? I’m trying to walk away. You told me last night you have booby traps at the back of the camp and not in this area.”

He smiled. Colt smiles. And damn if it wasn’t quite a sight-like a sunrise in the morning. His full red lips spread wide. His unbelievably perfect white teeth were blinding. Wow.

“You’re smiling,” I said oddly in disbelief. “You are actually smiling. After Colton almost split me in half with a booby trap, he is now smiling at me. Unbelievable.”

He stilled and blinked at my sarcasm. His smile faded, and I would lie if I didn’t miss it immediately.

“Glad you paid attention to what I said last night.”

“But you lied!” I glared.

“You’re a fast learner, twig, and I’m impressed.”

“Colt, come in.” It was Gael.

“Yeah.”

“Head back right now, Colton.” If he ordered as if we were at war. What’s wrong with him?

“Copy.” He groaned affirmatively after he pulled the walkie-talkie away from his face. “Let’s go back.”

“Not coming. After what you did to me, do you think I’m still willing to come with you? Touché!”

“Don’t force me to hurt you.”

“You already did!” I stomped past him.

“Can you just stop for a moment?” He held my wrist. His touch zinged through me, making a fluttery feeling settle in my stupid stomach.

I jerked my hand off of him. “Don’t touch me.”

“You didn’t mind earlier.”

“How couldn’t I even remember anything when I was on the brink of death?” I sprinted, jumping over fallen tree trunks.

“You’re heading in the wrong direction!” He yelled behind me.

“Who cares? That’s the plan.”

“Damn it, Iris. You’re gonna hurt yourself.”

“Again! Who cares?”

“I do!”

And that stopped me. The words I do echoed around us.

I couldn’t exactly say that I was happy or thrilled, but something deep inside me wanted to believe in those two words he said.

I turned around. “How in the hell is it caring for someone by forcing me to talk about the things I don’t wanna bring back those horrible memories? Do you know how odd you sound right now? And you tell me you care? You treated me pleasantly these past few days, brought me something I badly needed, gave me your brother’s shirts, then pointed a gun into my face and threatened me if I wouldn’t talk. Is that how you show you care? That’s outrageous!”

“I’m sorry.” I almost didn’t catch it.

“Oh, save your sorry for your ass!” I sprinted away and decided to go back to the camp.

I could sense Colt was following me, but he had not said a word anymore. The camp came to view. Gael and Frost were standing outside the gate, waiting for us.

When I couldn’t take the silence, I stopped and faced Colt before Gael and Frost could hear something I needed to say.

Colt’s jaw was locked hard, holding his anger.

“Why?”

He met my gaze, eyes filled with guilt. “I was just following an order.”

My eyes grew big. “What order?”

“We all are,” he confirmed. He stuffed his hands into his pockets as I watched him not meeting my gaze anymore.

“That’s bullshit, Colton. You’re kidding, aren’t you?” I scoffed.

My shoulders drooped when he shook his head.

God, I’m so stupid!

I trusted them-I trusted Colt.

I shouldn’t have let my guard down. My brother was right because right now, I was hurting.

“We suspected everyone we came across. You know it’s hard to trust anyone you’ve just met, Iris. You have to understand Gael. We had history back then, and you can’t blame us for being cautious.”

I propped my hands on my waist, feeling the pain inside my chest. I breathed and looked up to hold the tears, blurring my eyes again.

I couldn’t blame them, but it hurt so much when I thought what they did to me was out of their kindness.

“So, what you all showed to me was but full of shit? Because your order was to play the role of hosts and hostesses with me?”

Colt shook his head. “No. It’s not like that.”

“Then what is it?”

“Iris, please, let’s talk inside. It’s not safe to stay here longer.”

“Fuck the not safe here! I’m not coming with you. You’re all fake people, especially you, Colton. For God’s sake, I trusted you!”

I watched his throat bob up and down as he looked at me in misery.

“Just hear Gael out first before you decide. Please?” His voice was unbelievably low.

I closed my eyes for a brief moment, deciding if I should listen to Gael or not, but knowing I had nowhere to go and I didn’t have a choice, I had to give it a try. I literally knocked on their door, and they opened it for me and gave me a safe roof over my head.

On the other hand, they were just cautious like everyone. I shouldn’t blame them because I was an alien who just popped up, and I could have taken something with me.

“Okay.” I shrugged.

We followed Gael to his office and locked the door behind him. “Take a seat, Iris. I know you’re exhausted from last night.”

“I’m good, thank you.”

“Colt might have crossed the line,” Gael said.

“I just wanna say I’m sorry if you have to order around to watch over me. That must be difficult for them, especially the nice part. And I’m sorry also for not spilling my gut immediately. As Colton said, it’s hard to trust anyone you’ve just met, right?” I stole a glance at Colt, and he dropped his gaze down.

“How could I tell what happened when it was even hard to think about it? It won’t just open the wound for me, and it bleeds me out just to think how my brother died because he wanted to save me.” My tears rolled down and kept falling, and I could hardly see them.

“All of us believe we always have choices. Well, shit me, I didn’t find any that night other than to run away after I watched him die, and the worse part was, I couldn’t even hug him or at least give him the proper burial that he deserved. He was my hero, Gael. So, forgive me if it took all my strength for me to tell a tale about the girl who ran away.”

“I’m not gonna apologize for giving that order because I believe that was the right call, but I’m truly sorry about your brother, Iris.” Gael was sincere, and I knew no matter how it hurt me, he did the right thing every leader should do for his group-protecting his people.

His uneven and limply walk caught my gaze. Gael had a prosthetic leg, and I didn’t notice it before.

“You’re an amputee?”

“Left. Gunshots with Colt’s brother, but he took most of the bullets. So he didn’t make it, and here I am.” He took a deep breath, pain plastered on his face.

“I’m sorry.” I felt bad.

Next time, I should have just kept the thought to myself.