I thought I'll ask Killer to answer the question popping up in all your minds lately. 😉

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Nick went to make another drink for himself. Ren followed him.

It was just me and Killer left on the table.

"I have a question-" We both spoke at the same time and I swear I'm not lying, we laughed.

Yeah. We. Laughed.

"I have two infact but you go first." I said sweetly.

"No you ask first." He ordered. Ass.

"Erm.. Don't take it in an offensive way... I feel that you are being nice to me. Suddenly. Is it ominous? Like calm before the storm or something?" I said it out. I couldn't have slept tonight otherwise.

He laughed a little. "Can't bear me not being an asshole?" He used the exact words I wanted to use, but didn't.

I giggled shrugging my shoulders and he understood. God! next time, I'm having half of today's alcohol.

I thought he'll get angry but he didn't. And that is what was getting on my nerves. Why isn't he being the asshole he is!

He started. "I used to hate you, yes. May be I still do." Wow! That sounds really nice.

"But you've proved that you don't give a fuck about who thinks what about you. You are hard headed - just like me. You survived under an ass like me and proved yourself in front of the person that matters most to me. I've seen it in his eyes. He looks at you like his own daughter and since the fight, he has grown respect for you." He bent a little towards me and spoke even lower. "I was made to hear all shit that I'd never hear for anyone else, for you - regardless of my fractured and helpless and hatred stage - that too when I had hardly met you. Imagine now - if I continue to be the same, and my father comes to know about it.... You can imagine the rest, you are a smart woman I believe."

He hushed the explanation leaving me with an open mouth. What exactly was that? He's being nice to me just because he's scared of uncle? What shit?

"I don't buy it. You're lying." It was the drink raging my anger that I let no hesitation come my way. He was shocked this time.

"It's true." He defended himself. "It may be true. But it's not the answer to my question." I snapped back.

He looked at me again. "Jane?" "See? This! What happened to the taunt 'miss Jane Stuart'? Nobody will go and tell your father that you called me by just my first name and not my full name. It's okay if you don't want to answer. That's why I asked you this personally. But do not give me unrelated statements."

I was angry. Why did he think he's too smart? Why did I even ask him that?

"I respect you." He said and I continued cursing him in my mind.

Hitting the brakes I turned to him. "You what?"

He didn't look into my eyes. "I respect you for what you did to become what you are today. I've had a lot of trainers and instructors in my life who I respect. It comes from within. But you're the first woman I feel this for. I've been taught a lot of things in my life - but not even once I was taught how to express my feelings to the other gender. I went out with a few girls back in school - but none of them were serious enough to make me think about what my heart wanted. This one face I kept seeing.. I regret not knowing how to talk. I couldn't even ask her name, can you believe it?" He chuckled while I sat with my jaw on the floor and my eyebrows touching the roof.

Taking a brief break, he continued. "Similarly with you - if you were my instructor, I'd have expressed my respect by keeping your orders on first priority or in other ways that I've been taught. But you - you are not my instructor, opposite infact. How does a trainer show respect to his student? By making him a winner - I'm glad I did that. Also, by being nice. That's why I'm just being nice to you. But you can't take it." He scoffs.

And I continued to look at him bewildered. Here sat a man in front of me - years and years of training, features hot enough to make any girl fall for him - he said he doesn't know how to express his feelings to a woman.

"You are unbelievable! You know that?" "I've been called worse." He laughed again while I was losing my mind.

"Yes all that too! You made me loathe you! I wanted to see your skin shred in bits. And now? Now I respect you equally! How can you turn from that to this?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "If I knew how to use words and explain things, I'd not be having a few regrets right now."

Oh my. I wanted to hug him tight right now. He's a jackass but he's so pure!

"You still want her, right?" I asked in a very very low careful tone.

He continued looking down and smiled. "I may have a death wish, but yes. I want to see her again." He said and I didn't know how to react.

I sat there still comprehending his state. Ren is right. He's definitely fucked up.

"Okay. My turn." He said bringing me out of my trance.

"You said that you've never thought about joining forces. You lied, right?" He asked getting all serious.

"I really never considered it an option for myself. I've seen Dad and mum separating and I have been with him most of my life. Yes I'm used to this life, but as a daughter of an officer. Not as an officer myself. And everytime I imagined myself to be one, I felt burdened, like it will be too much for me. I can't handle so much struggle and so much sacrifice in my life - like my dad did. He let go of his wife and somehow I feel it's because of his job. I won't be able to give away so much. So did I ever think about joining? Yes I did. But did I ever consider that option seriously? No. Never. I'm sorry I lied but I wasn't in a state to explain all this at that moment."

"I can understand." He said politely and I felt relieved. Being at loss of words, he knows that feeling pretty much.

"My second question..." I start hesitatingly.

"You told me not to ask you this, but I couldn't -" "I'm not going to tell you how Colonel Stuart almost killed me second time. So suck it back up."

He didn't even look at me to guess what I was thinking. "How... But.." I didn't know what to say. He guessed it right and he won't answer it. So what am I supposed to do now?

"Did anyone look at you, too?" He asked and I was taken aback. "Excuse me?"

"My boys. Did any of my boys look at you inappropriately? Or passed any comment or made you feel uncomfortable?" There was a pinch of concern and pinch of anger in those words.

"No. Not even once. Infact Ethan and his group gives me company. He's like that responsible guy everyone needs." I started praising him hoping that helps him get off Killer's bad hook.

"Yes. That boy is good." Killer said this and I wanted to run to Eth and tell him - He praised you! I smiled at myself already imagining his 'I don't believe it' reaction.

"Hey ladies..." Nick came back getting shots for all of us.

"Speak for yourself." And Killer was back to being him.

Nick scrunched his nose and turned towards me. Ass He mouthed silently and I laughed.

"I heard that." Killer said from behind him and I doubled up laughing.

"Good. You've got good ears. Now test your taste buds." Flynn entered saving me from going into unending laughter just in time.

He had four shots on his tray. I turned to Nick with a puppy face.

"Dear bestie, I'm already on cloud 9. You don't want your boys knowing about my presence when I puke loudly, right?" "You won't. I know. And why not try for cloud 11 while you're still with us?" He winked and handed over the shot glass to me.

I looked at that thing and then looked at Killer. Help. I requested him silently fully using the recent info I got.

"Nick are you sure? What if she really vomits?" Killer asked him seriously and I couldn't believe my ears. He really did that?

"She'll be fine. Anyways I won't waste it. If you want, you can take it on her behalf." Nick said casually handing over the second to him and third one to Ren.

"I'll take it." I said and Nick turned back to me. "That's my girl!"

He picked up the last and we cheered 'To friendship!'

I gulped it down and before I could understand what to do, Ren handed over a piece of lemon to me. I squeezed it and coated my tongue.

Shaking my head violently I say "You will take it on my behalf next time, Nick. This thing burns!"

Nick laughed and lifted me up by one arm. I almost fell on him. I was more stable mentally than physically. I was able to understand what was going on but it was difficult for me to walk straight.

"Nick she's not in the right state. Don't bring her along. Let her go and sleep." Killer said and Nick looked down at me.

In a sweet tone he asked "You wanna go back to your room?"

I nodded a no. I just got them. I just felt what it feels to have three good friends around. I just came to know what company means. I can't let it go just yet.

"I'll not trouble you. Don't leave me please." I said using my baby voice and Ren came running to me. She hugged me tight with a loud 'aww'. Killer looked at her disgustingly.

Nick looked at him and then back at me. "I think I'll take you. Let's go for the massacre!" That's two out of three votes.

"Comeon!" Killer resisted. He looked at the three of us ready to go. He sighed loudly and stepped aside. That's three!

Nick helped me walk with Ren on the other side and Killer behind. "Don't worry. I'll be there soon to watch her." I heard Flynn saying to Killer.

"Thanks a lot Flynn. She'll really be the death of me!" Killer said and laughed at his own words.

And the four of us proceeded for 'The Mercy Lawn' happening!

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So this brings us to the end of their oh-so-interesting bar sessions.

And Killer was being nice to Jane out of respect? This man is crazy!

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