Love Struck Delusion
Chapter 257 - Claws.
Raptor's POV, forty five minutes later.
It had been almost an hour and thankfully we were within reach of the capital. Vetra I had escorted to one of my favorite local smokehouses. The second we entered her eyes widened and her nose lit up. I was immediately recognized by the staff but she didn't seem to notice or care. Her focus was on the smell of good bbq which filled the small building we were in. Looking at me after a few good sniffs she wondered.
"Do I just order up front?"
Nodding I replied.
"Yes ma'am. Go ahead and get whatever you want. It's on me."
Almost stunned she questioned.
"Are you sure?"
Nodding I replied.
"Perfectly sure. You said you were starving right? Go on."
The girl was clearly uncomfortable taking my money, but it was fine. I don't believe in letting the girls pay if they're with me. Be it my wife or just a friend. Or in this case…..a person I just met. However she made her way to the front counter to ask me.
"Are you getting something?"
Shaking my head as some of the employees came over to see me I replied sensing I was about to yet again be center of attention.
"I'm good. Just get whatever you want."
She gave me a smile and from there it took maybe ten or so minutes for her order to get placed and made. By the end of it she had a togo back ready and stuffed it in her backpack. I paid and we left back out into the sun for hopefully one last good walk.
Of course she thanked the hell out of me for paying for her meal and once we had arrived at the capital I escorted her inside and to my office. No one paid her any mind. I wouldn't be surprised if everyone thought she was one of my two bodyguards. As we got in my office I urged her while shutting the door.
"Pull up a seat and relax. Bust that food out too while you're at it. I don't care if you eat in here."
"What if someone comes to see you?"
Giving her a funny snicker I replied.
"Ain't no one coming to bother me. Ever since I got back my army has dissolved and I've been left to handle myself."
"You got to have guards though right? You're basically the fucking president. Pardon my french." She urged me as I chuckled and followed up.
"You're excused."
As I got in my chair I pulled out Shadow's M1911 and placed it on the desk in front of her. Her eyes went to it's chrome body as I told her bluntly.
"I have my own personal protection. Unlike most presidents I've been in my fair share of gunfights and brawls. I can handle myself, but that doesn't answer your question. I do have guards. Everyone in the middle east. We are family. Blood does not play a factor. My soldiers and everyone out on the streets protects me. I have no fear of death with an army that strong at my side Vetra. You'd be wise to remember that."
The wolf slowly took her eyes off my gun and rested them back on me. Between a shared stare Molly decided it was time and jumped off her back. She instantly came around to my side of the desk and curled up right under my feet. She was cooling off and I could understand that. With time passing I again urged Vetra.
"Go on and eat. Maybe after you're done we can find something to do other than sit here."
She didn't need much more encouragement then that. She got out her bag and soon my office was flooded with the smell of fresh pulled pork and bbq sauce. I did my best to not stare at her and upon taking my eyes off her I looked to a TV I had on the wall just right of me. After finding the remote in my desk, I turned it on and took a look at the news.
Twenty minutes later.
Vetra had finished her meal and with my focus on the TV and all the stories worldwide, I turned my attention to her as she groaned.
"Oh that was amazing. I never would have thought there could be good food way out here."
"Where you from?" I asked her as she cleaned up her mess and emptied it in the trash can alongside my desk. Once she was done she sat back down and replied while reaching into her backpack.
"The states. Grew up in Kansas on a farm. You?"
Letting out a small laugh I said to her back.
"Right here in Iraq. Back when things were a lot simpler. Before a war even or a rebellion existed."
Vetra wasn't all too sure on how to respond. I just kept things tame by asking her next.
"How'd you get involved with Fort Drake? I hear they don't have the best reputation with legality."
The wolf gave me this new face. She looked almost disappointed in herself as I grew curious even more for the answer. In time she collected herself and replied.
"You're right…..they don't. Most of us are terrorists to G.U.N standards or we're soldiers who betrayed their nations and their flags. I know a few who are just born killers. Sadistic assholes I call them."
"Where do you fight between those groups?" I wondered out loud as she looked me back in my eyes to reply uncomfortably.
"I…...I was in the G.U.N military. The official story is I betrayed my commanding officers and gave classified intel to support a bombing in Las Vegas Nevada. The bomb killed three hundred people who were just enjoying a fun night of gambling at one of the million casinos there. The name doesn't matter, but I was quickly accused and arrested the night after anyone figured out what had happened. Thankfully I had a few friends and they played dumb when I broke out of the station. Claimed I had attacked and overthrown them. I don't know what happened to those people, but I know I'm here now because of them."
"What's the unofficial story?" I had to ask her as she was clearly getting a bit mad thinking about it. Looking me right in my eyes she replied with the same anger in her voice.
"Unofficial story is that I had nothing to do with that bombing. I hated my commanding officer back then and I know he had his hands all over that intel that somehow ended up in their hands. I know he did the crime and he planned to make me do the time by planting it on me. Fucker still leads now. G.U.N is half corrupt and that tends to happen a lot once you have armies scattered all across the world. I'm not the only person this happened to. I can't be. I'm just alive and grateful I know the truth."
"You gonna go kill this guy some day?"
She went silent and together we stared at one another. After some time she replied.
"Yeah. One day."
I didn't want to push her buttons any further, but I figured I'd at least ask.
"What training do you have?"
She took that as her moment to breathe, then replied.
"Back then I trained to be a sniper and spotter. I have perfect scores on my record at the range and I was quickly recruited to the rangers division. I provided my team with the best in overwatch and made sure I had everyone's back. I'm also trained in espionage and covert intel gathering. A skill I looked down on till I got hired by Fort Drake. They offered political protection and a pretty easy work life for someone like me with good benefits and plenty of income."
"You trained as a user I assume then?"
"I'm not perfect by any means but I have trained using viper venom before. I quit over five years ago. Fort Drake convinced me to put down the juice."
"By offering you what?" I asked as she calmly replied.
"The most advanced gear money can buy and an experimental user's course which has paid off it's weight tenfold since I finished it. I don't need venom to take advantage of the power it offers. Watch. It's like a light switch."
I watched from where I was as her eyes went from her cyan to a more darker red color. They looked a bit different from Zeta's or Pepper's. Her's were much much darker. Almost blood red as she almost instantly went back to cyan in under two seconds.
"How's that work?" I questioned as she calmly fixed her hair and replied.
"It's in my blood. Zandro developed a new strain of viper venom and found out he could get the same results by just merging it with the user's own blood production. It however has to go through the user's heart directly to work. That's what sucked when I got mine done. But like I said…..it was well worth it and thanks to it being a one time thing I never have the urge to go back to the shots or even the pills G.U.N uses. It's perfect for me."
"Wow." I muttered as she slightly huffed and urged me.
"That's nothing. You should see the gear we get. Off the chain."
Giving her a smile I then replied.
"I'd be curious to know but I probably already know too much."
Vetra seemed to understand my concern. However she asked me next.
"What's your outlook on the situation with my boss? You have to know we've been in your land for a while now. Well….I should just say I have. I've been in Iraq for a little over a month now. Just waiting till Zandro said to come back or he'd be coming down."
Standing up from my chair I replied while picking back up my M1911.
"I don't know yet. I have yet to really speak with him. I'm interested in what he has to say because he's already taken a risk conducting ops in my land without permission. It can't be for nothing."
"Zandro is a good man, Voltz. He has his reasons for taking risks, but I do not know what that means for the problem we got right now. Only he does and hopefully we can understand those reasons once he decides to get here."
Molly quickly got up once she saw me stand from before. She quickly barked at me but found herself back around where Vetra was. Vetra instantly flicked back on her happy switch as she got down to try and play with her as I thought about what to do next seeing as we still had a good amount of time to kill.
I sensed Zeta and Pepper on their way. They must have just got here. Looking back down at the wolf in front of me I asked her.
"You want to take a walk with me? I have to check on some things in medical."
Nodding her head as we again locked eyes she replied as Molly climbed back on her side.
"Sure. Not like we're in a rush yet. Lead the way."
Giving her another smile as I paced for the door, I waited till she was up and asked her seeing she had left her backpack on my desk.
"Are you trying to be late for the bus?"
In confusion she turned around and saw her bag. As I opened the door she laughed and went back to grab it.
Zeta's POV.
I widened my eyes as Raptor came out of his office just as Pepper and I had reached the stairs. For a second we stopped to look at him and strangely he stopped to look back in his office. He said something but I couldn't hear him right as we went to climb up. Just as we reached the halfway point, I felt my whole body stop in even more confusion as this wolf came walking out behind him. Pepper and I weren't wearing our normal gear so my reaction facially could be seen by everyone as she came out laughing to him.
"I'm glad you're paying attention! Thank you!"
Raptor nodded and shut the office door not a moment after she had stopped at the top of the stairs to look down at Pepper and I. For a moment she locked eyes with me and by then Raptor had begun his small trip down with her at his side. I was completely caught off guard and instantly pissed. Pepper couldn't tell me shit cause she had no idea who this girl even was. She wasn't wearing any uniform. She just looked like a normal person wearing clothes both Pepper and I have been known to wear when we're not working. However I was even more lost as Molly was on this chick's back licking her face. Unable to speak, I looked to Raptor as he said to her kindly.
"You mentioned protection earlier? These two are my protection. Zeta and Pepper." He explained to her as he pointed each of us out for her to see. She seemed happy enough as she nodded and replied.
"Nice to meet you guys. I'm Vetra."
She offered a hand as it was clear she was American by her voice. Pepper took it first but it took me a few seconds to extend outward as she attempted to shake my hand. As I did I asked Raptor who stood only a foot away.
"Who's this Raptor?"
Giving me this serious look he replied.
"She already introduced herself."
"Not what I meant smartass." I replied as he calmly sighed and urged me.
"Relax. She's on our side. I have business with her for the next few hours. Till then I'd like it if you two could stay here and keep my office secured. I'm expecting a few calls and I need you to be present if I'm not around to answer."
In confusion Pepper questioned.
"Business with her? What are you two up to?"
Shaking his head Raptor replied softly so not to upset us.
"It's a private matter. Till I know more I can't say much, but it's very important and I need to be focused on it rather than the capital. I have to go to medical for a few minutes however to talk with Marx. Do you guys mind?"
I was growling and staring right at the other wolf as she didn't seem to notice. Pepper however questioned.
"A private matter you can't discuss with the two most trusted people left in charge of making sure you don't get killed?"
Looking right at Pepper Raptor replied.
"It's nothing personal Pepper. Once I know more I'll fill you two in, but for now I'd like it if you both would accept my decision on this. We can talk about it later, but for now please. Do as I ask."
Pepper let out a sigh as I was still focused on the other girl. Why was Molly so into her? Why haven't I ever seen this girl before now? Why is another American all the way out here and what business does she have with Raptor that could be so important? She looked too clean but beyond all my concerns, Raptor nodded his head to our silence and reached out to grab my arm. I widened my eyes as he leaned in and planted my lips with a small kiss. Then he let me go and proceeded to head down the stairs urging the wolf who stayed behind to look at me some more.
"Let's get going Vetra."
"Right on your tail." She replied as she mumbled to me directly not more than a second after.
"Hmm."
I just growled at her as she made her way off after that. Pepper took my other arm and asked me.
"What the fuck is that about?"
"I don't know." I replied to her as we walked back up the stairs and to his office. Once inside Pepper questioned.
"Clearly she's not with the rebellion. You think she's G.U.N? She's American."
"No that wouldn't make sense. He would have said something if she was with Hecan. She wasn't wearing any uniform but she's clearly built for it. Not just some skinny bitch. And she's important enough to get one on one with Raptor? I don't know who she could be."
Pepper took a moment to sniff around and in moments she was near the trash can looking over some trash that was in it. I smelled meat too and in concern she said to me.
"Must have gone and got her food too. He doesn't really eat."
The girl inside me wanted to go fight that bitch for stepping on my terrority, but I knew that wasn't an option right now. Raptor had his reasons but first it was Hunter. Now I'm getting defensive about this. Didn't help that she was a wolf too and clearly young enough to be under thirty. I was counting on him to explain this all to me later. For now I'd calm down and try to accept that what just happened happened. I can't keep getting worked up over every girl that crosses my path. I had to get better. Pepper was somewhat caught off guard as I took a seat down in Raptor's chair to breathe. After a few seconds she asked me.
"You okay?"
I nodded and replied.
"He has his reasons. He'll talk about it later. I just need to rest my head. I'm getting too worked up."
"You're worked up after last night? My fucking head is still killing me. Not to mention…..?" I looked to my sister as she bent herself forward groaning.
"I can barely feel my legs….and my ass."
I just shot her a playful smile and lustful chuckle as she took it upon herself to sit down on top of the desk.
I had enough things to worry about. This time at least Pepper was right about something. I was still sore. Guess till he gets back I'll just rest some more.
mT Shadow.