Vegas & Pete - The reason why I love you

I - 16 The rookie

Vegas

When I got home, I threw my gym bag on the floor and went to sit on the sofa. Pete arrived a moment later and sat down next to me. He was going for the first aid kit and pulled out some alcohol and a cotton swab.

- Look at me, he said. 

And he began to disinfect the wound that I had on the arch. I hadn't even felt that I was bleeding and, looking at him, I noticed that his face bore the marks of my blows and that he had a little blood in the corner of his mouth.

I blamed myself for the fight. At first it wasn't my intention, but when we started training, his cheerful look pissed me off. He came back to me without any explanation and he seemed so pleased with himself !

In a second I felt my anger growing inside. I wanted to hurt him, I knew it, to take that smile off his face. I knew yet that Pete was very shy and that he was just waiting for the right moment to talk.

He was very close to me, cleaning the wound. He was so close that I was troubled. The atmosphere changed but he brought me back to reality by pushing the cotton harder into my wound, tearing me a - Ouch! - of pain. He finished by applying a dressing and then got up to put away the kit.

I held him by the hand.

- Pete, we need to talk. I shouldn't have lost my temper, but if you don't say anything, it's only going to make things worse.

He sighed and sat down.

- I didn't intend to hide anything from you but I didn't know how to explain it without you getting angry. We can say I succeed ! Now that we've both calmed down let me talk and don't interrupt me.

- OK. I said

- Do you remember the hospital incident...

And he told me everything. His research with Pol, the visit to the black vests and all that came after. When he finished, he said :

- I know it's difficult to accept but you don't have to be involved. I do it for Chan but also because he's still a kid and he lost his parents like me. I want to give him a chance to redeem himself and get a better start in life.

- Pete, the saint patron of lost and desperate causes ! Are you sure it's the right thing to do ?

- The most important thing for me it's you. I don't want him to harm you. If I fail then we will solve the problem together. You trust me ?

- All right Pete, I trust you. If you saved me you can save anyone. But I have a request and you must accept it.

- Yes what is it ?

- You train him if you want until he's hired by the main family, but you never bring him here.

- OK

- And you never stay alone with him.

- OK

- And you don't neglect me for this mission.

- okay, okay, okay! he said smiling at me. I reached out with my little finger to catch his for a "pinky swear" and then pulled him to hug him.

- Now give the kit, you're hurt my love.

Pete

Pol picked me up in his car and we gone to free New.

- So how do we proceed? he asked me

- I promised Vegas not to be alone with him, so you and Arm will have to help me with his training. We are going to do an accelerated training; combat sports, weapons handling, survival techniques... I'm going to ask you to give all your spare time to it.

For my part, I will go and speak to Master Korn to explain the situation and ask him for this favor.

- Ouch! Your husband is so jealous ! But I'm sure you have all the arguments you need to convince him, right? He said giving me a wink.

- Shut up ! I say, giving him a punch in the shoulder. As I can't take him home, I'm going to find him a place to stay and I'll give him some money, but he's going to have to be watched closely so that he doesn't fall back into drugs.

- You can count on us, buddy.

We came into the house. New was watching a movie on the computer I had left for him.

- How are you ?

- Much better thank you, I took my medicine and I ate. But I'm tired of lazing around on this bed.

I untied him and handed him some clean clothes.

- Go wash and get dressed, we're leaving in 15 minutes.

New

We were driving towards the main house. I longed to see the place and the people Chan had worked with. When he died I only got a quick, cold call from someone I didn't know.

- Khun Chan told me to let you know if anything happened to him. I'm sorry to tell you that he died in a shootout with the minor family. I think he made arrangements for you. All my condolences.

I was staggered, the phone in my hand, overwhelmed by pain. A few days later my decision was made. I started hanging out in the slums to find out more about the minor family, which led me to Vegas.

Vegas! I had to give up killing him to keep my promise to Pete but I wondered about the nature of their relationship. Were they friends, lovers? No, I couldn't imagine that a lovely guy like Pete could like such a bad guy. He stayed close to me when I was sick, he looked after me, fed me. He offered me the life I had always dreamed of having with Chan, and even if he was dead I wanted to make him proud.

We arrived in front of the house and I was impressed to see how sumptuous it was. Guards were posted outside the entrance. They greeted Pete and Pol and let us in. I advanced full of fear and hope towards my new life.