Chapter 63: Kam

It was a whole two months after my engagement and everything was set up. Everything. The date - which was in less than a week unfortunately - the dress, everything. Sofija was good. And I didn't like it.

It was my day off, my day to relax without Sofija or Anton or Alexander. It was just me. But just because Sofija was giving me what she called a day off didn't mean I didn't have work to do.

It was around noon when I found myself at an apartment building on the other side of Miami. As soon as I knocked the door opened, and a too familiar face appeared, them ushering me inside.

"No one saw you did they?" Kam asked, eyes bright as the emeralds they represented. I sighed as she closed the door.

"No. I made sure of that." My little white lie made Kam's body visually relax, and I somewhat felt bad about it.

"Thank God. Uh, have a seat. I made tea." I couldn't help but laugh in my own amusement toward her awkwardness with me. We'd known each other all our life, and though we hadn't seen each other in forever, we still had that almost best friend vibe.

"Tea? Seriously? Uh, hon. I think we'll need something a lot stronger than tea." She rolled her eyes, sitting down and ignoring the whole "tea" fiasco.

"Whatever. So. Let's talk. You want me to be at the wedding? Incognito? You do realize what you're asking me, right?"

"Yeah. I do. And it's huge to ask from you, but I need backup. If things go downhill, or hell breaks loose, I can't be the only person on the opposing side. I'll get killed. That sounded so much better in my head..."

"Sarah, it's just-"

"You left the business for a reason. You have a life, you're in love, you've started a family..."

"How...?"

"Sure I haven't seen you in a few years, but it's pretty easy to see when one's pregnant. I get it. I had no idea before. Either way, I can't let you get into this mess any more than you already are."

"Sarah..."

"Kam, it's fine. Hell breaks loose, I'm screwed. I was destined to screw up anyway, right? Destined to die or be imprisoned, or some shit like that. It's pretty easy just looking at who my parents are."

"I'm so sorry..."

"It's okay. Believe me, I wish I could have the life that you have right now. You're lucky you know. To get out of it while you still can. You were smart. I'm just naïve and stupid, and too eager to kill that bastard I called a father for most of my life. You know, as much as I hate to put you in the line of fire or danger or whatever you call it, it's nice to see you again."

"Yeah. Gotta say though, you look a hell of a lot different." I laughed, and the tension or the room seemed to dissipate.

"No kidding. Say, did you ever get married, or did Ethan just spring everything on you? And I do mean that literally." Kam blushed and I couldn't help but laugh, forgetting all about the horror I was living just imaging what could happen in a week.

"No. Neither of those happened. We just decided that marriage was overrated. No offense."

"Still not getting married for fun, over here. Just reminding you."

"Yeah, obviously..."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"It's just that you don't seem as happy as I remember you. I mean, you're only twenty-one. You should be having the best time of your life. But you're not. You're living in a literal hell. The last time I saw you happy was when you were sixteen. And with... well, you know who..."

"Patrick has nothing to do with that." I said simply, standing with my side of the argument.

"Yeah, Sarah, it does. You can't seriously be that naïve to not realize that you two are meant for each other. Tell me, when was the last time you saw him?"

"I don't know. Two-three months. What does it matter?"

"I called him."

"What the hell do you mean 'you called him?' "

"I mean, that I called Patrick. And that he's on his way."

"Why the hell would you do that?" I was furious. There was a reason why I was leaving Patrick out of this. And it was for his safety. Why the hell would she offer to risk his life for something so asinine?

"Because you need to tell him everything that you told me. The wedding. The purpose. The plan. You two are so alike in so many ways that it's scary. I mean, look at what you're doing. You're risking your life to save him. He's done it for you. You both would risk your own lives for each other any time, any day. It scares me to know that I could loose you both. My best friend, and my cousin."

"I cannot believe that you just did that. What part of 'do not tell anyone' did you not get? Sure, maybe I'm going a little overboard on this whole situation, but you don't know the half of it. This is not just Patrick's life I'm trying to save. It's everyone's. Everyone I love, everyone I don't want to see dead anytime soon, everyone I care for, even if it's just a sliver."

"But Patrick's on the top of the list."

"And that makes it even more critical that he lives. For more than just my own sanity. But for Lydia. For Madeline. For Roy. Come on, Kam. You know me better than this. You know that I'd do anything to protect them. And I can tell that you'd do the same. Didn't you want to stay out of this, anyway? Telling Patrick everything I tell you, isn't staying out it. It's interfering. I don't care if you're bored with you're life, I don't care if you have a craving to go take care of unfinished business. Sure, at first I came here thinking that you can help me. But now, I see that you can't. I won't let you. And even if somehow you get me to agree to let Patrick help, he'll never agree to let you join, too. So stay out of it from now on. Got it?"

"Sarah..."

"Don't even start with me. I'm not budging. Ever. So get that thought out of your mind or this is going to be the hardest thing in the world for you right now. Stay out of this. Keep Patrick out of this. If you can't handle that, then think of Madeline. He's more important to her than I ever will be. I was gone for five years while he was there every step of the way. He can't be taken away from her. He's the only thing she has left. And you can help me by not interfering. So please, tell me that's you won't do anything else without my permission."

"Fine. I won't. But I'm telling you right now, do not let Patrick spiral into a world of flames and depression. He's done that once, but next time it will be worse. I can tell. And whatever you do, don't you dare, no matter what it's for, get your ass killed. Or we might just come falling down with you."