The Truth

twenty eight

Niall

As Kate steered the car through the back roads, I grew more and more nervous. I still didn't know what I would say to Alexia to change her mind. After a long drive, we arrived at a farm, and Kate pulled the car down the long driveway. As we neared the small house, I noticed how many cars were parked out front. Loud music and laughter echoed in my ears when we stepped out of the car.

"Just follow my lead," Kate sighed.

I walked behind her as she started for the back of the house. Everyone was gathered either around the fire or the beer keg that was sat upon a tree stump. People looked surprised to see Kate, and they pretty much ignored me. Kate walked up to people she recognized and asked where Alexia was.

"Last time I saw her, she was with Dean. They went inside about half an hour ago," one girl replied.

Kate nervously led us into the house, and it was mostly empty. Laughter came from the back of the house, and I took off without noticing if Kate was following me. I immediately began pounding on the bedroom door.

"Alexia!" I shouted.

When no one answered, Kate grew impatient. She took a pin from her hair and started picking the lock. When the door flew open, I could not help but panic.

There she was, laying on top of him. I could smell the alcohol and burning candle in the room. Then I noticed the needle on the nightstand.

"What the fuck?" Dean shouted.

"Kate, what the hell?" Alexia yelled. Kate immediately went forward and grabbed her sister's clothes from the ground.

"Let's go," Kate demanded as she grabbed Alexia's arm.

"Let me go!" Alexia yelled as Kate dragged her from the room.

"I take it you're the famous ex she came here to get away from," Dean scoffed as he stood from the bed. "You see, I happen to like her a lot. And I'm not just gonna sit back and tolerate you coming into my house like this."

"I don't care what the two of you have going on. I'm here to talk to Alexia about our child," I replied.

"What?" he scoffed. He walked past me and towards Alexia. "You had a kid with him?" He clicked his tongue against his teeth, took a deep breath. And in a flash, he had swiped his hand across Alexia's cheek.

Without a second thought, Kate reared her fist back and hit him directly in his jaw. "Get her out of here!" she demanded. As Dean lay on the ground, she kicked him in his stomach. Before Alexia and I left the room, Kate grabbed his hair and lifted his head so she could look at him.

"If you ever come near my sister again, I will fucking kill you," she said in a quiet tone. "Not call the cops. I will fucking shoot you, and I will make you suffer. You understand?"

Kate helped me get Alexia down the hallway, and Alexia did not make things easy. She seemed determined to go back and help Dean. After a fair amount of shouting and crying, we managed to Alexia back into the car.

"What the hell is going on?" Alexia demanded once we got back on the road. "Niall, what are you doing here? How did you find me?"

"I called him," Kate replied.

"You did what?" Alexia scoffed. "You knew I didn't want to see him. How did you even know how to contact him?"

"You left your phone," Kate replied.

"Just take me back to Dean's," Alexia sighed. "You really hurt him."

"I hurt him?" Kate yelled. "He fucking hit you! All those years ago, and then again tonight! What makes you think he won't again?"

"It was my fault. I should have told him about Riley," Alexia sighed. "You have no right coming here, Niall."

"I can't let you take my son from me," I replied. "I will give up everything for him. My career, everything. Not for me, not for you. But for Riley I would in a moment, and I would never regret that choice."

"I don't believe you," she sighed.

"Look," I sighed. "You're not thinking clearly right now. I know you shot up something, and you've probably been drinking. I'm not going to talk to you when you're like this."

"Fuck you," she scoffed.

"Hey!" Kate shouted as she pulled the car over. "Listen up, Alexia. You are a mother, and it's time you learned what that's about. From the moment your baby is born, you become secondary. You don't use drugs. You don't let your drama with the father interfere, unless he is a danger to your child. And from what I've seen today, there's only one person in this car who is a danger to your son."

"I hate you," Alexia mumbled as she cried.

"Tough love sweetheart," Kate said she started driving again.

The rest of the car ride was silent. The half-hour ride gave Alexia enough time to start coming down from whatever she was on. She was unable to walk, so I carried her in.

"Follow me," Kate sighed. "We need to get in the tub. I'll clean her up."

"No," I replied. "Let me."

"Door at the end of the hall," she sighed tiredly. "Niall?"

"Yes?" I replied, exhaustedly.

"I meant what I said to her. About being a danger," she said. "If you have to go to court, I'll testify on your behalf."

"You'd go against your own sister?" I asked.

"Whatever is best for my nephew," she sighed. "Let me know if you guys need anything. I'm gonna make her something to eat."