Leah's POV
"Chief, he's from the Eagle Tail Pack. They are the most powerful pack in the South. We can't mess up with them. Alph Dire would be mad at us." A soldier pulled the sleeves of the head soldier and said in a quiet voice.
The head soldier thought for a while, looking at Darren, and said, "You can keep your car, kid. But do not show up again on Mediland again."
"Or what?" Darren tilted his head and asked.
The head soldier was about to walk away, but he stopped and turned toward Darren.
Just when I thought the head soldier was about to jump at Darren and start a fight, a deep, velvet voice appeared from outside -
"Dylan! I haven't seen you for a really long time!"
A tall, muscular young man walked into the room. His tanned skin gleamed with sweat and his muscles bulged with a powerful force to be reckoned with.
He was wearing a rugged black T-shirt with the logo of a running dog. On the back of his shirt, I saw a line of printed words -
"Grey Hound Delivery".
"What's up, Dylan?" The young man rubbed his hands together and smiled at the head soldier.
"I had better days, Damian." The head soldier named Dylan said.
"I've heard of it. Alpha Dire was stabbed. You must be exhausted looking for that girl." The young sturdy man named Damian said.
Dylan spat and said, "Fuck. All the matches are canceled. I can't even bet on you to make some extra money for cigarettes these days."
Damian took a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and said with a mysterious smile, "Take this. I got it from the boat this morning. My boss gave it to me. It's good stuff."
The head soldier took the pack, put it into his pocket, and said, "When you see someone suspicious, let me know. I've got another five houses to canvass. Another day, another dollar."
Then, the soldiers walked out of the room.
Damian closed the door, took a glance at Darren, and asked, "Who are you and what are you doing here?"
Darren shrugged and put on his jacket, "I'm nobody. I'm just wandering about."
Damian rubbed his forehead and said, "Well, choose another place to wander about. Don't you know that the whole Mediland is shut down now? Nobody is allowed to get in or out. Alpha Dire was attacked by a female assassin. Strangers are not welcome here."
"Do I look like a girl to you?" Darren frowned.
Damian sighed and said, "You know what I mean. That bike outside, is that yours?"
"Well, it depends on your answer to my question," Darren said.
"What do you mean?" Damian frowned.
"We need to get out of this place ASAP. If you can help me, that Harley Davison is yours," Darren said.
Damian frowned and asked, "We? What do you mean by 'we'?"
I pushed the wardrobe door open and walked out.
Damian jumped up, pointed at me, and said, "Uma! There's a woman in your closet!"
Uma knocked Damian's head and said, "Be quiet! Knucklehead! Do you want those soldiers to come back?!"
"Ouch! It hurts!" Damian covered his crewcut head and dodged. He was surprisingly agile.
Is he a boxing fighter? I thought to myself.
Uma stroked Damian's head and said, "Don't act like a spoiled child to me. You've got punched in the fight club all the time."
Damian turned his head toward me and said, "My name is Damian Pedersen and I'm Milo's cousin. Are you the lady who attacked Alpha Dire?"
"No. I'm not an assassin. My name is Leah Lewyn and I'm from Kingfisher Pack."
"Wow! The Royal Pack! Are you Royalty or something? I have never met Royalty in my life!" Damian wiped his hands on his pants before stretching out toward me.
I was about to hold his hands, but his hands were held by Darren instead.
"So, can you smuggle us out of this place or not?" Darren asked Damian.
Damian looked hesitant. He scratched his head and said, "I can smuggle you out, but I don't want your bike. I want Leah's phone number."
"She is Miss Lewyn, Damian, mind your language. And I can't believe that no one wants my Harvey Davison in this house. You guys really broke my bike's heart." Darren said.
"OK, Miss Lewyn, may I have your number?" Damian stared at me and asked.
"Sure. Give me your phone," I said.
Damian dropped Darren's hands and took out his mobile. I dialed my number and gave it back to him.
"Can we go now?" I asked.
Damian looked pleased and said, "Sure. Do you like oysters?"
"What do you mean?" I frowned.
A few moments later, Darren and I were surrounded by baskets of oysters in a delivery van.
The fishy smile made me want to puke. Darren removed his jacket and covered my nose and mouth.
"I hate Damian Pedersen," Darren said. "And I'm sorry for having taken you to Mediland."
"You don't have to be sorry for that. If it wasn't for this trip, I could never meet with local people in Mediland. They're struggling to make a living, but they are bold, brave, and decent. They risked their lives to help us, complete strangers. And have you seen how clean Uma's shelter is? They didn't lose hope for a better life," I said.
Darren smirked and said, "I'm glad that you've made something out of this miserable trip, Miss Lewyn."
"The tattoo on your back looks cool. Does everyone in your pack have one?" I asked.
"Not really. Only people from my father's house are allowed to get a tattoo like that. He's pretty strict about this. He wants to use this tattoo as a symbol to protect our family members," Darren replied.
"Are you close to your father?" I asked.
"Not really." Darren lowered his head and said. "I'm his least favorite child."
"Why? What's there not to be liked?" I asked. "You're perfect in every way!"
"Oh, really?" Darren said in a soft voice, pressing himself closer to stare into my eyes.
I immediately turned crimson and lowered my head.
This man is working for me now, but he's still the same man who was trying to fuck me the first time he saw me.
"I'm flattered and overwhelmed by your appraisal, Miss Lewyn," Darren lowered his head to look at me and mumbled.
I lifted my chin and the tip of my nose touched his lips, which I had kissed when I was unconscious earlier today.
My heart was pounding like crazy.
Just when I was about to lift my head again to meet his eyes, the car stopped.
"Why are we stopped?" Darren peeked outside from the gap of curtains. "We haven't reached the Center Checkpoint yet."
"Snap inspection!" A voice appeared outside. "Open the back of your van and let us get inside."