The Secrets We Keep

The Thirty-Seventh Chapter

Hayden

I groan and turn over in my bed when the knocking wakes me up. It's insistent and I know if I don't open the door, it will be never-ending. 

"Ok, ok, I'm up," I shout as I shove my covers off. I stomp to the door and open it before my father can break it down with his fat fists. 

"Morning, sunshine," he says and hands me, to my surprise, my phone. I blink and my annoyance dissipates as I grab hold of its shiny surface. "Get dressed, I'm taking you to the dojo."

"What?" I complain to his back as he walks away without a response. "Dad, I'm tired!" I whine but he just ignores me. 

-

The three of us arrive at the dojo. It's quiet this morning and the only other car in the lot is the owner's. 

"Why do we have to do this?" Damien complains as we get out of the car. The sun is too bright and I have to shield my eyes as it reflects on the metal of the vehicles. 

"Because I said so and it's been a while since we hung out just the three of us," our dad answers. Damien and I share a look, knowing he has an ulterior motive here. 

"Then take us out for breakfast pizza. Don't torture us," I whine. I think I've got a maximum of three hours of sleep. And honestly, I just want to nap the day away until it's night again. 

My mind keeps going back to Nathan's parting words. Did he mean he was going to show up again tonight like last night? Or did he mean something else when he said 'See you tomorrow'?

"Come on, warm up, and get ready to spar," he says as he holds open the door for us to enter, and the little bell chimes.

We've been here long enough that we're allowed to come and train when we want. Both Damien and my dad have black belts so I'm the only one who still trains with my sensei, who I've been bunking on lately. But hey, I've got the best excuse for that in the world. 

I groan again as I toe off my shoes. I'm already dressed for sparring and Damien looks equally unenthusiastic to do this. 

"I'll tell you what," Dad continues. "Whichever one of you beats the other best out of three, chooses breakfast."

We start circling the mat and do the bare minimum of stretches before meeting each other in the middle. 

"He's just trying to punish us, I swear," Damien says after we've bowed to each other. He's the first to strike and I quickly block it before landing a weak kick on his body. 

"What even is that?" My dad demands from where he's taking up a spot by the mirror. He claps his hands together and says, "Come on. Pick it up."

I notice the door to the office open and the owner, Charles Adachi comes to watch. He takes off his reading glasses and looks more than a little amused as Damien strikes out again at me. I don't block it this time and I feel air whoosh out of my lungs as I'm forced back a step or two. 

This time, I come at Damien with a little more force. "Why's he punishing us?" I ask and barely dodge his next swing. 

"Because we're now suspects in Amelia's case," Damien says through clenched teeth as I get him in the shin. 

My mind goes haywire as I wonder how he got to that conclusion. We're in trouble but somehow I doubt Reyes thinks either of us hurt Amelia. Yesterday was just for questioning. Unless...

"What did she ask you?" I ask, knowing he'll know who I'm referring to, as I start backing away to the edge of the mat. 

Charles yells something unintelligible but I know he wants us to head back to the center.