Savior

Chapter 93

-xx-

"I want you to stay up here," Derek pointed to the couch. He sighed as the woman standing across from him rested her hands on her hips. "Cate," he began, but was cut off by a shake of her head.

"He wanted to see me," she shot back.

Derek shook his head. "Are you insane?" he asked in a huff. "Fred Hanson already threatened to send him – do you think I'm willingly going to let you go downstairs by yourself?"

Cate shrugged. "He wouldn't show up here to hurt me," she retorted. "He's not that stupid."

The black man ran a hand over his head as he watched Cate slip on her flip flops that were next to the table by the front door. He blocked the door the best he could. "How do you know that? You're the one who said Jade was harmless."

She scoffed. "I never said I was going downstairs by myself," she replied with a lifted eyebrow. She watched Derek's expression slowly change and soften. "But he would not show up here to do anything, D," she repeated. "As much as we never really got along, he wasn't a bad kid."

"And neither was Jade," Derek said roughly.

The brunette rolled her eyes. "Jesus, Derek," she said exasperated. "If you were planning to do anything, would you show up to their apartment building and check in with the front desk staff?"

"I'm not a psychopath like every member of this family," he pointed out.

"Let's just go find out what he wants," Cate begged. "Please."

He sighed and nodded. "Fine," he mumbled. Derek barely moved from the spot he was standing on, but crouched down to unlock the safe that was built in to the table.

Cate's eyes grew as she watched him open a case inside of the safe. "Are you fucking kidding me?" she asked as he pulled out a gun. She knew it was not his FBI issued one, but he had that locked away in the bedroom.

"Cate," Derek sighed. "I don't like this family," he said as he stood with the gun in his hand, and slowly tucked it in the back of his waistband. He pulled his shirt over it and closed the door to the safe with his foot. "No," he shook his head, "I don't trust this family."

Cate pursed her lips and sighed. "Why did you never tell me you had that there?" she asked as she pointed to the table.

He shrugged. "I guess it never came up in conversation," he answered with a wink. Derek gestured towards the door as he grabbed his keys off of the top of the table. "Ready?"

She nodded as he opened the door for her. Cate slipped under his arm as he held it open above her head.

Cate kept a few steps behind Derek as they walked in silence to the elevator. His body language screamed with anger as they waited for the elevator to arrive.

"I'm sorry," the brunette muttered as she stood in the back of the elevator. She gripped the hand rail as the elevator began its descent.

"For what?" Derek asked as he bowed his head and waited to hit the ground floor.

Cate bit on her lower lip as she contemplated the reasons in her head. Because this family would just not go away? Because she felt like they were never going to be rid of them? Because their home was being invaded by Fred first, and now his son?

When Derek glanced over his shoulder, she shrugged and looked away from his intimidating gaze. He noticed her turn from him and sighed. "I'm not mad," he said softly.

"You seem angry," she pointed out.

He slowly turned in her direction. "Not at you," he continued. "I hate this family."

"Join the club," she said with a laugh. Derek smirked in her direction. "I'm sorry that they've come here."

Derek nodded. "It's not your fault, Cate."

She shrugged as the doors to the elevator opened. Cate smiled as Derek reached out to take her hand. She laced her fingers around Derek's as the two stepped out of the elevator.

Cate gestured in the direction of a younger man sitting on the couch. He had his hands clasped in front of him as he stared at the rug in the sitting area. "Seth," Cate started as the two neared the couches. "Hi."

His eyes shot up towards her. "Catherine, hey," he said softly as he slowly stood up. "This must be Derek," he said as he held his hand out.

Derek warily shook his hand. "What's going on?" Cate asked cautiously. "You shouldn't just show up here."

The dirty blonde shook his head before running his hand through his hair. "I wanted to talk," he started quietly. "Can we?" he asked as he pointed towards the couches. Cate nodded and took a seat on the couch that kitty-cornered the one he stood in front of. Derek waited for Seth to take a seat before sitting next to Cate. "I know the trial is starting soon."

Cate could pick up on the pain in his voice. "It is," she answered justly. "And I'm not going to sugarcoat anything I say on the stand."

Seth nodded. "Good," he answered sharply. "Because they deserve everything that is coming at them." He looked towards the brunette and noticed the contorted expression on her face. "I can't begin to tell you how sorry I am, Cate."

"Did you know?" she asked; her voice was just above a whisper.

The blonde shrugged. "Sort of," he answered. "My father kept talking about getting 'revenge', but we both know he's always been all talk." He rested his chin on his clasped hands as his elbows rested on his knees. "I just didn't think he would bring Jade in to it all. I thought she finally turned her life around."

Cate could almost feel the anger radiating off of Derek next to her. She slowly moved her hand from her lap to the black man's knee. His hand instinctively rested on top of hers.

"I'm so sorry, Cate," Seth repeated as he finally made eye contact with the brunette. "If I had just reached out to you," he started and then sighed.

"Seth, it's not your fault," Cate answered. "You're not responsible for your father."

He nodded. "I know – it's just," he stopped and smirked. "I always thought you were too good for that asshole brother of mine." Cate snickered at his words. "But Dad and Cole would not give it up after you guys broke up. Cole was convinced he was going to get you back."

Cate could only laugh at what her ex-boyfriend's brother way saying. She knew Cole was hell bent on getting back with her after her brothers had words with him. "We both know that wasn't going to happen."

The blonde sighed. "And then Cole went off the deep end." Seth let his arms rest on his thighs as he sat up straighter. "I never thought he'd try to hurt you."

"I didn't either," Cate answered.

Seth smiled. "I'm happy you finally left him," he admitted. "You've always deserved better than the way he treated you." Cate pursed her lips as she could feel Derek tighten his grip on her hand. "I just wanted to apologize in person for what my sister and father did to you."

Derek watched the brunette next to him tense up at the memory. "They're going to pay for it," Derek added to the conversation.

"I hope they do," Seth agreed. "Cate and I never really got along when she dated my brother," he admitted as he lowered his head just a bit. "I used to argue with Cole about the way he treated her, and I basically ignored her because of it."

Cate licked her lips as she let her shoulders slowly relax when she could feel Derek's fingers lace around hers. "It's in the past, Seth."

He nodded. "I know – but I owe it to you now," he replied. "I've been asked up and down by the lawyers and cops – I didn't know they were planning that at the bar. If I did, I would have warned you."

"Thanks," Cate muttered.

"You deserve more than this, Cate," Seth added. "I just hope you don't lump my mother and I in with those three."

Cate smiled at the fond memory of the Hanson matriarch. She was a timid little thing, and always seemed to be walking on egg shells, but when Cate was finally able to get alone time with her, they got along well.

"I don't," Cate promised. She could see Derek glancing at his watch. "We do need to get going, though," she said gently.

"Yeah," Seth said quietly. "I'm sorry I showed up unannounced. But I didn't think you'd answer if I tried to call."

Cate let the words linger as she stood from her seat on the couch. "It was really good to see you, Seth. Say hello to your mother for me, please."

The blonde nodded. "I will." He stood from his seat and shoved his hands in the front pocket of his hoodie. "I'm really sorry, Cate."

With pursed lips, Cate shrugged. "Thanks."

Derek stood next to her and adjusted his t-shirt to conceal the gun in his waistband. He slipped an arm around Cate as the two watched Seth give Carl a slight wave before walking out of the front doors.

Cate let her shoulders sag as she rested back against Derek. "Was that genuine?" Derek asked with genuine concern.

Cate nodded as she watched Seth walk towards the visitor's parking lot through the front windows. "Yeah, I think it was."

"Do you feel better?"

She nodded once more. "Yeah," she muttered. "I actually do."

-xx-