Collapse: Book Two (bxb) ✔️

24. I smile when I see you.

Salem Luna

"You're not mad?"

Papa yawned as he leaned back in his chair. "No. I was pissed off because he had some audacity, but when we heard you two, I realized who he was for one. And exactly who he was to you, for two. And I realized he was just protecting you. From that fucking rat, of all people. I will end his life."

My shoulders fell in relief. "Thank god, but he didn't touch me. Just so you know. I fell. Listen, uh, Dad?"

Dad raised his brows. "What's up, kiddo?"

"Please don't ask any follow up questions." I told both of them. "I'm serious. No follow up questions. Nothing. I need a favor, and I need you to trust me with everything you have."

They both nodded.

"Get me a meeting with Kayax immediately. I need to speak with him. Work around Davis if you can, but don't worry, I won't be going alone, and I just... can you please do it?"

Dad gave me a once-over as did my Papa before Dad nodded. "Okay."

Maybe they had the same idea in their head, or maybe it was them blindly trusting me. But they agreed. I needed to speak with Kayax after what I saw. There was no way for him to figure out who I was to August or my Dad, so I planned to tell him only after I made sure he was okay.

There was something so incredibly fucking off. You know, aside for the goddamn abuse. I heard the disconnected way Kayax spoke to his father. And I also heard the begging for Davis to stop. He was defusing as if he'd done it before. Quite a few times.

Nothing about that sat right with me.

And I couldn't ignore it if I had a chance to see him.

I'll also never forget the spark of life in his eyes when I asked about his makeup. It wasn't even for the makeup, but it was for his Mom. He smiled genuinely at the thought of her, so something also told me—deep in my gut—Kayax didn't grow up with his father.

I knew there was no evidence of that, but it was the smile. No resentment. Nothing. It was as if Kayax saw his Mom as his hero. And while Kayax was a touch older than me, I still saw the child in his eyes when he was on the floor.

Wondering why his Dad didn't love him.

Raven recentered the room, and I patted the wooden chair next to me. "Rave, hey, sit next to me."

He snorted a quiet laugh as if to say, "Where else did you think I was going to sit?" before he sat down in the chair across from my Dad.

We had a bit of a rough start this morning, but I really wanted my parents to meet Raven and vice versa. And my parents haven't really commented on Raven, but I knew damn well they trusted me.

And I trusted Raven.

Papa was the first to speak. "Now that I know who you are, I appreciate you greatly."

Raven blinked in surprise. "Huh?"

"Well, you know who Davis is, so no need to go there. But you were protecting my baby—"

I groaned. "Papa, enough."

"Hush your mouth. As I was saying, you were protecting Salem." He drummed his fingers along the table with a smirk. "So, you're the infamous Raven Fox. I've heard a thing or two about you. How long has this been a thing?"

I opened my mouth to respond, but Raven beat me to it. "Depends on how you look at it. Two weeks in terms of a relationship, but much longer than that in other terms."