Chapter 227: The Revelation
"These are just words, until we get those videos from Kai," Saint stated firmly.
"Excuse me?" Takeshi slowly stood, locking his angry eyes with Saint, "My testimony of my horrible life is just words? You think I'm making these up?" He questioned.
"That's not what he meant, Take," Oliver gently tugged at Takeshi's wrist, pulling him back down beside him.
"Of course, you'd side with your friend," Takeshi muttered.
"Calm down, Takeshi. Saint only meant that we couldn't really push far with the evidence we have now. He never devalued them, neither did he try to water down your history. The fact remains that we need Kai to bring those videos in," Baby explained.
"Whatever," Takeshi said, taking his hand away from Oliver.
"Why is he taking so long?" Saint questioned, glancing after Cam.
Cam scoffed, "The boy is heartbroken. He's trying to put himself together after last night. Cut him some slack," he replied.
Saint shared a look with Baby before facing Takeshi.
"You have told us how you're involved with the Fantasy Garage. What about our friend, Rode? Why was he seen down there last night?" Saint asked calculatedly.
Takeshi glanced at Oliver, as if seeking permission to say it.
"We didn't want to say it until Kai arrived; he is supposed to hear it at the same time as everyone—"
"I'm here," Kai appeared through the door, walking in slow strides toward them, looking as magnificent as ever.
Not a single curl of his dark hair was out of place, but the way his hoodie covered his eyes told everyone he was just showing up because he had to.
"Hey, how are you?" Baby asked, making space for Kai to sit beside him.
"I'm fine. How are you?" Kai smiled at Baby, flashing Takeshi a polite smile, "Please, don't let me stop you, tell us why Rode was there last night," he said, pulling a flash drive out of his pocket and throwing it to Saint.
"The videos," he murmured.
"Thank you," Saint caught it with ease, nodding at him.
"So?" Saint arched his brow at Takeshi, ready for the big news.
"Fine," Takeshi sighed, drumming his fingers over his knees, "Rode is Anna's son... she's the major owner of that organization."
Silence.
And more silence.
"No wonder we've never met Rode's parents..." Cam murmured very lowly, blinking in shock.
"Right... Anna's son," Baby whispered, not believing his own words.
"You're certain of what you're saying?" Saint asked calmly, his face darkening with both disappointment and disbelief.
"Why would I lie about this?" Takeshi frowned.
Kai was quiet, his face unreadable.
Rode was Anna's son?
No wonder Rode had known exactly how to suggest they get to Georgia that night. He had urged so hard, almost as if he was secretly asking them to save him as well.
Those bruises he saw all connected now; Anna must have held Rode down to herself with some sort of blackmail or trauma, making him believe he had no right to leave her. His fists balled, wishing he had strangled Anna last night.
"He needs our help," Kai muttered, "I need your laptop, Saint," he demanded.
"I understand your hurt and you're probably blinded by your emotions, Kai. But Rode might not be as innocent as we thought; he might simply draw us into their trap if he sees we're still naive after all this is out," Oliver countered gently.
Baby frowned at Oliver, shaking his head at him.
Kai simply ignored Oliver's words, "Please, your laptop, Saint," he said again.
Oliver sighed, "What if Rode—"
"Shut the fuck up!" Kai snapped.
Everyone stilled.
For the first time, Kai had lost his cool, all because of Rode.
They really prayed and hoped Rode was innocent as Kai believed; if not, the young man might be visiting a therapist for quite a long time. Love can mess with one so deeply if you encounter an unfortunate love.
Saint walked away and after some time, returned with his laptop.
"Here," he handed it to Kai with the flash drive.
"Thanks," Kai nodded, getting to work.
"This is not a good idea," Oliver murmured.
"I'm sorry I can't give more information. I barely spoke with Rode unless it's the nights we go under there. I can't tell if he's a willing or an unwilling participant," Takeshi said.
Oliver placed his hand on Takeshi's thigh, "You've done enough. You've given us everything we need," he whispered.
Takeshi smiled softly, nodding.
"What are you doing?" Saint had to ask, walking behind the sofa to see Kai screening through the videos.
"Saving multiple copies. Then..." he clicked enter, "I sent all the compiled videos to Georgia and Anna—"
"Make it meaningful. Tell Georgia that if she doesn't publicly call off my engagement to her daughter, then she and her best friend can kiss their lives goodbye," Saint stated.
"Hold on, babe. So, if they do call off the engagement then we just let them carry this shit on?" Baby pointed toward the laptop.
Saint scoffed, leaning down to rest his jaw on Baby's shoulder, "Your boyfriend is not dumb, Baby. Of course not; they'll meet the same outcome whether they call it off or not," he kissed Baby's shoulder, smiling.
"She's replying," Kai said.
Footsteps suddenly echoed in the door and everyone looked up.
Cam's face instantly heated, his mind temporarily forgetting the matter at hand as he stared at his hot boyfriends walking into the room wearing the same black outfit.
Were they trying to drive him crazy?
"Are we late to the party or something?" Cassian asked, marching straight to pull Cam to his feet, tucking him between himself and Wong.
"Hey, cutey," Wong whispered, kissing Cam's lip slowly before letting him move to Cassian.
Baby and the rest watched as Cam took his precious time kissing two men like the world had paused for just them.
"You said you'd return in the morning," Cassian said, leading Cam to a separate sofa so the three of them could sit together.
"Are you okay?" Wong asked, pulling Cam down between them.
Cam was now as red as a tomato, only nodding and never lifting his head; he knew everyone was watching, especially his nosy best friend, Baby.
"Guys, I'm fine... we're kind of in the middle of something—"
"And you'll be in our middle tonight," Cassian promised darkly.
Cam choked, suddenly coughing and patting his chest.
"Well, to answer your question, Cassian, no, you guys are not late for the party. We have just asked Georgia to nullify the engagement or have her video all over the world," Baby decided to inform, disrupting the steamy atmosphere between the throuple.
"And has she replied?" Wong questioned.
"Still typing," Kai responded, staring at the screen.
Cam sighed in relief, grateful for Baby's intervention. These men were trying to have sex with him right there and then, and he would have shamelessly let them.
Cassian was finally back from business, and as he said, tonight was the night. He was both excited and nervous; could he please them at the same time?
What if they suddenly realized they didn't want this?
"Babe, your phone," Baby pointed to the mini-bar counter.
Saint walked over, picking up the phone, "Georgia." He showed the screen to them.
"She's stopped typing," Kai announced.
"Then, answer it," Oliver urged.
Clenching his jaw, he answered the phone on speaker.
"Georgia," he called directly, since there was no longer a need for formality.
However, the group received another wave of shock as they heard the instruction.
"If you value your parents' lives... meet us at Anna's villa in thirty minutes. Any later... they're dead."
However, the message wasn't the real shock; it was Rode's voice speaking through the speaker that froze them to the bone.