Chapter 2

For a moment, I thought the map was taking me to the wrong place until it stopped at a building that looked like an old warehouse clearly worn down by time.

I parked my bike a few feet away from the building and walked towards the front door.

Two hefty men stood guard by the door, their sharp gazes locked on me as I walked towards them, their presence making my pulse quicken.

“Excuse me, I have a delivery for this address.”

One of the men stepped forward, his massive frame towering over me. “Who are you?” His voice was as harsh as his appearance.

“I’m from Berrylink Mall,I was asked to deliver this.”I replied quickly, holding up the package as proof.

The other man, who had piercing blue eyes, narrowed his gaze and leaned slightly toward me. “Where’s James?”

“I… I don’t know. Maybe he had another delivery. Look, can you just take this and sign for it so I can leave?”

The blue eyed exchanged a look with his partner, a sneer forming on his lips. “It’s not that simple. You could be a drone for all we know.”

“A drone?” I echoed, confusion and frustration creeping into my voice. “Do I look like a drone? I’m clearly human!”

He eyed me again, before he turned to his partner “Jay, check the parcel,”

Jay stepped closer, his hand resting on the gun strapped to his side. My pulse spiked as he strode towards me. Instinctively, I took a step back, but his sharp bark froze me in place.

“Open the parcel!”

“What? It’s against company-”

“I said open it!” he snapped, pulling out his gun and pointing it at me.

My hands shook as I began fumbling with the tape on the package. But before I could do anything, a gunshot shattered the tense silence. The deafening crack echoed in my ears, and my body froze in place.

Was that me?

Tears streamed down my face as panic took over my senses. I didn’t dare move or even look down to see if I was the one that got shot. Until, Jay shoved me aside, and I hit the ground hard, scraping my knees on the rough gravel.

“Get the fuck out of here, bitch, if you don't want to die ” he growled.

Despite the pain that shot through my leg, I managed to scramble to a corner, clutching my throbbing knee. Blood seeped from the wound, and I tore the bottom of my shirt, biting back a sob as I dabbed at the injury.

“Damn it, god! it hurts!" I muttered under my breath, wincing at the pain.

A low groan from the corner of the room got my attention. My head whipped around, and my eyes landed on a man slumped against the far wall. His shirt was soaked with blood, half of his face from nose to mouth was covered with a mask but I still noticed the way his face twisted with pain.

Without thinking, I crawled toward him, my fear momentarily forgotten. “Hey! Are you okay?”

His eyes flickered open, startlingly sharp despite the obvious pain he was in. Before I could say another word, his hand shot out, grabbing a gun beside him and pointing it directly at me.

“Wait!” I flinched, raising my hands. “I’m not here to hurt you. I just want to help.”

His eyes connected to mine and I found my self lost in them, instantly captivated. They were the most beautiful eyes I had ever seen, a unique color that I couldn't form a single sentence to describe. I saw Amber, honey gold and a faint green undertones along the edges.

He stared at me for what felt like an eternity, his hand steady despite the injury. Finally, he lowered the weapon, his breathing labored. “What’s a girl like you doing here?” he asked, his voice low and rough.

I ignored his question, my attention focused on the growing red stain on his arm. My stomach churned. “You’ve been shot,” I said, my voice barely a whisper.

“No shit,” he muttered, wincing as he shifted.

“We need to get the bullet out,” I said, panic and determination warring in my chest. “Do you have anything I can use?”

"Follow me" he said, struggling to stand. He wavered, and I quickly moved to his side, slipping an arm around his waist to steady him.

"Hey! you're-"

"I'm fine" he said with a tone of finality, indirectly telling me to shut up.

"Doesn't look like it to me" I muttered following him as he staggered towards a door at the back of the building.

He pushed open the door and I followed him into the room full of boxes at every corner. My eyebrow raised, curiosity piquing inside me as I looked at the boxes, they looked exactly like the ones my boss stacked together in the corner of his office.

"Check the white box over there" He gestured weakly toward the box that stood out among the others as he took a seat on the small chair in the middle of the room.

I grabbed it, rummaging through until I found a metal clip i could use to remove the bullet and a bottle of alcohol.

I walked back to him, raising the metal clip up “This is going to hurt,” I warned.

“Just do it,” he grunted, his jaw tightening.

I bent, examining the wound. It wasn't my first doing this, he used to make me do it whenever he comes back from his usual gang fight. I shook my head, trying to wade off the memory and focus on the helpless man in front of me.

As I pulled out the bullet, He let out low growl in his throat, his body rigid with pain, but he didn’t move. I worked quickly, flushing the wound with alcohol and wrapping it with another strip from my shirt.

“There,” I said, exhaling shakily. “That should hold for now. Make sure you see a doctor for proper care”

"I don't need it" he rasped and then my eyes moved to his tattooed chest, despite tattoos covering most of his chest up to his neck, I could still some scar on his chest, arm and forehead. It made me wonder who he was.

Definitely, someone that loved violence, the way I loved ice cream.

"Why do you have so many scars?" I found myself asking, my voice lacing with concern.

I decided it wasn't right to judge him like that, I also had many scars, though mine aren't visible unless I'm naked but I knew how I would be if someone judged me like that.

The sound of shouting and gun shot outside disrupted my thought.

“You need to go!” he grabbed my arm as he stood up almost immediately. It was like the bullet removal had given him some sort of strength.

I had no choice than to follow him as he pulled me out the room. He led me down a narrow path that opened into the woods. It felt we just walked in circle when I saw my bike from afar, just where I had parked it.

"Is that yours?" he asked and I nodded.

"Wait here, I'll get your bike, don't.. move!" I nodded vigorously before he turned around and walked casually towards my bike like he didn't see the commotion going on outside the warehouse.

He came back with my bike and I thanked him.

“This is where we part ways princess, take care and I owe you one.”

Before I could respond, he turned and disappeared towards the building he just saved me from, gripping the gun holstered to his side tightly.