The three men looked around, taking in as much as they could, as their new boss Zenoch Moore showed them around. He was clearly a proud man, not ashamed to show off his wealth, but it meant nothing to them. As long as he paid them for their work, he could show off all he liked. They had dealed with many men like him before.
"And there's the apple of my eye," Zenoch said.
All three men stared as a young woman with light brown hair dressed in a sunflower yellow Summer dress came walking towards them.
"Gentlemen, I'd like for you to meet my daughter Aquila," Zenoch continued.
"New guards?" She rolled her eyes, clearly not interested in anything the three new meat mountains had to offer.
"Be nice," Zenoch said warningly before pointing the men out one by one. "This here is Roman, Seth and Dean."
"How long are you gonna stay?" She asked.
"For as long as our service is needed," Roman answered.
"Ha, I'd like to see that!" She giggled and shook her head. "No one here lasts for long."
"You're scaring them away?" Dean gave her a little sassy smile.
"If only I could take credit for all of them but sadly I've only driven half of them crazy. The rest is on my dad," she said.
"Aquila!" Zenoch snapped his fingers in front of her face and gave her a hard look. "Enough!"
"It's alright," Seth tried smoothing things out. "We can take it. We don't scare that easy."
"Guess we'll see about that," she said and walked away.
They watched her walk away and Zenoch let out a sigh and looked at the three men again.
"Sorry about that. Aquila can be difficult. It's my fault for spoiling her. She lost her mother in a tragic boating accident when she was very young and I allowed her to just do whatever she wanted, thinking it was the best way for her to get over it," he explained. "That, combined with that I refuse to let her move out."
"Why not?" Roman asked.
"I have too many enemies. Her not being here surrounded by guards will be too easy for them to get to me," Zenoch answered.
"How old is she?" Seth asked.
"23," Zenoch answered. "Anyway. Let me show you to your rooms. You'll get the night shifts at first."
It was a quiet night and the three men had just made a round. They were standing in a dark corner, striking up a friendly conversation.
"Zenoch, Aquila. What the hell is up with this family and weird names? I bet her mom was named Santa Claus or some weird shit like that," Dean said.
"Boating accident, my ass. I bet the old man killed her," Seth said.
"Wouldn't surprise me either," Roman said. "But it's a job and it's not part of it to speculate about things like that."
"What is that?" Dean asked.
Seth and Roman turned their heads in the direction that Dean was looking to see something white and gold run over the dark lawn. It stopped at the wall surrounding the area and all three could see it wasn't something but rather someone. Aquila was wearing a pair of gold shorts combined with a white tank top and long black boots. She looked around, probably seaching for them in the darkness, and then she climbed up in a tree like a cat, jumping from the tree to the wall and then disappeared over it.
"Duty calls," Roman said.
All three men sprinted to the tree, climbing it just as easy as she had and jumping over the wall. She had made it a little down the street but she heard the sound of three set of combat boots hitting the asphalt. She knew the sight that was waiting her as she turned around.
"Where are you going?" Dean asked as they slowly walked towards her.
"Out to have fun," she answered. "Wanna come?"
"Something tells me that wasn't your first time sneaking out like that," Seth said.
"If you only knew," she smirked.
"Alright, playtime's over. Get your cute little ass back inside, sweetheart," Dean said.
"Cute? Sweetheart?" She tilted her head to the side as she stared him down. "You really don't know me at all."
"So we'll talk once we're back on the other side where you belong," Dean said.
"Where I belong," her voice dropped low, almost to a growl.
Gone was the little smirk that had just been on her face and a touch of anger flushed through her eyes.
"Listen, baby girl, if you don't come voluntarily, we'll have to make you. Just make it easy on us all," Roman said.
Further down the street a car horn sounded and she suddenly smirked again.
"You sure you don't wanna join me instead?" She asked.
"We're on duty so we have to go back," Seth answered.
"What a shame," she said.
She spun around and took off sprinting. They were surprised to see how fast she could run as they took off sprinting too, hoping to catch her. As they approched the honking car, the back door was opened for her before she even got there.
"Go! Go! Go!" She shouted as she jumped in.
The car took off fast and they heard her laughter as she reached her hand out to slam the car door shut. Her face appeared in the back window, laughing at them, and then she raised her hand to wave.
"What the hell? Did we just get outplayed by a little girl?" Dean asked surprised.
"It's not over yet," Roman said.
He stepped out on the road and stopped a taxi that came driving. All three men jumped into it, pointing at the car further down before they lost sight of it.
"Follow that car!" Roman ordered.
They followed her through town and she laughed at them from the back seat several times, like she didn't mind them being hot on her trail. The car disappeared into the old closed down tunnel and the cab driver stopped immetiately.
"Sorry, guys, this is as far as I go," he apologized.
"It's alright," Seth said and paid.
They exited the car and looked at the dark tunnel.
"I heard some underground shit is going down in there. Never been to check it out though," Dean said.
"Guess today is the day," Roman said.
They started walking. For a little while everything was dark but slowly the sound of music hit them. They followed the sound and blinking lights started further in. As they turned a corner it felt like they had stepped into a secret nightclub. People were dancing and drinking while music blasted out loud. They made their way through the crowd in search of her. The party people stayed in one spot but they could see people move further into the tunnel and they followed. Shortly after the sound of shouting people hit them. No music, just a bunch of people shouting. As they came closer, they saw an arena with two men fighting inside it and there on the front row, those gold shorts and white tank top stood and cheered the men on.
"Sweetheart, you just don't know how to play nice, do you?" Dean said lowly as he grabbed her hips from behind and leaned his head down on her shoulder.
"You found me," she giggled.
"Surprised?" He asked.
"Not really. I wasn't exactly hiding," she answered.
She turned her head, looking left then right, as Seth and Roman stepped up on either side of her, trapping her in just in case she was gonna make a run for it. The crowd roared and everyone looked at the arena where one of the men stood victorious.
"Time to go home," Roman said.
"And if I refuse?" She asked challengingly.
"Then we'll make you," Dean answered.
"Good luck trying to force me out with so many people around. You might be good at what you do but you can't take on a couple of hundred people, and trust me sweetheart, these people know me and they'll come to my aid," she said.
He chuckled at her mockingly calling him sweetheart. He knew he deserved it and he liked that she was a little fiesty.
"So how do you wanna do this?" Seth asked.
The question was meant for Roman and Dean but still she chose to answer it.
"One of you go in there and fight. If you win, I'll go home with you," she said.
"That easy?" Dean chuckled.
"Yeah, that easy," she said.
"There's a catch. I can smell it," Roman said.
"No catch. Just a good old fashioned fight. What do you say?" She asked.
"Fine," Seth sighed. "Which one of us?"
"You decide," she said.
"I'll take it," Dean said. "Don't go running away now."
"You have my word," she said.
He let go off her and stepped into the arena, looking around with wild eyes to see if anybody dared taking him on.
"Fresh meat!" Someone yelled in a microphone. "Haven't seen this pretty boy around here before. Anybody willing to mess up his face?"
With a smirk on her face she stepped into the arena too.
"What? No way!" Dean yelled.
"You don't think you can take me?" She challenged.
"Sweetheart, I know I can take you but your dad's gonna cut off my balls and eat them for dinner if I harm you," he said.
"Feel free to step out again but you're gonna lose and I'm gonna stay out tonight," she said.
"Dean, it's not worth it. Just get out of there," Roman said.
"Listen to your big brother," she taunted.
"Fuck it!" Dean stared her down as he raised his fists. "Come on, sweetheart, show me what you got."
"And it's on!" That annoying voice boomed through the microphone again.
Before he could even register her moving towards him, the first blow hit him followed by several others. She hit fast and he raised his arms trying to block her as she went at it on his stomach and chest. She jumped up and hit one solid fist straight in on his jaw and he tumbled a few steps backwards, feeling slightly angry.
"I'm warning you!" He growled.
"Oh, you are?" She laughed. "Come on, sweetheart. Fight back."
He was just as fast as she was and it took her by surprise as he charged towards her and she suddenly felt her feet leave the ground and she crashed down on her back. He towered above her with an annoying smirk on his face.
"Had enough?" He asked.
"Please!" She rolled her eyes and quickly got back up.
She tried hitting him again but this time he was prepared, sidestepping her so fast, moving behind her. His arm went over her chest and he dragged her backwards down so her back hit his knee. She let out a cry of pain and he let go off her so she once again fell to the ground.
"I can keep this up all night, sweetheart," he said as he went down on one knee next to her. "Just give up."
"Make me!" She growled.
"Alright, have it your way," he said.
He yanked her up in a submission hold and put pressure on her. She whimpered from the pain, trying to withstand it, hoping he would let go but he didn't. She finally gave in and tapped wildly at his arm. He chuckled and let go off his hold but instead dragged her up on her feet.
"You got some spunk in you," he said.
"Fiesty," Seth added as he and Roman had walked over to them.
"Now let's get you home," Roman said.
They walked away from the arena, back through the party crowd, out through the dark tunnel and through town without saying much. There was many unasked questions on their minds but they felt it could wait. Right now it was all about getting her home safely. Once again they climbed the wall with the help of a trashcan on the neighbour's property. Clearly she had made that move many times before and they just followed her lead. She crossed the garden without a word and disappeared out of their sight.
"That one's trouble," Roman said.
"Really?" Seth said mockingly.
"We've never backed down from a little trouble," Dean chuckled and stuck out his tongue. "I liked how she fought tonight. Refreshing."