Irregular (mlm)

Chapter 24

Kai went through two more rounds of questioning before Paxton finally told him he was done. They had gotten every single possible detail out of him concerning his life with his father, what his father was doing, and who he knew for sure he had killed. They wanted to get Alice down there, but Kai had demanded they keep her out of it until he was arrested. He couldn't risk her getting caught up in everything. He hadn't even had a chance to call her to tell her what was happening.

Paxton left him in the interview room, this time with the door open. It only took a few seconds for Owen to appear in the doorway.

Kai's shoulders sagged when he surged forward, embracing him in a tight hug. He didn't even have the energy to lift his arms, so they rested around his hips loosely. Owen pulled back and clasped his hands around Kai's face. "Are you okay?"

That was Kai's final straw. Every emotion he'd been holding in through the long day of interviews came flooding out and he found himself sobbing just to his mates shoulder. Owen held him tightly and whispered comforts into his ear, every so often kissing the top of his head and stroking his hair.

Kai couldn't remember the last time he had cried, really cried, like this. It had been years. Probably since his sister left.

Owen held him until he had no more tears left, and his breathing went from heaving gasps to calm again. He kissed his temple and rubbed his back. "Feeling any better?"

Kai sniffled and wiped his face the best he could with his hands. "I have a headache now."

Owen frowned. "I can get you some water and medicine."

"It's okay." Kai pulled him closer and rested his forehead on his shoulder again. "Just stay with me."

"Always."

Kai wanted to sleep. He was exhausted. Crying had only made that worse and his head was pounding from the pressure it built up in his head.

There was a knock on the door and they both looked up to find Amy standing there, holding a tray of food. "I think you both need to eat."

She set the tray on the table and unloaded his contents, all steaming warm and ready to eat. Kai didn't want to eat, he was too upset, but Owen coaxed him into getting a few bites on his stomach.

Amy stayed with them, offering water and tissues when she saw Kai's red rimmed eyes and blotchy face. Kai was thankful for her. He hadn't realized it before but her nurturing nature reminded him of his mom.

He swallowed down the tinge of sadness that came with that thought. "Does Paxton have a plan yet?"

Amy shook her head. "He's working with the others to create one based on the map you and Park made, but... I just don't think we have the man power to get that girl out safely."

Kai looked at Owen, who was pursing his lips. He was an officer. These were his friends planning to go into the warehouse severely unprepared. "Amy, can Owen and I have a minute alone?"

She nodded and left, closing the door behind her. Owen turned to him. "Whats wrong?"

"We're never going to be able to arrest my father."

"Don't say that. We can make a plan, the people here are trained for this-"

"Not against someone like him." Kai sighed heavily and rubbed his face. "He doesn't blink at killing. If all of the officers die, then what? Who will be here to protect this community?"

Owen opened his mouth to respond, but he had nothing. Kai knew he had no response to that. He fell back against the back of the couch and stared up at the ceiling. "What can we do? We have no other plan."

Kai glanced at the one way glass. "Can they hear us?"

Owen shook his head. "See the light by the camera over in the corner? When it's red the mic is off."

Kai looked at the corner of the room, where the walls met the ceiling. There was a big lightbulb with a metal cage around it directly below the camera, glowing red.

"I'm going to give myself to my father."

Owen shot straight up, staring wide eyed at him. "No the fuck you aren't."

"It's the only way."

"No!" Owen stood, throwing his hands up in the air, pacing. "You just got out of there. You've gained a life here." He turned to face him, eyes hurt. "You have me now."

Kai tried to ignore the punch to the gut those words were. "There's a little girl suffering while I'm out here. I can save her."

"By sacrificing yourself?" Owen shook his head again. "By leaving the pack that has taken you in? By leaving me?"

Kai held out his hand. "Please come here."

Owen hesitated, but after a moment he took Kai's hand and sat beside him again. "I don't want to leave you. These last few weeks have been the best of my life. I've felt more at home with you than I have my whole life." He gently turned Owen's face with his hand, making him look at him. "But there's a child that is suffering, who I can save. I know what is happening to her. I went through it. My father is offering me a chance to save her in exchange for myself."

"But what about me?" It was little more than a whisper, but the tone of his voice broke Kai's heart into a million pieces.

Kai pulled him into a hug, breathing in his scent. "I'm so happy for the time I had with you. But this is something that is beyond the both of us. A child's life is at stake." Owen shuddered a sob and Kai squeezed him tighter. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

Owen just held him tighter, like he was afraid he would leave right that minute. "Can you at least wait until you hear Paxton's plan?"

"He only has until tomorrow night to make one. I don't think it'll be good enough by then."

Owen pulled pack, tears streaming down his face. "Please." His voice broke. "Just wait until we hear the plan to decide. Please."

Kai didn't have the resolve to refuse his pleading mate. Not when his blue eyes were shimmering with tears and his face was desperate. "Okay. Okay, I'll wait."

Owen hugged him again, and Kai felt guilt pooling in his chest. For him, for the sake of his mate, he hoped to whatever god existed that Paxton had a plan that would work.