The Freedom Search: Kai & Gloria's Story (Search Series Book 4) (12 page)

Six Weeks Later

Kai

Today was the day before the wedding for Raiden and Tai. He wished things were different. He wished he was able to be there for Raiden, but he was still playing the game.

Still trying to keep his father and Roy at bay. He didn’t want either of them to get to Gloria. He hadn’t been home since he packed a few things the day he found out she was carrying his child. The day he proposed and she agreed to marry him. He was avoiding calls too, but he couldn’t avoid them much longer. “Lukas,” he answered.

“About damn time, boy!” Roy hissed.

“Sorry, I’ve been busy,” Kai replied.

“Well not busy enough. You know Tai went vampire.” Kai did know that. Roy had texted him that message the day it was decided three weeks ago. “We have a problem.” Kai closed his eyes trying to choose his words carefully. He didn’t want Roy to know he was done, this was over.

“What’s the issue?” Kai said looking up to see Gloria walking into the living room. He placed a finger over his mouth, she nodded and didn’t move.

“Tai is pregnant.” Roy fired at him. “Can you fucking believe that?”

“No sir.” Kai dropped his eyes from Gloria. He couldn’t look at her right now. He had a feeling he knew what Roy’s call was about and he was about to become a fucking hypocrite. He could feel her move towards him and sit next to him but he kept his gaze focused on the floor.

“I’ve been outvoted,” Roy stammered on.

“Outvoted on what?” Kai asked swallowing.

“The baby. The baby might not end up full vampire. THAT THING NEEDS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF!” And as he shouted that was exactly what Kai feared.

“Sir, do you really think...” Roy stopped him.

“Don’t disappoint me Lukas. Raiden seems to think you are falling out of line. I was getting concerned when you weren’t taking my calls. Don’t fucking disappoint me, boy!” He snapped hanging up abruptly.

Gloria

She watched him stare at the phone. His head was still down. “Lukas, what is it?”

He took her hand, but remained looking at the floor. “Roy...Tai’s pregnant, but it happened before her vampire change.” She leaned down so she could look at him.

“What is it?” she pressed.

“She’s not far along but there is a chance the baby will still be a half breed. Roy wants the child aborted.” Her hand went to her stomach instantly.

“He wants you...” She couldn’t even say it. Thinking about her own child, she couldn’t imagine.

“I don’t know what to do.” What the hell?

“Kai Lukas, you can’t seriously be thinking about entertaining this?” She jumped up and stared down at him.

“No, of course not, but I don’t want them to have a reason to go after you. Raiden told him I was falling out of line. As good as I know him, he knows me just as well and he wasn’t buying there wasn’t more between us. He knew there was. I just...” He stopped and she plopped herself in his lap.

“It’s time, Lukas. You have to tell Raiden about Roy.” He nodded and began dialing a number on his phone.

“One favor, doll.”

“Anything,” she replied.

“You can’t work at the diner anymore. I promise, I can take care of us.” She knew this was his reaction to having to tell Raiden the truth. When she started showing people would know and if it got back to the wrong people, who knows what would happen.

“Okay. Make the call.” He hit send on the phone and placed it to his ear. Gloria knew things were about to get rocky, but the light at the end of the tunnel was there.

Kai

He was lost in thought he wasn’t even paying attention to the fact that Raiden had arrived. “What do you want, Kai?” The tone not lost on Kai. He wasn’t going to trust so easily.

“I wanted to talk about Elder Roy,” Kai answered.

“What about him?” Raiden waited crossing his arms in front of him. Why the fuck was this so hard?

“He’s playing both sides.” Raiden’s eyes widened. “He gave me the document and he’s been calling me more regarding doing something to harm Tai’s pregnancy.” He didn’t need to answer all of Roy’s calls to know they would all end the same way today’s did.

“Kai Lukas, I swear if you touch her I will kill you!” The reaction Kai was expecting.

“Hold on, man, not going to do a damn thing to her. Wanted you to know where Roy was at.” Kai watched Raiden’s emotions shift. This was something hard to swallow Kai understood that.

“I don’t get it,” he said barely above a whisper. Kai wanted to explain things right there. How after he was five Roy started coming around, how he thought Gloria fit into that time frame and more, but he couldn’t.

“We were friends once, man. I know things have changed, but I miss that person I once was and now...” Kai stopped running his fingers through his hair. “Well now, I get it. I get what I could be. I want what you have with Tai and I found the person I want to have it with, but that comes at a cost. I have to change my ways.” Kai had nothing more to offer. He just walked always and hoped Raiden could protect Tai. He hoped he could protect Gloria.

Gloria

She was waiting for him to get home. She wanted to know what had happened. “Doll?” She finally heard him call.

“Bedroom,” she answered. She braced herself. She knew he was going to be stressed so she prepared a little surprise for him. When the bedroom door opened, the light from the hall shone inside.

“Ummm...” She laughed at his reaction to her naked body across the bed.

“Problem, Lukas?” She chuckled.

He shook his head, “No not at all,” he answered moving towards her. “You’re beautiful.” She smiled up at him as he lay down beside her, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

He had been so sweet with her the last few weeks, but now she needed the intense Kai Lukas. She nibbled on his ear, “Don’t be sweet, Lukas. Fuck me hard. I won’t break.” He looked down at her and flattened her against the bed.

“As you wish, my doll,” he hissed seductively.

She watched him rip his clothes off faster than she had ever seen. His cock firmly at attention. “Whatcha waiting on, Lukas?” she tossed at him.

“Fucking nothing!” he said slamming into her before pausing.

“What?” she asked cautiously.

“I don’t want to hurt you.”

“Kai, fuck me now,” she demanded he began to pound into her sending her into a fit of pleasure.

“My God, Doll,” he panted.

They both lost it together, as they came down from the high he gently laid on top of her keeping them connected. “I love you,” she whispered, rubbing her hands on his back.

“Love you, too,” he said back softly.

Kai

He was pacing. The sun was setting the wedding would be beginning soon.
“What are you worried about, Lukas?” she asked stopping his movement.

“You,” he replied firmly.

“Me?” she questioned.

“Telling Raiden that Roy was playing both sides was a risk. A risk to you,” he stated firmly, walking out onto the porch. He didn’t mean to snap at her, but he didn’t want her getting hurt either.

He didn’t know how long he was out there before his phone began ringing.
“So Lukas, where are we at?” Was he fucking kidding? He was at Raiden’s wedding calling about this.

“I told him. I told Raiden.”

“What do you mean you told him? Damn it, Kai. I could’ve saved you. I only asked one thing of you.” Really, only one thing? Well shit, that was a lie. He had asked plenty of Kai over the years. “And you told him what I did and what I wanted to do.” Well actually he only told Raiden he was playing both sides and about the abortion. “Fuck you! Kai Lukas, you are doomed.” Roy continued yelling. Kai wasn’t feeling doomed, he was happier than he had ever been. He turned around and found her staring at him unsure of her next move.

He waved her outside with him and she joined him. “I finally understand, Roy,” he spoke.

“What do you mean you understand?” Roy questioned.

Kai heard Raiden’s muffled voice and Roy was gone. Kai couldn’t help but laugh as he ended the call. “What’s funny?”

“Roy was just busted by Raiden, talking to me.” She nodded and rested her head on his shoulder.

“I see,” she sighed.

“I’m sorry, doll, about earlier. I just want you safe and I’m afraid any hope of that is gone.” He kissed the top of her head and hoped she would accept.

“I know.” She took his hand in hers drawing his attention.

“I haven’t bought you a ring yet,” he whispered.

“It’s okay.” He shook his head kissing her hand.

“No it’s not. I’ll fix that soon.” He kissed her hand again and they sat in the moonlight together enjoying what little peace surrounded their lives here in her apartment privately.

Five Months Later

Gloria

Grace had arrived with their groceries and her check-up. “Thank you, Grace,” she smiled.

“You’re welcome. How’s the baby boy doing?” Gloria rubbed her round belly and smiled.

“He’s great, moving more.” Grace nodded.

“How are you?” Gloria sighed. Kai had basically kept them locked inside. She wasn’t complaining most days because the privacy often led to some intense moments. She wanted to walk around though. She wanted the world to see them together.

“I’m good. How’s Kai?” She shrugged and her mind drifted to where he was. He had gone to his father’s home to get more of his things. Last month his father kicked him out and told him not to come back. Kai assured her that he would be okay, but she worried.

“He went to get some things,” she answered.

“He can’t keep this up. He needs help he has to tell Raiden.” Gloria nodded because she knew that. She had been begging him to involve Raiden, but he flat out refused.

“I wish he would,” she replied sighing at the fact that he was being stubborn.

Grace sighed this time. Gloria knew she wanted Kai back in their lives. All of their lives. Lee was gone, it was time this shit ended. Kai was just afraid it made her more vulnerable to Roy and whatever it was he had planned.

Kai

He had to be quick. He had been kicked out last month and told never to come back or it would be his life. He didn’t think his father would actually kill him, but he didn’t want to take the chance either. He had already packed a bag and was in his father’s office searching for
‘it’
.

“Where is the ring?” he asked himself as he frantically searched. He was always told he could have his mother’s ring. He had forgotten about it, but when he remembered he knew that was the ring he wanted Gloria to have.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” He looked up and hated what he was seeing. His father glaring at him like he was nothing. Like he was a traitor.

“Where’s mom’s ring?” Kai asked standing up to return his father’s stare.

“You aren’t having mom’s ring,” he hissed.

“It’s mine, you promised me!” Kai yelled.

“No way in hell you are giving mom’s ring to a fucking human you knocked up!”

“You fucking listen here!” Kai roared. “Roy is a selfish prick who prayed on your vulnerable state after he knocked up a human and wanted to hide it!” His father’s eyes widened.

“Gloria is Roy’s daughter, dad.” Kai said calming himself. “Please, dad, he’s playing us both.” His father didn’t speak instead he walked over to the desk and unlocked a drawer tossing Kai a velvet box. He didn’t have to say anything. His look said it all. Kai grabbed the remainder of his stuff and bolted home to his girl.

Gloria

“I missed the check-up, didn’t I?” he asked as he walked through the door.

“Yeah, Lukas, you did.” He sighed.

“Sorry, I got tied up with this...” He smiled and pulled the ring box from his pocket. “It was my mother’s and now it’s yours.” She felt the tears hit her cheeks as he walked towards her pulling the ring from the box.

“It’s beautiful,” she whispered as he slid it on her finger.