Salient Secret 2

18

Vada

Okay so there's one tiny detail I kind of left out about my new life...I occasionally hook up with Cassian. It's no big deal really, no one knows, it started a few months ago but it's nothing serious, it's not like we'd date each other. It's a friends with benefits kinda relationship. 

"What was so important you had to leave right away for?" Cassian asks while putting clothes on. 

"Palmer called, there was a medical emergency," I answer, leaving out details purposely. 

"What happened?" why can't he just be happy with my vague answer and move on. 

"If you must know, her brother was unconscious and they didn't know why," I say. Saying Kai's name will just upset Cassian more, but he sees right through my response and sighs knowing exactly who I'm talking about. 

"I'll see you later," he says now that he is fully dressed, he slips his ring on and teleports out of my room. I could have handled that a lot better. 

I still can't believe Lorenzo invited me to Sammy's birthday party. Is he insane? That place will be crawling with Salutis members, I can't risk it. Hopefully he understood my silent smile as a 'thanks-for-the-invite-but-no' response. If not he will find out tomorrow when I don't show up. 

Kai

"What is wrong with you?" I ask Enzo. 

"What?" he asks like he did nothing wrong. 

"You invited that lying bitch to my little brothers birthday party!" I yell. 

"That lying bitch saved your life! TWICE!" he yells back. 

"After putting it in danger! TWICE!" 

"ENOUGH!" Palmer says slamming both of us against the wall. "Now I have no idea why you thought it would be a good idea to try and drink yourself to death the day before Sammy's birthday, but Avery had nothing to do with that. You have no idea why she did what she did, she could have a damn good reason," she says looking at me. "Enzo, inviting Avery to Sammy's birthday was thee dumbest thing you've done all year, and that's saying a lot because you always do dumb things. But it's okay, I can bet my life that she won't show up. She is not that stupid, she is trying to stay hidden from Salutis, this is the last place she will come. Now stop acting like children, I refuse to let you two ruin Sammy's birthday tomorrow with your bickering," she scolds, she takes our silence as a sign of surrender on our behalf and puts us down.

"What did I miss?" Savannah says walking in with her ipad in her hands and noticing the odd silence. "Actually, nevermind. Kai, my mom is on the phone, she wants to speak with you." Palmer and Enzo take the hint and leave the room, Savannah sets the ipad down on my desk and does the same. 

"Madam Hayes, what can I do for you?"

"Kai, I know this will be hard for you to believe but Avery Shaw is alive. I saw her with my own two eyes, before Dane attacked, she was with me. I think he might have taken her again because she has gone missing," I don't know why, but I just can't bring myself to tell her that it was all an illusion. 

"What do you want me to do?" I respectfully ask. 

"Honestly, I thought you'd be more excited about this b-"

"I am, but I also know work comes before emotions do, so my focus right now is fulfilling whatever orders you give me and not rejoicing my ex girlfriends resurrection," I interject not wanting her to know I know she's alive. 

"And that is exactly why you were the perfect person to fill my shoes as head of the L.A base, I'd like to reward you for all your hard work by allowing you to lead the mission to find and recover Avery Shaw," she says with a professional smile on her face. "If you're up to it of course," she continues when I don't respond. 

"I'm going to need some time to think about it Madam Hayes," I say politely, not wanting to offend someone of such high ranking, not to  mention she is my girlfriends mother.

"Understandable, call me when you've made your decision," she says, I nod and then hang up. I let out a breathe I didn't realize I was holding. What am I going to do? 

If I tell her I know Avery is alive, then she will asks questions that lead to the exposure of all our encounters with Avery and her team. The same team who is responsible for the destruction of all our bases, in addition to that, Hayes will be more than pissed if she knows we had them in our custody and let them get away. And if I play dumb and take this opportunity to 'Find Avery', and I succeed, I'll be leading Salutis into a death trap. As powerful as Salutis is, I've never seen a team like Avery's before, and we have yet to see what abilities they each have. It's way too dangerous, and they can easily take out Palmer, Enzo and I, the 3 strongest Salutis agents. 

"Knock knock," Savannah says popping her head in my room. "Are you done? What did she say?"

"She wants me to lead the mission to find Avery," I answer rubbing my eyes. 

"Did you tell her everything or do you want me to keep lying to my mother?" she asks, but her tone tells me exactly what she wants me to do...tell her mother. 

"I can't babe. If she finds out I had the team responsible for blowing up the bases in custody and let them go, we will all get punished, not to mention I'll be forced to step down as a leader," I explain. She walks over to me sitting in the chair and rubs my shoulders. 

"I know my love but as a leader, it's your job to do what is best for Salutis, not for yourself. And right now, finding that team and capturing them before they hurt anyone else, is the top priority, we'll figure out the rest along the way," she's right isn't she? I am thinking about myself, how can I not? Protecting myself includes protecting Palmer and Lorenzo and even Savannah, but she won't get a harsh punishment because of her mom's role. I know it sounds unfair but imagine the bosses kid getting punished severely? That would damage their name. 

I know what I have to do.