Hunter had just arrived back in town, he was tired and worn out from weeding through the mess that Ren had allowed his Feng Clan to become. Those men were nothing but a bunch of scared girls. They wouldn't have lasted a day in the 'Soldiers.
Hunter tossed the stack of papers on the table. He was jet lagged and so tense from their investigations that he hadn't even noticed the small figure curled into fetal position on the sofa in his office. What was she doing here?
Hunter leaned back at this desk, looking at her as though for the first time. Did she really have no sense of awareness. What the hell. What if i had been Charlie or one of the other men who had just walked in, with her looking like that, all hell would break loose.
Luke, or rather Amalia, lay asleep on the sofa. She was tired. She had been training hard all day. Her guilt over not stopping to check in on her grandfather was eating at away her. In addition to that was the argument with Charlie. She handled them both the only way she knew how, she had thrown herself into her training to such an extent that most of the time she was lucky to find her way here.
Her jacket lay on the floor along with her jeans. The only thing left on her body was a pair of thin cotton panties and a loose fitting t-shirt. Her usual hoody was bunched up under head like a pillow.
Hunter sighed.
This girl was usually a firecracker. She was tough, fool hardy and abrasive. For the first time since meeting her, she looked vulnerable. She hadn't told him much about herself since he had found out her secret, but what she hadn't said he could guess.
He would never forget the pain he felt when she had described how these men had taken away the only family she had. What had shocked him more was that she didn't snivel the way most would. She wouldn't cry even though he could see the tears clearly needed to be shed. She had been fierce. Her anger was unrelenting and it acted as a buffer for her pain, It kept her sane when she was ready to crumble.
In all honesty, it had been the catalyst for his decision. He knew if he didn't take her in, she would go out and only seek worse trouble.
Stepping out of his office he pulled out his phone and shook his head.
"Yeah, I'm back. Meet me outside. Let the men know my office is off limits for now. I don't care what excuse you have to make, no one goes in."
*******
Cage had working hard in the training yard as well. It was a necessary release from his frustration with the whole situation. Not to mention his confusion about Hunters sudden 180 regarding the kid.
His fists swung hard hitting the punching back in front of him. He was relentless. Each hit came harder and faster. He was so focussed on his training he almost didn't hear the phone ring. He stumbled forward on the second tone. It was Hunters.
Listening intently, he furrowed his brow. His fingers curled around the phone in a vice like grip as he fought hard to keep his dissatisfaction out of his voice. He had been left with so many questions which he had hoped to get answers for, but at this point all he was being told was to keep the men from Hunter's office?
That in itself wasn't an issue. It was just weird that Hunter would enforce it. Then he remembered, the kid had been bunking there a lot lately, even though had specifically told her not to. She continued to do. So Hunter had walked in and seen her? Of course he didn't want the other men to know. It would just be one more clusterfuck to clean up.
This kid, she really needed to learn some awareness. Fucking hell.
Cage wiped the sweat off his brow and went to meet Hunter outside. The man he saw there was stoic looking. His figure cut a lonely shadow up against the concrete walls. He was staring out at the night sky deep in though and his body language was so tense that even Cage was reluctant to approach him.
"Boss.." he called out after a few moments hesitation.
Hunter looked over his shoulder and ran a hand through his hair. He didn't need to ask his friend what he thought, all he needed was one look to know.
"You think I'm an idiot right?"
Cage looked at the man. They had been through so much together. They had met in Basic when they were sixteen. They had trained together. Took bullets for each other. And eventually they had even defected together. He rubbed the back of his neck to try and ease some of the tension that built up from there from his training.
"Well, it's not like you gave me any reason to think otherwise" Cage joked.
He wasn't wrong through. Hunter gave orders. Cage followed. But Hunter seldom explained himself. This was mostly because he knew it wasn't required with Cage, this instance was a first for everything.
Hunter shrugged his shoulders.
"You know, I can't let a civvy, let alone a woman, be hurt because of us. She needs our protection. And that kid, that Charlie. I can see he wants to. She wont let him.."
Cage could only arch his brow at the Hunters assessment. It was seldom wrong. Even he knew deep down that Charlie lacked what was necessary to defend,let alone protect. In this world it was kill or be killed. Charlie lacked the will to kill. He was soft.
Cage was mulling over Hunter's words. He could tell Hunter was holding something back from him but it didn't bother him. Frustrated maybe, but he would walk into hell for Hunter. Hell, they had already been there and back many times before what was one more time?
"..Why do you say she wont let him?" Cage suspected he knew the answer, but he wanted to hear Hunter's thoughts on it regardless. He was curious.
"Because he's weak. He trained her, but he lacks an edge. She'll trust us - or rather me - because she trusts strength. "
Hunter paused for a moment as though he seemed deep in thought, before adding.
"In fact, I would say its the only thing she trusts."
Cage listened a moment before nodding his head. It was as expected.Clearing his throat he handed over the files he had carried with him from Feng's Precincts people.
"Everything should be there. They're still looking for that David guy. The girl, Michovali's daughter, I have a tail on her. A good one. We should hear something soon."
Hunter nodded before calling back to Cage one last time.
"Put the word out, anyone caught selling or in possession of Candy, answers to me. I won't have that sh*t messing up our turf."
Hunter watched Cage walk off and heaved another sigh. He hated withholding anything from the other man. Sometimes though it was just the nature of the beast. Regardless he knew he could trust Cage. He had trusted him many times before, with a variety of things, his life included. Cage had never let him down. With that he headed back to office to attempt to find his way through the work he had brought home, and to stand guard for a very naive if strong willed teenage girl.