THE OFFER

“Get them… alive,” the masked man ordered.

The men lowered their guns and then began walking toward them.

Rafe locked eyes with Derek.

“Please help me,” Derek whispered.

Rafe stepped in front of Derek, his jaw tightening as he faced them.

They rushed him, trying to get past to Derek but Rafe moved fast. His punches landed clean, his kicks sharp and deliberate.

He fought until only one man remained, a single kick sent him crashing to the ground. Their leader was the last one standing, he clapped slowly, amused. 

“A skillful fighter!” he praised with a grin, then motioned his gun at him. 

“So what?” Rafe asked, his expression hardening as the weapon was aimed at him.

“Move an inch and I’ll blast your head off,” he warned as Rafe stood still.

“Who are you? And what do you want?” Derek demanded, his voice shaking. Behind him, Rafe discreetly shoved his gun into the waistband at his back.

“You'll find out when we get there,” the masked man answered, pulling out his walkie-talkie.

“Target secured… off to Canval Nile,” he said.

He gestured for Derek and Rafe to move as he led them to a waiting van. One of his masked men approached with handcuffs and cuffed Derek’s right hand to Rafe’s left hand, then shoved them onto the seat at the back of the van. Five masked men sat opposite them.

The van started driving.

“Can you shoot a gun?” Rafe whispered lowly into Derek’s ear.

Derek nodded, his hands trembling.

“Good,” he whispered.

The men began watching them more closely.

Rafe gently took the gun from his back with his right hand, keeping it hidden behind them, then handed it to Derek.

“Now!” Rafe yelled as he lunged at the masked men unannounced, throwing punches. Derek, still shaking with fear, tried and fired the first shot, alerting the driver and their leader in the front seat.

Rafe lifted Derek, using his legs to strike, sending kicks into the remaining men.

“Now!” he shouted again, as Derek fired another shot, and another.

Rafe delivered one hard, deadly kick, sending a man crashing to the ground. The last one rushed at Rafe, landing a series of punches and yanking at Derek. Derek tried to shoot but missed, then tried again, only to realize there were no bullets left.

He scanned around frantically, and reached for one of the fallen men, but none of them had weapons on them.

There, Rafe struck him with a punch, followed by a kick, another punch, and finally a crushing blow to his jaw with his elbow.

Just then, the van screeched to a stop as the leader jumped out and yanked open the back door, staring at his fallen men with Rafe and Derek standing.

He aimed his gun at Rafe.

“It’s better to kill you and save my men,” he spat.

Rafe arched his brow and tilted his head toward Derek, who understood immediately and stepped behind him as Rafe hoisted one of the bodies.

The leader began shooting, but every bullet hit the body until he ran out of ammunition and rushed back to the front seat.

Quickly, Rafe and Derek jumped out. It was a vast forest. They ran into it as the as shots rang out behind them, but it was already too late.

They ran deeper into the forest until exhaustion caught up with them, and Derek collapsed to the ground as Rafe joined him.

“I don’t think he’s still coming after us,” Derek said, gasping for air.

“You’re right,” Rafe answered.

Derek stared into Rafe’s eyes.

“Thank you so much for saving my life,” he said sincerely.

“It’s fine. You’re the reason I was given another chance,” Rafe replied as he lay flat on the ground, staring at the darkening sky.

“Remember I once told you I had an offer for you?” Derek reminded him as he lay beside him.

Rafe nodded.

“Be my bodyguard,” Derek finally said.

Rafe sat up, abruptly startled. He stood to his feet pulling Derek up with him, and began walking.

“Wait! Wait, you haven’t given me a response,” Derek said, walking beside him.

“I have nothing to say,” Rafe said, meeting his gaze. “See, I’m grateful you helped me get my job back. I want you to know this is my way of thanking you, but I can’t accept that,” Rafe said, nodding as he tapped Derek’s shoulder softly.

Hearing this, Derek froze, stunned.

Rafe continued walking, making him walk along. As they moved, Rafe spotted a small knife on the ground. Rafe picked it up and worked it into the cuffs until they snapped open.

“I think you need to head home, somewhere safe and secure,” Rafe said.

“No, I have to come with you,” Derek insisted.

“Come with me? Where?” Rafe asked, confused.

“Those guys are still after my life and won’t stop until I’m dead,” Derek tried to explain.

“You’re safe now. I suggest you go home and probably leave the country for your safety. But for me… I can’t be your bodyguard,” Rafe said.

“So you want to watch me die?” Derek asked, his voice laced with fear.

“…I can take you home safely,” Rafe offered, suddenly changing his mind out of guilt.

“I don’t need you to take me home… I don't need that…”. Derek said urgently. “I need you”. 

Rafe stared at Derek’s sober face, his lips curling into a faint smile. For a moment, Derek thought he had accepted, but Rafe shattered his hope.

“I can’t be a bodyguard and I never will,” he blurted.

 “Let’s get you home,” he added, gesturing for Derek to move.