Bounty Hunter [REWRITTEN VERSION]

Chapter 9: Safe House

ALEC

TOLUCA DE LERDO, MEXICO

"So, Romeo, how was the flight?"

Kishan nudged him in the side as they exited the Toluca airport, looking like he was trying not to burst out laughing at the detective's expense—and he doing a good job of hiding it.

Alec groaned. "Don't remind me about that ever again."

"What, not into rich-looking blondes?"

"Not particularly, no. And after seven hours of that, I think I'm done for life."

"So what is your type? You like the dangerous ones? The ones with a sharp bite and a nasty temper?"

"Don't even start—"

"Oops, did I hit a nerve? Sorry," he replied cheekily, silently laughing as he flashed a glance around and finally seemed to notice something. "Uh, West? Where's the bounty hunter?"

"I left miss petty manipulator back at the checkpoint," he shrugged and kept walking.

"But...don't we need her?" Kishan raised an eyebrow. "And more importantly...won't she be super pissed?"

Alec rolled his eyes. "Nah. She'll catch up. Eventual—"

"HEY YOU ASSHOLE!"

"—ly."

Well, that was quicker than I thought.

Maize was storming up to them, bag slung over her shoulder, and she did not look happy as she zeroed her eyes on him. "What the hell, West?" she hissed as she came to an abrupt stop in front of him, her hands on her hips as she leaned in threateningly close to glare in his face. "Did you even notice that you left me behind or are you just that freaking oblivious?"

"Oh I noticed, just didn't care."

She looked about ready to lunge for his throat, but Kishan put a hand on her shoulder with the hesitation as if touching her would burn his skin as he smiled nervously, subtly edging his way between the two—who were having a murderous stare down.

"Revenge is a sweet thing isn't it?" he smirked at her, throwing back her words on the plane.

"It will be once I—"

"Listen!" Kishan cut in. "As much as I hate to break up this little couple's squabble, I really think we should be getting out of this place already, yeah? What do you say? Can you wait to kill each other until we're out of public?" he asked, looking between the two as if hoping they would be reasonable.

The two continued to hold their staredown until Alec gave in a sighed. "Fine, let's get going then," he muttered as he picked up walking ahead of them.

"Yeah, because I'm pretty eager to kill him."

As the two shot each other yet another distasteful glare, Kishan looked between them and let out a groan with a reluctant slump of his shoulders. "Boy, this is going to be a long ride..."

The ride took less than half an hour. Following the GPS coordinates on his phone, the detective made the next right in the driver's seat of their grey rental car and began the drive down the city roads, which were lit and bright in the mid-day. Twenty minutes later, and they reached an older modelled bungalow at the edge of the town. It was barely noticeable at first glance, due to the cover of green trees and bushes in the front—one of the only known safehouses in Toluca.