Leah's POV
Just as the headless zombie was about to knock us down, I heard another gunshot.
Almost at the same time, the zombie dropped to the floor like a defalted doll.
Darren stepped forward and kicked it away. It rolled on the floor for a few seconds until it was stopped by a man's boot.
I looked up and saw a tall, tanned man standing right in front of me.
He was tilting his head, checking on the dead corpse, holding a shotgun in his hands.
As I looked at his dark tanned skin, I couldn't help but be drawn to his rugged, masculine features. His chiseled jawline was accented by a hint of stubble, and his piercing eyes are a deep shade of brown that seem to hold a hint of mystery. His muscular physique was nothing short of impressive - each bulging muscle seemed to ripple under his skin as he moved. His broad shoulders tapered down to a lean waist, highlighting his powerful chest and abs. His arms, thick with sinew and veins, looked like they could lift the weight of the world.
"Who are you?" I gasped in surprise. From this angle, he reminded me of Damian.
The man took a look at me and put down the shotgun in his hand.
As he strode toward me, I couldn't help but feel a little intimidated by his raw masculinity.
"My name is Diego Skakel. My old man said that you're looking for me." He stared at me and said.
I turned my head and saw the old bar attendant walking slowly out of the counter, holding a cane in his hand.
He shut the door of the bar and moved slowly back before taking his seat in front of us.
Everyone else in the bar was gone except me, Darren, and the Skakels.
"Are you the head of the resistance army?" Darren asked the man, holding my arm and pulling me behind him.
"Who are you?" Diego narrowed his eyes, looking hostile.
"I'm Darren Swanson."
"Aha, another Swanson," Diego said, looking bitter. "I met your father Alpha Derek Swanson of the Eagle Tail Pack once. It was before I became a rogue. It seems that wherever a Swanson goes, trouble follows."
Darren pointed at the dead headless corpse on the ground and said in a detached voice, "You call this trouble? I call it an average Wednesday."
Diego looked at me and asked, "Do you know him?"
"He works for me and he's my friend," I said.
"Interesting," Diego mumbled as he sized me up. "I don't know that a Swanson needs to find a job for a living. What's your name, Miss?"
"I'm Uman and Damian's friend," I replied.
For some unintelligible reason, I didn't trust Diego and his father.
"Aha, you're that lady from Skagen City." Diego said. "Billy told me about you. You delivered quite an impressive speech at Uma and Damian's funeral, right in front of the soldiers of Rock Growlers Pack.
"They died because of me. I want to do something. I can't let innocent people die like this any more. I have to take action, otherwise Uma and Damian's death will be in vain." I said with tears circulating in my eyes.
I told myself to be tough and calm, but it really hurt whenever I mentioned Uma and Damian's names.
Diego poured himself a glass of bear and said, "Miss, we're insignificant people. Our lives aren't supposed to mean anything. Our death isn't supposed to be used for a cause. I understand you feel guilty about their death, but that's just what it is in our world."
"You don't trust me," I said.
"No, rich lady from Skagen City. It is you who don't trust me." Diego took a sip of the beer and said. "If you trusted me, you would have told me your name a moment ago. And I don't work with people who don't trust me."
"This doesn't work. Let's just get out of this place." Darren pulled me slightly and said.
"I didn't say that you were allowed to go," Diego said in a cold, stern voice. "Who sent you here? What is the purpose of your visit to this bar? Why did you shoot my guard? You have to answer these questions first before I decide if you can go or not."
Darren walked toward the door, holding me in his arm, without looking back at Diego.
"I am walking out of this door right now," he said. "Stop me if you can."
At that time, I felt that I was pulled back from behind by a pair of powerful hands.
I turned back and saw Diego standing behind me, dragging me toward him.
"You can beat it as you like," Diego said to Darren. "But this lady has to stay."
"She's a free, independent woman who doesn't have to do anything. Let go of her before I blast your head into pulp," Darren threatened.
Diego chuckled and said, "Typical Swanson. You're just like your old man. You guys don't make a lot of friends, right?"
I couldn't believe this happened to me again. I was being pulled and dragged like a rugged doll by two grown-up men again.
I struggled and said assertively, "Both of you, stop right now. I believe there's some misunderstanding here. I need both of you two to let go of me, so we can work out what happened together."
The old bar attendant, Diego's father, coughed slightly and nodded, Diego immediately loosened his hand.
Darren pulled me toward him and asked, "Are you hurt, Leah? Did he hurt you?"
"No," I looked up into his eyes and said. "Why are you here, Darren? I need you to give me a straight answer this time."
Darren was hesitant. Then, he took a glance at the Skakels and answered reluctantly, "I came here to rescue someone."
"Is this someone whom you abandoned me for the other day, leaving me all alone in the van of dead fish and oysters?" I frowned and asked.
"Yes," Darren replied briefly.
"And is this someone a woman?" I asked.
"Yes," Darren nodded again.