ENDS

Third person p. o. v.

Iris sat in the back seat of the car in fresh new clothes and a slightly wet hair.

She had managed to have her bath some minutes ago and now they were preparing to leave.

While Hunter and a few of the others were having some discussions not so far from the vehicle, she sat completely quiet and zoned out of earth.

Her thoughts, very far away that from her face she looked like someone who was lost from reality.

What she had heard earlier still gave her cold feet, it felt like as each second passed the reality of realities dawned on her and all that kept pounding at the back of her mind was Louisa’s health.

She knew Louisa as still recovering from anemia and blood is being drawn from her?All content © N/.ôvel/Dr/ama.Org.

Iris had never in her life thought that she could ever come across someone so wicked in her entire lifetime… and she had met Hunter.

That little girl never did anything to those cruel men, not even to swat a fly in their presence yet she was the one suffering the most.

Her only offense was being related to Hunter.

Being his daughter.

She couldn’t help the tiny anger brewing in her chest towards the McConnell family.

If only, just maybe, they had put more interest into their son’s life, maybe he wouldn’t be a wild fire that destroys anything or anyone that manages to come into contact with him.

She was still lost in her thoughts when the doors of the car were opened and Hunter alongside someone else hopped into the front seats, it was only when the car jerked forward in movement that she realized that they had begun moving.

Where they were headed she didn’t know, she hadn’t spoken to Hunter since she was told the actual thing in the tubes. She didn’t even want to speak with him, all that she was currently concerned about as getting Louisa out of the shackles of those evil men.

The ride was a bit silent with the driver’s interest on the road and Hunter going through a file he had brought with him.

They were the files Diane had gotten ready for him before he prepped to leave.

Diane and Mrs. Adams were to return back to town to meet his family and if possible, to meet the Reid’s also to at least give them an update and feedback on their journey so far.

The rest of the men were to follow different routes and meet them at Da Lat, it would’ve been very dangerous for all of them to get into the same vehicle so they decided it was best to split up.

“Are you hungry?” Hunter said to Iris and broke the silence.

Iris wasn’t expecting to be spoken to. In fact, she didn’t even want to be spoken to, she was looking out the window and was unknowingly crying really silent tears.

The moment he saw her face, he knew he picked the wrong time to ask her about food especially counting the fact that she had emptied her stomach some minutes ago but he had already made the mistake and there was no going back.

But instead, Iris ignored his question and looked back at the trees she had managed to find solace in when the journey began.

Hunter knew better than to repeat his question so he turned forward and the silence in the ride continued, not without the guy behind the wheels sparing him a sad glance.

They drove on for another hour till they came out to a public highway which was almost crowded.

Neither of them needed to say it, but it felt awesome to actually be out in the main roads with people who aren’t after your life.

Iris wanted to ask where they were headed, the fact they were out in public disturbed her a bit.

But the two seemed like they were on the right track so who was she to complain.

And for another hour, they were in the traffic swerving their way through. She wondered if anyone had caught a glimpse of the guy whose home was bombed minutes after his wedding was disrupted by gunshots.

Then again, it occurred to her that the glasses may be heavily tinted.

All these seemed like excess frivolities to her, she needed Louisa back and this car ride was taking much longer than she expected.

Practically calculating how long they had wasted already, she didn’t notice that they were now all alone and had left the main way.

And the moment she did, a feeling of unease sat in her stomach. Only then did she realize the safety one feels when being surrounded by people.

The car came to a stop in an open area and she only hopped out of the car when the other two men had stepped out and successfully took at least ten steps without hearing the blast of a gun.

She’s been too traumatized these past few days to trust anything without reason.

“Hey, are you coming?” Hunter asked when he realized that she wasn’t following them behind.

“Yes” she replied and slammed the door behind her causing both Hunter and the second guy who had driven them both to flinch a bit.

And she was unapologetic about it.

When she noticed there was a jet and some other men asides Hunter and his cohort in front of her, she was taken aback but tried as much as she could not to make it obvious.

She spared only a look towards Hunter and began walking towards the plane as she guessed they’ll be taking it to their next stop.

He watched as she stormed passed him and marched her way to the other men ahead and he couldn’t help but release a sigh before following her almost immediately.

“You could’ve avoided slamming the door that hard, it’s not even my car.” He said as he was hot on her heels and they walked so briskly like there was a mini pad race.

His statement actually brought her to a halt and she fought a mental debate to reply his words.

She really didn’t have any time to waste with him anymore.

Leaving his complain hanging in the air, she continued walking ahead; this time bringing Hunter to a halt.

He didn’t expect her reaction at all, and at this point he believes he has had enough of it.

“Iris I spent three fucking days worried sick about your health and seven worried about Louisa’s, I haven’t had a decent meal in a week or a proper bath in days, I’m on my freaking toes twenty-four seven watching not just my back but yours because we could be attacked any time, I haven’t had a shut eye for fifteen minutes at a go for the past month, my eyes hurt like a motherfucker from reading tiny prints on papers and laptops for at least seventy percent of my day for over ten days. Right now I’m on my top most adrenaline rush and highest grades of fear hormone endocrine secretion and if you’re going to keep up with this attitude just to add to my already existing problems then I think its best that you get back in that car and freaking return home because as much as she is your daughter, she is also mine!” Hunter yelled and everyone around the area stood still.

Not just from the fear of being caught but for the fact they hadn’t heard him burst out this way in a long time.

But for Iris, it was his audacity that struck her the most.

She spun around so swiftly on her toes and sent him a glare before she retorted.

“You see that?” she started pointing as him as she approached him with flames in her eyes. “That is the reason we’re all in this fucking mess!!”

The rest of the crowd maintained their distance as they felt it was best that they didn’t interfere.

And they were wise enough with their decision.

“She’s your daughter and that’s why she was kidnapped, you had to freaking have your way with me and that’s why my life is in danger, Dylan had to be related to such an idiot like you and that’s why he lost his mother, your mother had to give birth to such an unfortunate kid as you and that’s why your dad is in distress, Michelle had to develop feelings for you and that’s why her dream marriage was wrecked… where does the damn list even end Hunter McConnell? Hasn’t it occurred to you that you might just be the bad luck and that’s why you keep dragging innocent people into your mess?”

“Some of these men might not make it out alive because they are helping your stupid ass and you have the guts to fucking complain about my attitude? That should even be the least of your godforsaken worries, you should be bothered about the kind of life you have where you always have to endanger others to be redeemed. I am fucking done with anything that has a resemblance to you or your belongings, I want to get my daughter out and get back home to bloody Bridgewaters before they kill her and if you think that I’ll ever turn back before I’ve done that then I must inform you that it would be over my dead body!”

Then she turned back and stomped her way into the jet.