Page 37 of Kai's Hunger

“Uh, I suppose. I’ve never given it much thought, I guess.” I remembered him telling me about theYucilons. “I didn’t know anything like Fostine existed.”

“Exactly. And we both agree that if the government found out about her, she’d be caged up in some laboratory.”

“Yes. It’s despicable but true. Although, I don’t understand what that has to do withyoursecrets.”

He took a turn and I could see the town coming into view. “My family, the Ravenbriars, have been around for generations.”

“I know,” I replied. “Creeg told me something similar when he treated me last night in his clinic.”

“What he didn’t say is that we aren’t like you, Lily. We aren’t...”

He was on the verge of sharing something vital, I could feel it. Why he hesitated concerned me. “I’ll keep whatever you say in the strictest confidence,” I offered, hoping to ease his mind. “I’m no gossip.”

“It’s not that.” He smiled over at me, before turning his attention back to the road. “I know you would never betray my trust.”

I began tapping out a rhythm on my leg. “Okay, then why is this so hard for you?”

“I’m afraid you’ll think I’m nuts.”

“Try me.”

His cell phone rang, cutting off his confession. He cursed and picked it up from the middle console and read the screen. “I’m sorry. It’s Wyatt.”

Wyatt. Anytime the man spoke, the rest of them jumped. It was strange how they all treated their oldest brother. I watched him answer the phone with a curt “yeah.” Whatever Wyatt had to say caused Kai to hit the brakes. My body jerked forward from the momentum. “We’re on our way,” he muttered.

When Kai ended the call and did a U-turn I had to grip onto the dash to keep from flailing about. “What on Earth is going on?”

“I’m sorry, but the trip to the store will have to wait,” he muttered, his gaze snaring mine. “Wyatt just learned that a man fitting our father’s description has been murdered.”

“Your father?” I blurted, digesting his words.

“It’s a long story, but to sum it up, our father left when Fostine went missing. He went looking for her. He hasn’t been back since. We’ve searched, filed a missing person’s report. But nothing.” He swallowed hard. “Until now.”

I wrapped a hand around his forearm and squeezed. “Have faith. It might not be him.”

A muscle in Kai’s jaw jumped wildly. “Yeah, I’m hoping that’s the case. Wyatt and I need to go identify the man.”

“Does your brother know what happened?”

He swallowed hard before saying, “A friend of ours found the man behind an old building.” His voice shook when he added, “Next to a dumpster. He’d been shot in the head.”

“Oh, Kai,” I replied, sorrow tightening my chest as I imagined what that must have been like for Wyatt. “Police?”

“They’ve been called to the scene. Wyatt is on his way.” He cursed under his breath. “I need to drop you at the house, then head over there.”

“Take me with you,” I offered, wishing I could just hold him. The pain Kai attempted to keep hidden broke my heart. “It’ll take more time to go home first. Just take me with you.”

Kai’s gaze widened. “Are you certain? I’m not sure what I’m walking into, Lily,” he bit out. “Things could get ugly. It’s a crime scene, after all.”

“I’m sure,” I swore. “I’ll wait in the car if I have to.”

He slowed the car to a crawl, as if thinking over my suggestion. “Wyatt might not approve, but what the hell,” he muttered, then turned the car around and headed to town.

I didn’t much care if Wyatt approved. I wanted to be there for Kai. I kept that bit to myself and asked, “Where did they find him?”

“Behind a warehouse.” He shook his head. “Something doesn’t feel right though.”

I watched Kai. He was deep in thought. I couldn’t imagine what he was going through. The fear that it could be his father, shot and killed, then left like trash. “I take it you know where we’re going?”

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