The Freedom Search: Kai & Gloria's Story (Search Series Book 4) (11 page)

“Is there more?” Her voice was firm, but low.

“Plenty.” He chuckled. “As I got older more and more vampires started meeting at night at our house. Both Dark Nights and ones like us.” He paused again. “When I was sixteen they allowed me to sit in.”

“You started buying into what they were saying,” she stated. He nodded at her

“Because I started buying into it, my friendship with Raiden slowly became strained. When we were all sixteen the Wyrick’s and the Donald’s decided that when the time came, Bethany and Raiden would get married. The only reason was to prevent my family from taking over.”

“Wait what?” He laughed, maybe he had jumped too far ahead.

“Okay, so one of the things that I learned when I was allowed to sit in, is that leading family could revert back to Dark Night if they weren’t the family the made the original choice.” She nodded listening intensely to his words so he continued. “Roy had successfully convinced my father that Lee needed to be overthrown and then he could make things right, so to speak.”

“Did you think it would help?” He shook his head.

“I bought into it being a mistake to live like this. I bought into Dark Night being the only true vampires. Overthrowing Lee though, wasn’t in my head.”

“So what happened?”

“Remember how I said that Bethany and Raiden were promised to each other if push came to shove?” She answered him with a nod. “Well, while Raiden and I were fading fast Bethany was the glue holding us together. I could talk with her and she listened to me.” He stopped because he now had to tell the woman he loved that he loved someone else at one point. He now had to explain how much of an asshole he truly was. He had to explain he was coward. How did he even begin to do that?

Gloria

She wasn’t sure if she wanted to hear what he was about to tell her. “I don’t know if I want to hear this,” she whispered.

He moved close to her again scooping her up onto his lap. “I love you,” he said. She looked into his eyes and saw he said that as a reminder.

“Did you sleep with Bethany?” He closed his eyes and nodded.

“It’s more complicated than that though.”

“How so?” she asked wrapping her arms around his neck staring deep into his eyes.

He lightly wrapped his arms around her waist, “One thing that I had going for me was a way out. Since my choice was made for me it was decided that when one in my shoes, Raiden’s, and Bethany’s hit twenty-one they would get to decide for themselves. I was all set, Dark Night or bust.” He chuckled. “We were celebrating Bethany’s twenty first birthday. Raiden and I were on edge as usual and Bethany was the string holding us together. She was the one person I could be honest with. Her and her mom filled a void for me.”

“Lukas, you’re stalling.” She smiled.

“I absolutely am stalling,” he retorted. “Okay, so Raiden left and it was just Bethany and I. We were talking about Lee and Melanie messing things up. She politely disagreed so I asked her if she was happy. She said yes, but I knew she didn’t want to marry Raiden. There had always been a tension between us that had nothing to do with our differing political views.”

“So what happened?”

“I took her virginity and then asked her to go Dark Night with me. Freeing myself and her at the same time. When I got home though, I proudly announced to my dad and Roy that I was going Dark Night and I was told no. Roy told me he would fix everything but they just needed my help. I knew Raiden better than anyone. I was the only one that could get under his skin. I agreed and when the meeting came I crushed the one person who still gave a shit about me.”

“She was going to go with you wasn’t she?” Kai just nodded. “Wow. Ummm...I don’t know what to say,” she said.

“Say you love me. Bethany and I weren’t meant to be. I know that now. I knew it then. I’m sorry I hurt her and I hope I can get both of my friends back, but my focus is you right now.” His eyes were pleading with her.

“Yes, Lukas. I love you.” They quit talking when he placed a kiss on her mouth. Hot and heavy, very much her Kai.

Kai

He broke their kiss before they got too carried away. “There’s something else,” he said lifting her from his lap and standing up. “So a few days ago, an hour before you were to arrive, Roy showed up. He gave us a document about how that even if the heir of the leading family decided to marry a human that human had to make the ultimate sacrifice.” He heard her gasp. “I kidnapped Tai the day after I had you kiss Raiden,” he admitted.

“You fucking did what?” she shouted.

“Roy,” he stated. “She escaped. They got engaged, this was the last ditch effort.” He sighed.

“No wonder Raiden punched you.” He laughed at her analysis.

“Told you I deserved it.” He was still chuckling. “I did something I hadn’t done in years. I went to Grace’s clinic. I couldn’t shut up about you.” He smiled her way before heading over to the breakfast bar where he had set the folder.

“Lukas, tell me.” The tone in her voice was not lost on Kai. He put his hand on the folder, and then it hit him.

“Gloria, how old are you?” He asked processing the fact that Roy was her father. This was the link he was sure of it.

Gloria

How old was she? What did that matter? “I’m twenty-three, why?”

He sighed, “That makes sense now.” He picked up the folder and walked towards her. “Here. Grace gave this to me.” She took the folder from his hand and began to read.

‘Blood not full human.’
She gasped at the words jumping off the page. What the hell? She looked up at Kai for answers and he just nodded back to the folder.
‘It is likely Miss Keller doesn’t know this fact.’

“I didn’t, I swear.” She panicked.

“I know, doll, keep reading. There’s more.” She nodded and refocused on the pages before her.

‘Because of suspicions that Miss Keller likely doesn’t know this fact about herself, I conducted a DNA test and tested against the database setup at Lee Wyrick’s request. Results are curious and report that Miss Keller’s father is Roy Greenly.’
Oh my God. Gloria struggled to find her voice.

“I was five. I didn’t get it until now. Whatever snapped inside of Roy, snapped because of your mother and because of you.”

She cried because she was scared, he needed to know and now she needed to tell him. Everything in her world was changing, she just prayed Kai Lukas would be her light at the end of the tunnel. “I’m pregnant.”

Kai

She was pregnant? Kai walked away from her trying to process his thoughts. “I’m sorry, Lukas. I didn’t...” He spun back around silencing her with a raise of his hand.

“You’re pregnant,” he repeated she bit her lip and nodded.

“I didn’t...I’m sorry,” she said again.

“Don’t apologize, doll.” He said strictly. “I’m just wrapping my head around this.” She remained quiet which was good because Kai needed to think this changed things. This changed things big time. If Roy knew about this...Kai didn’t even want to focus on that. It was time Kai stepped up. It was time he stopped being a coward. It was time he proved himself. Starting with proving himself to her.

“Lukas.” She took a breath, “I don’t have to keep it.” Her voice was heartbreakingly beautiful. He walked back towards her and dropped to his knees.

“I love you,” he said cupping her hands in his, “Marry me.” She blinked a few times.

“Kai, you don’t...” He shook his head.

“I’m serious. I want you, I need you, marry me. I’ll make things right. It’ll take time, but I’ll prove myself to you if you can trust me. Gloria Keller, marry me?” She was crying, but smiling.

“Okay. Yes, I’ll marry you.” He released her hands and cupped her cheeks kissing her softly.

Gloria

While they kissed she noticed she was being lifted into his arms.

“Where are we going?” She asked breaking their kiss.

“You’ve taken in a lot today, I’m going to draw a bath for you to relax and call Grace to come look you over.” She eyed him cautiously.

“Who are you and what have you done to Kai Lukas?” He laughed.

“I told you before, I was testing out my romantic side.”

“Kai? Are you sure about this?”

He set her on the edge of the tub and started the water. Once it was a good temperature, he turned back to her, “I’m sure about us. Everything else I’ll figure out.” She nodded unsure about his words. Unsure about everything. She wanted this, she wanted him, she wanted a family, but was it what he wanted?

“Relax. I’ll be back in a few.” He said as he undressed her and placed her into the tub. He kissed her forehead and left her alone with her thoughts.

Kai

He was nervous as hell. He didn’t regret anything that had just happened, but he was nervous. If this got out...he didn’t even want to think about it and surely he didn’t want her afraid. He had caused that enough already, now she deserved to be pampered and loved. “Well, afternoon, Lukas.” He hated when Grace did that. He didn’t need a lecture, not yet anyways.

“Grace, can you come to Gloria’s apartment in an hour or so?” he asked. He had errands to run and he needed make sure he did them under the radar of his father and Roy.

“Everything all right?” she replied.

“Gloria is pregnant,” he spit out.

“I’ll see you in an hour and a half,” she told him.

“Thanks, Grace,” he responded, hanging up.

Going back in the bedroom and into the bathroom he smiled as he watched her with her eyes closed just relaxing in the tub. “Are you joining me, Lukas?” she threw out seductively keeping her eyes closed.

“Doll, you have no idea how much I want to...”

“But?” she said focusing her eyes on him.

“But I need to run to my house and get a few things and I’m going to make a copy of your key.” She nodded. “Grace is coming in an hour and a half. If I’m not back, I will be.”

“Lukas, are you sure this is what you want?” she asked again. He hated that she doubted him, but he also didn’t blame her in the least. He hadn’t treated her like a princess, the center of his world even though she was. He was too wrapped up in the plan.

“I’m sure,” he said firmly, before leaving her to her bath once again.

Gloria

She heard him leave and she tried to relax, but the truth was, she was nervous. She wasn’t expecting him to propose, she wasn’t expecting to find out he was a vampire and all the history behind it, and she certainly wasn’t expecting to find out her father was a vampire. Not just any vampire though, a vampire trying to take down what seemed like a solid community, and all because of her. 

She didn’t want that part to be true, but she knew Kai’s assessment of the time.
Her phone started ringing and she quickly dried herself so she could answer it. “Hello.”

“Hello, my beautiful daughter, anything you wish to share?” She was growing to hate her mother’s voice even more than she already had.

“No, mother, not that I can think of,” she replied placing the bitch in front of the kind-hearted person she wanted to be. She wanted that light but her mother wouldn’t receive it from her.

“Are you sure?” her mother purred.

“I’m sure,” she answered quickly, hanging up the phone, before she gave anything away. She was breathing heavy, did Roy still have some connection with her mother? Was she a pawn for him?

Gloria sat on the edge of the tub and cried. “Please, don’t hurt me, Lukas,” she whispered.