Chapter 38 MESSAGE RECEIVED
CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT
GENERAL POV
The sound of Micky’s laughter filled the room.
Kane lay on the rug with her, letting her climb over his chest as she pretended he was a mountain she needed to conquer. Her tiny hands pressed against his shoulders, her giggles bubbling freely, and for a brief moment, Kane allowed himself to forget the world outside this room. Forget blood. Forget enemies. Forget warnings.
“Daddy, you are cheating,” Micky accused, laughing as he shifted to make it harder for her.
“I am not,” Kane replied calmly. “You are just slow.”
“I am not slow,” she protested, climbing higher. “I am strong.”
He smiled..
Then his phone rang.
Kane stilled instantly.
Micky did not notice. She was too busy celebrating her victory as she sat proudly on his chest. Kane gently lifted her off and stood up.
“Stay here,” he told her softly. “Daddy needs to answer a call.”
He walked to the far end of the room, his face already hardening as he picked up.
“Hello.”
“Savy killed Jonas,” the voice on the other end said. “And he sent Sam as a warning.”
“Oh,” he said quietly.
There was a pause.
“Alright.”
He ended the call.
No shouting. No reaction. Nothing.
He walked straight back to Micky and dropped back onto the rug, picking up one of her toys like nothing had happened.
“Your turn,” he told her.
Micky stared at him suspiciously, then laughed again and continued playing.
Kane played with her, smiled for her, laughed when she laughed. But something inside him had shifted. A switch had been flipped. He was angry but he'll never show it in front of his child
His phone rang again.
This time, the screen lit up with a name he had not saved but would never forget.
Mum.
He stared at it longer than necessary.
“Daddy,” Micky said, eyes shining. “Is that grandma?”
He hesitated, then answered.
“Yes,” he said calmly. “But Daddy needs to make a quick call.”
“But I want to talk to grandma,” Micky pouted, her lips pushing out.
“You will,” Kane replied. “Let adults have their moments.”
He walked away slowly
“What is it,” he said immediately once he was out of her hearing.
“Not even a proper greeting for your mother,” his mum replied, her voice sharp even through the phone.
Kane stayed silent.
“How long will you keep shutting me out,” she continued. “How long will you pretend I do not exist.”
“I will hang up in twenty nine seconds,” Kane said flatly. “If that is why you called.”
There was a brief pause.
“What did you do, Kane,” she asked. “Why did you annoy the Sanctuary.”
Kane’s jaw tightened.
“What is it,” he repeated.
“They are after you,” she said, her voice dropping. “They want punishment. They want to make an example of you.”
“Okay,” Kane replied.
“I am serious,” she said quickly. “I keep hearing things. Something about a mutateyou bought. About you going against orders. Kane, it is time you settled down again. You should remarry. Open your heart to someone.”
“No,” he said instantly.
“I know,” she said softly after a moment. “I know you are still angry. I am sorry.”
“Goodbye, Mum.”
“Wait,” she rushed. “I spoke to your uncle in the council. He managed to reduce it. Thirty lashes only. You know what those lashes mean. You will need fortifications. You need protection.”
“I need nothing,” Kane said.
He ended the call.
He stood there for a while, phone still in his hand, eyes empty.
“Daddy,” Micky called when he returned. “You did not let me talk to grandma.”
“I am sorry,” he said, kneeling in front of her. “Grandma had something important to do.
She ended the call. But I am sure you will talk next time.”
“When will grandma visit,” she asked innocently.
“Soon,” Kane replied.
But he knew the truth.
She would never visit.
He would make sure his daughter only knew her from a distance. Some bonds were too dangerous to allow close. Some wounds never healed.
And Kane never forgot.
The memory hit him later that night like a cruel joke.
He remembered the day he had left the house, adjusting his jacket, checking his watch while Sally lay weakly in bed. She had just been moved to that bed two days ago, her body still fragile, her skin pale.
“Is it that urgent,” Sally asked softly.
“Yes, babe,” Kane replied, forcing a smile. “I promise I will be back before you even miss me.”
He bent and kissed her forehead gently.
“I will not forget to get your favorite ice cream,” he added.
She chuckled weakl
y.
“Mum is around,” he continued. “Nanny too. They will take good care of you.”
He turned to his mother
.
“Mummy, please take care of Sally,” he
said firmly. “I do not want her to be alone.”
She nodded. “I promise. I will not even leave the house.”
Kane believed her.
That belief cost him everything.
Because she left.
She left Sally alone to go out with a friend.
Nanny was upstairs with Micky. The house was quiet. Too quiet.
Sally would not have done much on her own.
She could barely move. But she would not have been dead.
The thought crushed Kane’s chest every time it returned.
Savy had sent a message.
And Kane had received it.