Salient Secret

Chapter 20

Kai's pov

Lorenzo took a couple of hours to wake up. "Once again you save the day," he says smirking from the metal table trying to sit up.

"Woah," I forcefully guide him back down."You have to take it easy for the next 2 weeks," I tell him in a strict parental manner. 

"Yes Doctor Kai," he mocks.

"I'm serious bro, your stitches need time to heal. I'll make you go to a real hospital if these stitches rip open."

He studies my face for a few seconds and then says,"Okay, okay, I'll take it easy."

"Promise?" I say knowing our family may not be a normal one but we do take promises very seriously. 

"Promise," he sighs. 

"Where's dad?" he asks.

"Apparently he went after Torez for what he did to you." Panic takes over his face.

"Alone????No he can't do that, they will kill him," he says lifting his head up.

"He went with my uncle, don't worry man," TJ chips in, Lorenzo exhales and lays his head back down. TJ's uncle is one of the best fighters we know, he has beat the best of the best, He is undoubtedly the strongest person I know.

"If you're here then where's Sammy?" Lorenzo asks lifting an eyebrow at me.

"He's with Avery." He gives me a curious look. 

"Maya's best friend? You tapping that?" I hate it when he talks like that, it's so demeaning, I just ignore him, I refuse to entertain this kind of behaviour.

"Who's Avery?" TJ asks pulling me aside.

"She's..." I struggle to find the words to describe who is Avery, it's like trying to explain why your favourite movie is your favourite movie, everything about it is just perfect. 

"Whattttt, did a girl finally manage to seduce the untouchable Kai Grayson?" TJ says in utmost disbelief."She must be one hell of a girl." She really is. "I have to meet her." Is he mad?

"No," I say.

"Ah man, don't be like that, I'm your best friend, we go way back, if there's finally a concrete girl in your life I gotta meet her." He does make a point but she's in hospital. 

"Fine."

"YASSSSS," He celebrates by making some questionable gestures. 

"But. She is in hospital now, you can meet her after next week." It's only sinking in now, she'll be out, after next week, I'll get to take her out on a proper date... I can't help but smile at the thought of our first date. 

"Why is she in hospital?" 

"Why are you so nosey? Do you want to meet her or not?"

"Okay fine, after next week, I'm holding you to it," I nod and walk back to Lorenzo.

"Yo, you gonna be okay? I have to go get Sammy and take him back home."

"Yea, I'll just stick around until I know dad's okay."

"Aight man," we do our bro shake and I ask TJ to please watch Lorenzo and to make sure he gets home okay, after all, they do live in the same house. 

I walk out, get into my car, and speed to the hospital, it has been about 3 hours since I left Sammy with Avery, I hope she's doing fine with him, he should be asleep by now. 

When I get to the hospital, it's late, there's fewer people in here which makes it harder to sneak around. Surprisingly, I make it to Avery's room just fine, I walk in and see Avery holding Sammy, they're both asleep. I just stand there for a second taking in this adorable view, never wanting to forget it I pull out my phone and take a picture. Then I walk to her and and brush her cheek lightly and she wakes up with a fright, a part of me wants to burst out laughing  but I get the sense that she wouldn't appreciate that, at all. 

"Sorry I didn't mean to scare you."

"You're late." She gives me an unimpressed look. 

"Sorry, things took a bit longer than expected."

"You don't say." It's cute how grumpy she is when she's tired. 

"I'm just going to get him and go, I'll swing by tomorrow and make it up to you." Her eyes go all wide, like I just slapped her. "Is that okay?"

"Actually no, the nurses said they ummmm have to ummmm run some tests tomorrow, so you can make it up to me on Friday okay?" Hmmmmm, I'll play along with this lie, after all she did just do me a huge favor.

"Okay, Friday it is." 

I pick Sammy up carefully, he almost wakes up, but then he falls right back  to sleep when his head rests on my shoulder, I wink at Avery before I shut the door, and make my way to the staircase, it's a lot harder to be slick when you have a 9 year old attached to you. After making it through the lobby, I make my way to the car. When we get to the hotel, Manuel takes my car keys and I walk inside and put Sammy to bed.

I go to my room, undress until all I have on is boxers and a white vest, I make my way to bed, but a picture of our family catches my attention, all 5 of us, it was my 11th birthday, we looked so happy, my mom looks so happy...Why did she leave? 

I plan on asking her that myself, soon...