alive

twenty

Kai

"You just keep throwing surprises at me," I say, holding onto the little girl's hand. "I haven't seen her for a few days, and it's better that I give Lia a break from taking care of her since M- her dad is always away from home and her mom is on a business trip right now, I can't leave a sixteen year old in charge of a toddler for more than one day," He explains. I was glad that my dad fell for the bullshit that I didn't see them, I'm sure he didn't, but I'm also sure he realized pointing a gun at his daughter wasn't the right thing to do. Not like he cared. If Alec wasn't there to talk some sense into him, he probably would have done something bad.

"Nova Eric Gregory, you're the cutest thing I've ever seen," I say softly at the almond skinned girl. She giggles. "Your wife must have been beautiful. I don't think she got these looks from you," I joked. Alec was actually a pretty handsome man, he's slim, but toned and he's got a nice smile, she got his light brown eyes. "She was," he smiles softly when his daughter runs up to him. "I can't promise your girlfriend's safety if she continues to run away from us," Matthew interrupts yet another okay moment.

"You kidnapped her, what else do you expect?" I retort, shooting up from my spot. "If I find her, she can get back to her life and you'll come with me!" He yells. "Maybe that's what she's preventing," Alec butts in, setting his daughter back on the ground. "Kate loves Kai, Matthew. She knows what it means when Kai comes back, if she was in the cabin, she would have heard when Kai said Jaesuk could join her. She knows she's going to lose Kai when you find her," Alec continued. "Teenage girls are so complicated," My dad groans.

Everything he did bugged me. "It's not teenage girls, Matthew, it's love. It's wrong that you're doing this," Alec grumbled, picking up a bag. If I didn't know better, I would think that Alec was defending me. "Excuse me?" Matthew says, glaring at the younger man. "You're excused," Alec glares back. It felt like there was something Alec and Matthew knew that I didn't know, but I didn't really feel like being in the know right now. "You know what," I look down at Nova. "I think Nova and I could use a little walk. Is that alright, Alec?" I ask. "I'll join you."

We walked out of my cabin and Nova held onto Alec's finger tightly. Once we got out of the long ass driveway, Alec sighed. "I know Kate and Vivian are at Jasmine's shop," Alec says, continuing to walk. I felt my heartbeat speed up at the thought of him taking Kate back. "I'm not going to tell Matthew, but Kai, you know he's going to find out some way or another," He says, allowing me to let out a relieved sigh. "You're not going to hurt them?" I ask, glancing down at his oblivious daughter. He looked at me like I was insane for thinking that. "Of course not, they're just kids, I'd never dream of doing anything like that."

"Then help us, Alec. They shouldn't be put through all this stress. Hell, Kate is a straight A student, she's stressed about graduating. Arden and I have already been held back once, we need to finish school," I beg, stopping us from walking. "I can't, Kai, Matthew is a loose cannon, if I ruin his plans, I don't doubt that he'd hurt me, or worse," He looks down at Nova. "All I can do is stall, they need to stay with Lia, that's the last place he would look for them," He says. "Why would it be the last place?"

"I-it doesn't matter, we'll go to Jasmine's shop and talk it through with Lia. I told her they were there, so she should be there now," He explains. "But what about her parents, her dad? I know her mom is on a business trip, but her dad is unpredictable. And I've never met him, what if he's a creep?" I ask, ignoring Nova's mumbling. "He's- I'll figure it out, let's just go," Alec sighs. For all I know, this could be a trap, but for some reason, I feel like I can trust him, at least more than my dad. "Horsey!" Nova shouts, pointing at a white horse behind the fence. Alec let out a chuckle, it was the first time he'd laughed in front of me. "Yes, sweetie, horsey," He pats Nova's head.