Page 80 of Hiding In the Dark (The Righteous 4)
“But you still have your money?”
He looked away and then down to the ground, suddenly knowing exactly what it felt like when he scolded Zumi. “Yeah, I have all of what was in my trust.”
Ashley took a step back and shook her head. “I don’t believe this.”
“I don’t understand why you’re so angry. I’m no different than anyone else that chooses to live on the streets. There are plenty of people that don’t like the day-to-day grind of the Dweller lifestyle.”
Ashley lifted her hands in the air and then let them drop. “Kes, for shit’s sake. First, I told you no more secrets. Did it happen to slip your mind that you have millions of dollars?” she seethed, but it felt like she was yelling at the top of her lungs. “Second, you claim you want to help those on the streets. Zumi said that you protect them. This is how you protect them? Do you have any idea what having that kind of money can do? How many lives you could save?”
“Of course I do. That’s why I bought Salvation Place.” As soon as the words left his mouth, he wanted to smack himself.
“I knew it, deep down I knew it. Just one more thing you’ve kept from me. Tell me, Kes. Why did you have this sudden change of heart at the last possible hour and decide to save the shelter?” This was worse than being tortured and held for questioning. Sweat trickled down his back as he swallowed—it felt like rocks were lodged in his throat and scraping their way down. She held up her finger. “I want the truth.”
“Would this be a really bad time to say you can’t handle the truth?” There are those moments in your life where you think, ‘why the fuck did that come out of my mouth?’ and that right there was one of those times. Ashley’s eyes widened, her lips pressing together in a hard line as she stormed past him.
He grabbed her arm and quickly diverted her path to leave. “I’m sorry, bad joke, bad timing. I purchased the church because I knew it was a spot you liked to go and I would find you there.”
Ashley sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. He was dying to make a comment about how adorable she was but was very invested in not making this worse so kept his mouth shut.
“So, let me recap. You claim that you don’t want to be like your father or live under his thumb, yet you still take liberties with your money and his yacht that a normal person couldn’t dream of, all the while hiding on the streets from him and pretending to be someone else. Do I have that right?”
“Um…when you put it that way, it sounds a lot worse than in my head.”
Ashley poked him in the chest. “That’s because it is. If you really wanted to make a difference and help those you claim to care for, including your fellow veterans, then if I were you, I’d find a way to make better use of my money. And I don’t mean lavish half-hearted gestures to get near me. I mean something that will make a real difference, Kes,” she fumed. She strode away a few feet and then back again. “You’re being a hypocrite, and you’re being one because you’re scared. Neither one of those things looks sexy on you. I’m going home because I can’t look at you right now.”
“Ashley,” he started to beg, but she stopped and held up her hand to ward him off.
“No, don’t touch me. I’m so angry I could smack you. Don’t you see? You were always brilliant. Not only are you letting that go to waste, but on top of that, you’re letting your father win, and—.” She paused and looked away before scrubbing a tear off her cheek. “You could be doing more with your life. Build a school for the unfortunate, fund research for diseases, or help veterans with programs that our government won’t provide to help get them back on their feet. I don’t care what you decide to do, but sitting around and offering the occasional meal to a little homeless girl that you claim to love while you run around like some version of Batman in the dark…I thought you were better than that.” She looked him up and down, and he’d never felt so ashamed. “Maybe I never really knew you at all.”
She marched away, and he let her go. There was nothing he could say right then to make it right. Ashley was right, of course—he’d been weak and not facing what he was so afraid of all this time, and that was his father.
Kes wandered back into the hospital and spotted Trev leaning against the nurse’s station like he owned the place. It was irritating how he fit in like a fucking chameleon wherever he happened to be. Put him in fatigues, and he was a soldier. Put him in a suit, and he would tear your ass out in court. He wouldn’t be surprised to see him in scrubs with a stethoscope around his neck looking just as much at home.
“Is everything alright?” Trev asked. He shook his head no but didn’t elaborate. “Well, you have some paperwork to sign for Zumi to be released.”
“Already? Shouldn’t she stay longer?”
“She is fine to go home and be looked after. But the doctor did mention when he was through that she would need a heart transplant in the next couple of years. He spoke to me like I should know what he was talking about, so you will need to speak to him further.” Trev held out a clipboard, and he grabbed it, giving it a quick read-over and noticing that he’d managed to put Zumi’s last name down as Reynolds. That was smart.
Kes scribbled out his John Hancock on the bottom of the sheet and handed it over the counter to the nurse.
Heading back to Zumi’s room, he looked over at Trev. He was uncharacteristically quiet, never a good sign. This was the day for shit, apparently.
“That was smart thinking, putting my last name on her records. How did you manage that?”
“It wasn’t that difficult,” Trev drawled sarcastically. “Considering it was already her last name.” Trev lifted and eye brow at him.
Kes smiled and then laughed, but he stopped when Trev didn’t laugh with him. “You don’t think…? You do. You think she’s my kid. Like actually mine?” Trev remained quiet the same expression never leaving his face, which was the worst form of interrogation. “It’s impossible. I wasn’t even in the country when she would’ve been conceived, so unless I’m fucking God or I have super sperm that flew across the pond, I did not impregnate—.” He froze, his next words failing as his mind came up with an alternative possibility. “Oh shit.” Trev gripped his shoulder and helped him to the small chair outside Zumi’s room.
“I’m afraid so, my friend. She’s your sister. I had a DNA comparison run to confirm it.”
“I’d always wondered how Chelsea found this amazing anonymous donor for Zumi’s surgeries. It was fucking hush money wasn’t it?” Trev didn’t answer, but his face said it all. Kes put his head in his hands as he leaned on his knees. “I’m going to kill him. I’m going to fucking kill him.”
“I think there are better ways to express your anger, that will have a much longer lasting and affect,” Trev said.
Kes lifted his head and stared into Trev’s eyes. The evil glint shining back at him calmed the angry beast in his chest. “I want to tear him apart.”
Trev leaned back in the chair beside his. “And so we will.”
