Chapter 8

• MARK
• "What the fuck?!" she screamed like a wounded animal. Well, she was wounded, and her thrashing around was making her bleed more. "What the hell do I look like?! A fucking item on a store's shelf?!"
• I swear, June was never this feisty. I always concluded that June was the most troublesome and spirited person I would come across in my lifetime, but... how wrong I was.
• This redhead was nothing but pure trouble. And while it annoyed me, there was a small part of me (a very small part) that wanted to calm her down and hear what she had to say.
• But doing that, especially now, was just... impossible. Eric or his perverted men would never see me succumb to a woman.
• "Name your price," I said to Eric while sizing the redhead up. She would be of no use in my house, and that was what confused me the most. If she would be useless, then why the hell did I want her?!
• "You fucking psycho!" she spat from a distance. I could see coals in her irises, blazing-hot red coals that amazed me. "Just wait and see what I'll do to the both of you."
• The men restraining her looked at me, surprised that I hadn't said anything to reprimand her. I could see their confusing looks, but I didn't pay any heed.
• "You are wasting my time," I spoke to Eric. "You can see her bleeding so much. I need to get her treated ASAP if she is going to be of any use."
• "What?!" she tried to lunge out of the arms of the men, but they pulled her back. The result made her rest on her wounded leg, forcing a hiss from her.
• She handled the bullet in her thighs like a pro, I'd give her that.
• "I..." Eric looked at her, then turned back to me. "I don't want to sell her, boss. I got her for myself. But if you want someone, I can get a nice lady with no trouble for you from the—"
• "Listen to me, green hulk..." I wagged a finger at him, taking in his clownish suit. Dude heard of a meeting and dropped his thug merch for such nonsense. When have drug dealers and mafia lords or workers ever dressed like clowns?? Never!
• I've never seen it happen! We were always known for our precision and vigilance, which accompanied neat wear and non-flamboyant lifestyles that kept us under cover.
• "... I wasn't asking," I continued and advanced close to Eric, forcing him to back away. "I said, how much are you willing to sell her?” Speak now or. Watch her get whisked away."
• "One point five," he said quietly. The amount got to the redhead who suddenly went quiet, her eyes widened in shock.
• "What the fuck?" she asked in a daze and sagged to the floor. The men did not leave her. "Did I just hear that?!"
• "Hmm..." I gave her a once-over. "At least, you're worth a lot, unlike the others." Turning back to Eric, I said, "Forward your details to Kenzo. He will escort you."
• "I am not going anywhere with you, fucking pervert who—!"
• "Shut the fuck up!!!" I exploded. Beside me, Eric flinched and moved some steps back. I bounced forward, my fists balled at the side. The men holding her were visibly contemplating abandoning the parrot and fleeing for their safety. "Can you shut up??!" I yelled into her face.
• She was a bit calm now, with a look of stubbornness swirling in her eyes.
• Fuck, she even had June's lashes.
• Fuck, fuck, fuck!!!!!!
• Fuck you June!!!
• I gritted my teeth and looked to the ground.
• "You've done nothing but rile me up from the very second we met." I leaned closer. "If you stay here with these men, you will be severely used and abused until death becomes the last option."
• "And now you're suddenly a saint and saviour?" she scoffed.
• At least, she wasn't screaming now.
• "I'm not saving you. I'm buying you. So shut the fuck up and cooperate." I didn't give her the chance to speak before turning around and heading back to the house to get my phone. A soft thud made me turn back.
• She was on the floor, unconscious.
• "Oh." I raised a brow. "Someone get me my phone, and bundle her into my car."
• *~*~*~*~*~*
• "She will be fine."
• "Is she awake?" I asked Charles, the African guy that handles [all] our medical needs. It would be difficult to count how many gunshot cases he had treated in the past.
• "No, not yet. Let her rest." He sighed and dabbed his face with a handkerchief. "She lost a lot of blood."
• Of course, that green clown took my fucking time.
• "Will she be okay?" I asked and frowned. Why was I suddenly caring about her? Well, I bought her. It was only normal that I cared about my property.
• "She will be fine. Just let her rest. The bullet didn't go far, and well, it was her thigh. She might limp until it heals."
• Why the fuck would I buy something because of a resemblance to June??
• This fucking psycho redhead could never—never—be June. Hell, nobody could take over June's space in my heart.
• The doctor left. I went upstairs to one of the guest rooms where she was laid and stood by the door, watching her chest rise and fall in a synchronized rhythm.
• I was just noticing how beautiful she was. And that wasn't my fault.
• For someone who wanted my head whenever we met, all I had been focusing on was her attitude.
• She had long lashes that led down a smooth face, and a straight nose. Her lips were full, womanly, and looked soft.
• Around her head were her red strands, lying quietly just like she did.
• Was it too much to ask for her to be calm? Just like this?
• "Boss."
• "Hey," I murmured as Kenzo came to stand beside me.
• "I have made the transfer to Eric."
• "Good."
• "We are short on supplies," he said from beside me. We were both staring at the sleeping lady. "I am thinking of going for some guns and coke."
• "We would hardly make any gain off that," I said with a bitter taste in my mouth.
• "I... I know, boss." He sounded sad. "But we are going to push customers away if—"
• "You know what? Just do it. I'm going to fuck Eric up very soon. Those Russian fuckers keep begging for more time."
• "It's not easy smuggling guns out of that country. Their borders are very—"
• The words dried on his lips.
• I looked at him and frowned when I saw him frozen in surprise, looking into the room.
• I followed his eyes.
• The redhead was slowly stirring to consciousness while muttering incoherent words.
• Fuck!