Chapter 22
Zakhary
Standing on the front porch of the rundown house, I look around, taking it all in.
It’s better than the Mikhailov house, but thinking of the states these kids are living in is disheartening.
Looking to the right of the front door I see cardboard covering a broken window and think, ‘Can’t have Dax’s Kitten freezing to death.
Might as well call off the watch dogs if I do that. ’
Shaking my head, I make a mental note to make sure this kid has the number of someone to replace the window before leaving him with Dax.
Remembering why I’m here, I feel anger coursing through me at why I am forced to introduce myself to the young boy and I growl, thinking about what I have to do next. ‘Mack is dead man once meeting is called and Otets figures everything out,’ I think, shaking it off and knocking on the door.
The kid who answers the door definitely isn’t who I’m here to see. I stand there, staring at him, watching him take me in before he asks, “What do you want?”
I let the attitude slide, this time. Usually, I wouldn’t tolerate the disrespect, but I’m here for a reason and it is late. I’m not sure what this particular family knows of me and mine, so I let it slide.
My eyes glance at the bat he balances on his shoulder. I feel the false confidence coming off this kid. It’s commendable, but useless. Deciding not to waste any more time, I get straight to the point.
“Kai. Now,” I say. Keeping it simple to get this done quickly.
But this kid just raises his eyebrows, looking me up and down as he sucks his teeth, gripping the bat tighter. “Kai? My little brother?” He asks, shaking his head, confusion filling his face.
‘Okay then,’ I think, having reached my limit on patience. I push past him, glancing back at his look of disbelief as I stroll past him straight into what looks to be a living room.
Deciding that he no longer warrants my attention, I turn away and look around. I didn’t want to do it this way, but Kai has somewhere to be. So, I take a deep breath and yell, “KAI! Come down here.”
A tall ginger kid comes from the kitchen, shushing me. “Ay, whoever the fuck you are, keep it the fuck down. People are sleepin’ ya know?” he says, taking me in as he walks towards me. “Who the fuck are you?”
Raising my eyebrows at the brazenness, two thoughts cross my mind, ‘I see why Maddox likes him, he is a brave one,’ followed closely by, ‘Thank fuck he is up and dressed, we can go,’ I think, crooking two fingers, gesturing for him to follow me as I nod towards the door.
He looks at me, and abruptly disregards my summoning, saying, “I ain’t goin’ anywhere with you.
This is the south side, dude, do I look dumb?
” Eyeing me, he takes in my appearance, something dawning on him shows behind his eyes.
Seeing the stoic facade fade, he stops what was sure to be a fantastic rant, eyes widening, “Where’s Dax?
What happened?” he asks, cocking his head, chin hardening as he stares me down.
Taking in the stance, and realizing that he’s not moving without some sort of information I chuckle, pursing my lips with a nod. I point at him and shake my head, “You are exactly who Dax needs in his corner. Come. Now! He need you.”
Kai holds his hand up to stop me as I walk towards him, “Wait! What happened!? Where is he?”
I roll my eyes, ‘Why are people so maddening?’ I think, ‘If he would just come with me, I could explain. But I can’t, not here. Not with the dickhead with the bat just waiting, on edge, for a reason to swing.’
I watch as his eyes move to the kid with the bat, “Seb, put it away. I recognize him. Kinda. I think he’s been followin’ me.”
Scoffing, Seb puts the bat down, walking over to stand beside Kai, “And? That means you should go with him?”
I watch the two of them exchange looks, communicating silently before they turn to me, assessing eyes trained on me. I roll my eyes, sighing, the last of my patience is quickly ebbing away.
Rubbing the center of my forehead, I think ‘Okay, I have to get out of this shithole and get Kai to the hospital.’ Squaring my shoulders, I meet Kai’s eyes and completely disregard Seb altogether.
“Yes, I have followed a few times, but we need to go. Dax will be waking soon. You will want to be there,” I say, motioning towards the door again. Exasperated with the whole thing, I roll my eyes towards the ceiling as they resume their silent communication, the water spots do nothing for my mood.
At this, I notice the kid finally turns to grab his jacket and slip on some shoes. ‘Thank God!’ I think as he stops in front of me. We head to the door and I open it for him, “I will explain everything on the way,” I tell him, closing it behind us.
Kai
As I reach the front gate, I pause, ‘This man drives a Jeep Cherokee?’ Turning to look at him, eyebrow cocked, disbelief evident on my face, “Really?” I ask, baffled as I take in the suit he’s sporting that just screams ‘I have money’ to the entire neighborhood.
Scoffing, Zak pushes me through the gate and heads for the driver's side, “What? It gets good gas mileage,” he says. Pausing at the driver’s side door, he looks up with a smirk, “And what do you drive?” he asks as he opens the door climbing inside.
I roll my eyes, climbing in on the passenger side. “I haven’t even graduated high school, yet. It’s just not what I expected someone like you to be driving.”
I look over and watch as his face goes blank, “Someone like me? What does that mean?” He asks, scratching his eyebrow.
“Dude, you showed up at my house in the middle of the night, demanding I come with you, dressed in Burberry leather that costs more than my whole wardrobe, and blood on your hands, literally. So, yeah, I’m gonna question the ’90s Jeep Cherokee you’re drivin’,” I explain, trying to sound as calm as possible.
“I’m out in the middle of the night with a guy I know I’ve seen following me.
Someone who has some connection to Mack.
For all I know you work for him. You come in demanding I go with you to Dax.
It sounds like Dax is hurt, which is the only reason I’m in this car at all.
” I take a deep breath, coming off my tirade at the mention of Dax, I soften my voice, asking, “Seriously, what the fuck’s goin’ on? ”
The street lights allow me to see him let a smile slip as we drive towards the hospital. Finally breaking, he chuckles, “You know this is Burberry?”
I snort, “That’s what you took from all that?” I pause before I point both of my thumbs at myself, “Gay. I’m supposed to know fashion, right?”
Now, I watch this man lose it; he’s sitting there hysterically laughing while. I sit in confusion, wondering what the actual fuck is happening. “Dude, you okay? You still with me? Aren’t you supposed to be telling me what’s happenin’?” I ask, feeling my frustrations rising at the lack of answers.
Zakhary
I come to a stop at the red light, taking a moment to catch my breath before I look over at Kai.
“Kid, I like you, but if you call me ‘Dude’ one more time…” I pause for dramatic effect, then continue introducing myself, “My name is Zakhary, but you can call me Zak. Now, do you want to stop with the false bravado over there and ask me what you really want to know?”
The light turns green and as we take off Kai speaks so softly that I almost miss it. In a breathless whisper, he asks, “What happened?” He’s trying to distract himself from whatever I’m gonna tell him by fiddling with the door.
Hearing the rapid clicks of the door locking and unlocking, I reach over, squeezing his knee in an attempt to calm his nerves, though that isn’t my strong suit.
“He will be okay. We were delayed in getting to him,” I say, pulling my hand back and gripping the wheel.
Remembering the barricade Mack had Nik put in front of the door to slow my men.
Kai inhales sharply before shifting to pull a semi-crushed cigarette pack from his pocket.
I hear him fumble to crack the window and feel the worry pouring off him in waves.
He lights the cigarette once he has the window lowered, “Go ahead, better do it now before we get there,” I hear him say, followed by that unmistakable crackle from the first drag of a freshly lit cigarette.
Kai
I sit stiffly, staring out the window smoking as I wait for Zak to start talking. The closer we get to the hospital the more the knots in my stomach turn to lead.
“So, you gonna fill me in on what happened, Zak, or just leave me guessin’?” I ask, emphasizing his name, hoping to get him talking because the silence is killing me.
He sighs but finally starts talking, “Okay. Like I said, he is going to be okay. But I warn you, it does not look pretty. He is resting now, according to Melody. They have him on some good drugs, so he is out of it, but she is there with him.”
I nodded, flicking the cigarette out the window before immediately lighting another.
“We covered that. What I want to know is WHAT happened to put him in the hospital? Who the fuck hurt him?” I screech, starting to lose my cool demeanor and starting to internally panic.
I think I already know what happened, but I have to hear it, need it confirmed.
I feel the hand that I forgot was on my knee squeeze again. It’s not for comfort, this time it’s a warning. In a cool tone he speaks, low, threatening. His voice breaks through the fog threatening to pull me under, “Watch the tone, kid. I didn’t have to come get you.”
I push his hand off my knee, “Look, I’m sorry, could you just please tell me. It’s killin’ me. Ya keep givin’ me bits and pieces, and so far all I know is he’s in the hospital,” I mumble in a softer tone, letting my fear and concern bleed through.
“He went to confront Mack after the brick. By the way, remind me to give you the name and number of someone to come fix that,” Zak starts to explain.