*Chapter 18*

Today was the real deal. And this time I even got a fair amount of sleep so I wouldn't pass out like last time. Still it was almost two in the morning and I can't get over the time. Before, there wouldn't have been a chance to meet me alive at this time.

Anyway, everyone had already gathered in front of Zaron's house, when he spoke up. "So we're just going to use Loki's and my car, to avoid standing out. For now we're just heading there first and discuss together with our partners since we're working together."

I watched how everyone automatically split into two groups and got in the cars as I looked at Zaron who was also about to get in. "What are you waiting for? Get in!" He waved over.

But I pursed my lips and shook my head. So I waved him goodbye with a smile and got in Loki's car where Collin was sitting in the front while Pixie and I shared the back seat.

As soon as I closed the door I noticed how everyone was staring at me like I was not from this world. "Did you fight with Zaron again?" Collin rolled his eyes.

"Huh? No, did not," I shook my head at him. "But since he's driving I won't be able to tease him that much, so it'll be boring. Besides," I stopped for a second once Loki started driving. "I'm curious about him," I pointed at the current driver who shot me a brief glance after I mentioned him.

"What is with him?" Collin frowned.

"Why're you not talking? Don't think it's weird that I've never heard your voice, not even once?" I crossed my arms. "Do you have an ugly voice or do you just hate talking?" I was really curious and wondered how he sounded like. Or maybe he was just mute, that would explain a lot.

"There's nothing wrong with him, some people just don't talk as much as you do," Collin answered instead of him.

"Are you his guardian or something? Look who's talking!" I raised an eyebrow at him before another assumption made me change my mind. "Oh I get it, you have a crush on him?"

"Don't make me laugh," he looked away as I noticed Loki watching him.

"Oh so it is you who has a crush on him, right?" I could see his troubled expression when he was avoiding my eyes, Collin wasn't even looking in that moment and Pixie's eyes were fixed on his phone while he had some earbuds on. "The fact that you didn't decline means I was somehow right."

"Hey." To my surprise it was Pixie who spoke up. "Just cut it out already," he rolled.

"And who are you to tell me what to do?" I talked back when my eyes glimpsed at his phone. "Oh is this a game?" I was quickly distracted once I saw what kind of game he was playing on his phone. "Can I listen?" I asked and took one of his ear pieces for myself. Luckily, he was way too focused on the game which hindered him to object.

It was unexpectedly a game about slicing food. Wasn't that Fruit Ninja or something? Sadly he lost the moment I recognize the game he was playing. "You should go back to your seat," he muttered when he noticed how I had narrowed the distance between us.

"Aw but I want to play, too," I pouted. "Come on let me try," I insisted and took his phone out of his hand before restarting the game. But a few seconds after I started I had already lost.

"You idiot," he sighed. "You're not supposed to slice the bombs. Isn't that obvious?"

"Oh those were bombs? And I was wondering what weird fruits look like that," I grinned at him. His eyes widened when he realized something so he instinctively turned away once he noticed me frowning. "Is something off about my face?"

"No, but I'd appreciate it if you shifted to the side." He uncomfortably moved his gaze from one spot to the other and purposefully avoided my eyes.

"Huh? What did I do?" I was obviously confused since I was sure that I didn't do anything for once. "You have anxiety?" I frowned at him.

"Just god damn move!" He escalated, automatically causing me to jump back in shock. I watched how his breath shortened which looked like he was breathing too fast. That made me suspicious. He wasn't anxious, was he? I don't think that was it since he seemed perfectly fine earlier.

But I kept my mouth shot for a while until my eyes fell back at Pixie who watched several trees passing by. "I'm curious," I caught his interest. "Are you vegetarian or vegan? Like you're already super pale. Ever thought about eating some meat? When I see you, I can't help but to think of you as an iron lacking four-eyed grasshopper."

His eyes widened the same time as Collin turned to me with a amused expression. In that moment Loki stopped driving but not because of our words, it was because we had already arrived.

So that was the cue for me to open the door and get out where I spotted Zaron just closing his car door and glancing down at his phone. I approached him with skipping movements until he looked up and shot me a greeting smile.

"I hope you didn't cause any trouble." I grinned at him and shook my head which made him narrow his eyes like he was already suspecting something. "Anyway," he looked around as he was waiting for someone and it seemed like he had found that someone a few seconds later when he waved him over.

He was a tall muscular and full tattooed caramel haired guy and as he came closer to greet Zaron I could also recognize his greenish eyes. His eyes briefly switched to me where he hesitated for a second before looking back at Zaron.

"Well I'm in charge to guide you to our place. Boss is already waiting so I'd suggest to hurry up a bit," he was a little short on words I noticed as he went ahead for us to follow him through the darkness until we reached a quite big lodge were there was a group of people waiting for us.

I assume the boss of their gang was the first to approach Zaron with a smile which didn't look that friendly at all in my opinion. But however, after he had turned to us, he started explaining in details.

"I guess I haven't introduced myself. I'm Marcus and to get it straight, our opponent is after that little thing here." He raised up a hand big spherical machine or something. "This one costs as much as my Range Rover for your information so I would recommend not to lay your hands on it," he warned.

When I all of the sudden noticed something moving in the bush for a brief second. It didn't seem like anyone else noticed, so I wanted to warn them. "Zaron," I whispered at him but he didn't budge. "Zaron," I tried again and plucked on his sleeve as my eyes were searching for another sign.

"Stop that," he scowled at me so I instinctively pulled my hand away. I pursed my lips with shrugged arms in annoyance. If he didn't want to listen then that was his fault.

Marcus stopped talking when his eyes briefly landed on me before he returned to his words. "Anyway, I had played with the thought of hiding it somewhere but I'm pretty sure that they were going to destroy the lodge as soon as they had found it or follow us to our houses which I can't afford."

And then suddenly I heard the same rustling sound from earlier. But this time I kept my mouth shut.

"I can't exactly tell you when they are going to start an attack but my plan for now was that everyone should guard a particular spot which will increase the difficulty of them getting through us, I hope you understand," he looked at us searching for an objection which he didn't seem to find.

That was when he allocated each of us a spot to guard. Afterwards, I was about to head to that spot in the same corner where I heard the noises coming from when I was abruptly pulled back by... Marcus?

"You," he whispered in my ear and pulled me closer. "I'm not trusting anyone else but you so keep a good eye on it, got it?" He said, letting something slip in my pocket before he left.

I frowned and put my hand in my pocket just to check what he meant. Though as soon as I felt what he gave to me, I widened my eyes. "What the-," I was not even able to finish when another voice appeared.

"Hey twink!" It was that tattooed guy from earlier. "What did our boss want from you?" He frowned.

"Nothing, just said I should be careful that I don't let my pretty face be ruined," I smirked at him.

He chuckled and shook his head, not noticing that I had just made that up. "Indeed," he pushed my chin up using his finger to get a closer look. "You do have a cute face," he smirked. "You're not perhaps single?" He narrowed the distance between us.

I frowned and used my finger, pointed it at his forehead and pushed him away. "Even if I was, I wouldn't date you," I waved him off.

"What I'm not attractive enough?" He cocked his brow.

"Nah that's not it," I shook my head. He was a good looking guy, there wasn't a way around it. But... "It's just that I am probably getting hit from our boss if I cause any more problems. In fact," I turned away. "I'm only dating leaders," I waved him goodbye as I head over to Zaron.

"What did that guy wanted from you?" He cocked his eyebrow.

"Nothing," I grinned. "But other than that," I crossed my arms. "Why didn't you-," I stopped myself when a strange smell surrounded us. "W-what is this?"

"What is what?" He frowned at the same time as the smell got worse. My nose was burning a bit at the acid smell. It was something that reminded me of something sour mixed with something burned. "Are you okay?" Zaron's voice was full of worry.

"No, it's-" And all of the sudden, it all happened too fast. Two guys covered in dark clothes and face masks abruptly popped up from the darkness. I was sure that the one guy was meant to aim for me, but I didn't take it into account and just thoughtlessly pushed Zaron out of the way that the guy who was actually meant to target Zaron, ended up catching me instead while the other one disappeared as quick as he emerged. But I could obviously see that he was about to spray something at me before he vanished.

"Quentin!" Zaron gasped at the sudden shock. The guy behind me, who wrapped his arm around me to restrict my movements, had a gun pointed at my head.

I didn't dare to move and let out a frustrated chuckle. "Didn't I tell you to not mention my name in public?" I reminded him.

Our gazes immediately switched to the others as everyone started coughing in agony as they slumped to the ground. It was only a couple who were threatened with the knife and the only ones who were basically free from moving were Zaron, that tattoo guy and Marcus. But even they were tied down, seeing as their mates were in danger.

Just afterwards there was a faint clapping sound that got louder until a red haired guy appeared with a mischievous grin plastered on his face. "Wow that astonishingly went even better than planned," he chuckled and approached Marcus.

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