Chapter 2

Colt

I BARELY slept after leaving the guard post. Now, I wanted booze, but nowadays you felt like a goddamn billionaire if you had a bottle of a cheap whiskey at your disposal.

Frost pissed me off. He could have put the group in danger by bringing a stranger to our camp. That woman could be dangerous no matter how weak she might look.

Darick was still recovering from his bullet wound—he’d been with us for months and proved his value, and being our supply runner, we could not afford to lose a resourceful person like him. What had gone wrong with the last run, I still didn’t have the answer.

And then those eyes—taunted with terror.

Those terrified eyes. I’ve seen many, but there was something in the way she stared back at me—not just pleading for her life to spare—there was something more.

“Hey.”

“Cora.” I locked my cabin and faced her.

“Where did you sleep last night?” Well, that’s not what I expect to start a conversation in the morning. She gave me a smile that men would be glad to take my place.

Cora was beautiful, and despite this world was dying, there was still a beauty left in it to ponder. She had this vibrant looked with long wavy blonde hair and body that every man wanted to warm his bed, but her attitude was not quite pleasing. She was a pain in the ass to everyone in the camp and a little too overconfident. Cora was the type of girl that man never wished to bring her to his parents.

“In my room,” I answered politely. “Do you need anything?”

“But it was locked.” She moved closer and spread her hands on my chest.

“Of course it’s locked because I was sleeping, and that’s why we have this called knocking.”

She rolled her eyes. “But the last time I came, it’s un—”

“Look, Cora. I told you what happened to us three nights ago shouldn’t have happened, and will never happen again. That was good—the sex, and you’re a good lay, but that’s it.” I sounded like an asshole, but what she needed was the fact. “Look at us, we barely eat and protect ourselves from what’s out there. Darick is still in his bed. I couldn’t think of a relationship right now or a roll in hay because I have to focus on protecting our people. Look what happened the last time.” I swallowed, remembering the scariest thing I never wanted to look back.

“So, is it true that Frost found a girl?” She changed the topic because she knew me—if I said no, it remained no.

“Yeah, and she’s leaving once she wakes up.”

“Good. Because if she’s sick, she can’t stay here and infect us all.”

“She’s not infected. She’s just... weak.”

“Then we don’t need a weak or another member, right?”

“That’s not up to me, Cora. If Gael wants her here, we have to respect his decision.”

She shrugged. “Of course.”

I walked past her. “Got to see Gael.”

“Are you sure— fine.” She was not pleased, but I didn’t give a damn shit. She was just a distraction and the least in my priorities.

I knocked on Lois’s cabin. When no one opened up, I pressed my ear against the door, but it was silent.

I strode towards Gael’s and almost bumped into her at the front door.

“Colt!” Her brown eyes lit up. Lois was one of the people I cared about. She had the kindest heart, and people thought she was weak, but the truth was, she was one of the strongest people I knew.

“Hey. I was in your cabin.”

She smiled. “Oh, I brought her to Gael.”

“She’s awake?” My brow cocked, surprised.

The blue-eyed.

She whispered, “Yes. She jumped out of her bed when she couldn’t find her necklace though.”

“Huh.” I saw that necklace—it was an ordinary silver chain, but the pendant was a vintage blue mini perfume bottle.

She shrugged. “She said it’s her mom’s.”

“I see. I have to see Gael.”

“Sure.” Lois nodded in resignation.

She was definitely awake. Her voice was soft as silk and melodious as the Oscines. There was a warmth in the way she spoke—it reminded me of how mom sang for me lullabies—it was just like hers.

I could hear their conversation, and it was a good decision that Gael told her we didn’t recruit people in. With our lack of supplies, we couldn’t afford another mouth to feed. And by the look of her, she needed lots of it to get her shape back.

She was so skinny and looked like a walking corpse. Her skin was so pale, and her bones were prominent. She was barely breathing when Frost and Lois found her two nights ago, and now she was talking with Gael.

No matter how ruthless we had become, we couldn’t just throw her out of the camp, unconscious and defenseless. She could barely stand on her own feet, what more protecting herself. I knew the moment she walked out of the gate, she signed her death wish. It was odd how she survived all alone out there—that thought alone made me anxious and skeptical.

“But I wouldn’t mind you staying here with us for as long as you want, Iris,” said Gael.

For as long as she wants? What the fuck?

“You’ve got to be kidding me!” I bolted inside his office.

Gael’s brows furrowed. “And do you have an idea where to send her?”

It was my mistake to question his decision. We respected and never doubted his ability to lead us because of his experience in the military that kept us all alive. He cared about this group, and I knew we were always his top priority before anything else. He must have seen something in this woman that made him decide to keep her.

“She survived for months out there. What made you think she won’t survive again?” I said fiercely and watched the woman’s reaction.

Despite my protest, she remained seated in front of Gael and stared down at her necklace, playing with the pendant. What was so important about it?

“Because she was still in shape that time, Colt, and now, look at her.”

“Let me send her back to where she came from with food that will last a few days. By then, she gets her strength back and able to look after herself again.”

“No. She stays, and that’s final.”

“Are you sure about that? She could be snooping or she came here on purpose; to scout this place. I couldn’t put our people at risk. Not again, Gael.” We’d been through hell, ambushed, lost the people we cared about, and everything. And now, he just decided to let her stay?

What the hell is wrong with him?

We could barely protect ourselves, and yet he took her in. Just like that, because she’s fucking weak!

And who is this woman that he’s willing to put his group at risk?

“I think about that, too.”

“And?”

“She will stay.” Has he lost his mind?

Unbelievable!

“Jesus, Gael. Did you check her arms? She has bruises and needle pricks.” I pointed at her. “This woman is a drug addict.”

“What?” The woman spoke, lifting her chin. Her gaze directly met mine. Her surreal blue eyes widened in shock.

I felt an odd sense down my spine. My heart started to beat faster the longer we stared, reading each others’ thoughts.

She’s dangerous as hell... and definitely pretty now that her face was clean.

I could see every tiny detail on her face—the dilatation of her pupils, her light brown soft angled eyebrows, to her small upturned nose, high cheekbones, and her pale droopy lips. She had this pixie cut bronze hair that looked like she did it by herself.

“We don’t have the luxury to do drugs here, twig. I wonder how did you maintain your supply, and where were you really come from? You must have a wide of resources, huh?” My sarcasm had her eyes flooded with pain and unshed tears.

Oddly, I felt guilty for calling her twig. And I hated that feeling, but I was just honest. Or should I have kept it to myself?

“This is not what you think it is.” She wiped her tears with bony trembling fingers.

“Explain then.”

“Colt, that won’t be necessary. Give her a break,” Gael interrupted.

“I’m just protecting our people.”

“So do I.”

“Fine.” I snatched the necklace from her hand, and that was what I was planning to do—to distract her and snatch it. I wanted to know how far she would fight for this. “Collateral.”

“Give that to me,” she ordered. Her voice was stronger than I thought she could—it was authoritative but calm.

“Not a chance. You can stay here, but this necklace.” I raised it up. “Will stay with me until you decide to leave the camp.”

“No. You won’t dare take that away from me!”

“Oh, I dare you.” I turned and walked away from her.

“Colt,” Gael called my name.

Then it happened so quickly and surely, I did not see it coming.

My adrenaline spiked. Swiftly pulling the knife from my right thigh strap, I aimed at her carotid artery. I could feel the strong pulse against my shining blade—she tensed against it.

“You slit my neck, your balls and junk will decorate this entire floor.” She pressed my handgun on my groin. Great!

“And your blood will spill all over, my dear.”

“Give me my necklace back, Colton, or your ticket gets punched!”

“It’s Colt.”

“Who cares when you’re dead?” Oh, yeah, why do I give a damn?

Was it because I called her twig? Funny for a woman so thin could throw sarcasm while being threatened with a knife.

“Give it back to her, and stop this shit between you two! From now on, you, Colt, and you, Iris should work on your differences,” Gael barked.

I kept my eyes pinned to the woman who still had a gun on my crotch. Her eyes where unbelievably wide and... expressive.

“She stole my gun and threatened me. Can’t you see it? This tiny little thing is dangerous and indomitable! You made a mistake, Gael.” If this woman had brought danger to this camp, she would pay it with her life.

“It’s your fault your junk is threatened by a woman you called twig. Pull the thing away from her neck and give her back the necklace!”

My nose flared with anger, but this woman, Iris, or whatever her real name just stared back at me with devoid expression, increasing the pressure against my groin with a brow cocked in a challenge.

“Busted balls and your tiny dick or my necklace.”

I almost wanted to smirk when she said tiny. See for yourself, woman, then tell me if it’s tiny or not. But I held on to my expression.

Uncomfortable, I shifted my hips.

“Uh-uh, be careful, dear.” Then two clicks followed—she pulled the hammer and unlocked the safety.

“Iris, don’t do this. You can kill us both, but you can’t get out of here alive.” Gael’s voice softened, but the tension in his tone didn’t go unnoticed.

“I’m not gonna kill you, Gael. You have my word. You could shoot me to protect this asshole, but why haven’t you done it yet?”

“Because I know you just want back what's yours,” Gael answered.

She increased the pressure this time. “My necklace, Colton.”

“Do you like my dick that much that you can’t take your hand off of me?” I smirked.

Her closeness made me felt like I wanted to reach out and touch her. Jesus Christ! What’s wrong with me?

“To blow off?” Her brow rose. “Anticipating.”

I huffed to her threat. “How many people have you killed, Blue... Iris?”

Her eyes suddenly widened, lips parted, then she gulped, but the gun remained pressed against my groin. “H-how d-did you know?” Her question was hesitant and wary.

Huh! I could distract her. “My mom had a flower shop. Of all the flowers, she chose iris to bring home every day and placed it in my room. As annoying as it is, I liked the blue one. Your eyes are blue like an iris flower. They remind me of her.”

Her lashes were lighter, almost blonde. It was possible she dyed her hair. She had tiny freckles scattered all over her nose and under her eyes.

“Oh?”

“Yes. Now, my deal. You can stay and pull that gun away from me or you die.” I pressed a little harder against her neck. “One wrong move, your blood will splatter all over the floor. Since you’re pale, you’ll die in a matter of seconds, Iris.”

“You’ll die with me, Colton. That’s a promise.”

“Jesus, the two of you are starting to annoy me. Just shut it already and I have something to do here! And you Colt, you finally found your match.”

“The hell I am.”

“He's arrogant.”

“And you’re bitchy for a visitor.”

“My necklace.”

“My gun.”

“I promise I won’t tell anyone that a certain twig threatened your junk.” She grinned, spreading a devilish smile at me. Then she whispered, “Your secret is safe with me, Colton.”

My blood rushed through my head in anger that I could almost see red.

“Fascinating how I could make you blush easily.”

“I’m not blushing.” Absentmindedly, I wiped my cheek.

“I know you have a rep, Colton, but it would be worse if a twig blows off your balls and that would not be so great for them to tell that the almighty Colton—”

“Stop! Stop!” I pushed the necklace right into her chest. “Have it your way and stay away from me!” And I walked away, defeated.

“Just so you know I haven’t killed anyone!” she yelled. “But you don’t wanna be the first on my list, do you?”

“I don’t give a damn. Just fu—back off!”