Chapter - 19

Ready To Talk

"What is it? Is it about Arjun?" Neal asked, panicked. Ricky was silent since they walked out, and now they are in garden. The doctor's silence made the vet tense.

"Do you like Hunter?"

Neal was surprised at the question and he frowned as soon as the name left Ricky's lips. He didn't say anything.

"Why are you treating him like this all of sudden?" Ricky kept talking. It was Neal's time to be silent.

"I know we held you hostage and you hate us."

"I don't hate you! Or anyone!" Neal squeaked.

"So you like him?" Ricky pressed.

Neal sighed, "I didn't say that. I don't know how your world works Derrick, because I'm an ordinary person. I'm―"

"So what do you imply we are? Monsters?" Ricky raised his brows, there wasn't any amusement in his face anymore.

"We didn't chose this life, Neal. Trust me, if I had a choice, I wouldn't be a part of this world." Ricky breathed out.

Neal saw a flash of sadness in the other's eyes. Now he's feeling bad. He made his only friend there sad.

"Do you know who was that man?" Ricky asked as they strolled around the garden.

"Who?" Neal frowned.

"That dead man."

"Oh." Neal shook his head, no.

"That's Ian's father, Zach."

Ian was 14 when his father killed his mother in a fit of rage. Zach was a drunkard and always in high. He was sent to jail after the incident, and Adrian and his ten year old sister went to foster care. When he turned 18, Ian started to work at Rendell's bar. They took him and his sister under care. If there was any person that Hunter knows like the back of his palm, other than his friends, it is Adrian.

Ricky never thought the man would get out of the jail. But when his brothers said he is out and is demanding Allison's custody, he was surprised. What he didn't expect was seeing him like that in their living room.

When Ricky explained all these to Neal, the vet was stunned. How could a man do that to his wife and children?!

"Zach wanted Allison's custody. When Hunter told him to back off, he wasn't having it. That's why he came here and attacked big bro. If he had taken Allison, I don't know what would have happened to her." Ricky mumbled the last part.

"How....how did Ian react?" Neal asked gently. Zach is his father, no matter what. How did he felt when his father got killed right there?

Ricky let out a heavy sigh and shook his head.

"You have only one surname when you step inside our realm, Neal. You have only one family to protect and cherish. Ian wanted to kill his father when he learned how to hold a gun for the first time. But whatever we say, it's still his father. That's why Hunter did it."

Once again the whole bloody scene came before Neal's eyes. He closed his eyes with a shiver. Never in his life he want to see something like that again.

Ricky, who watched him, sighed. He took Neal's hand , leading towards the cement bench beside the garden. Both sat down in a comfortable silence.

"Did you ever killed anyone?" Neal spoke up slowly, breaking the silence. When he first heard about Rendells and then came here, he was terrified of them. But when they spared his life and treated him nicely, he was relieved. But now, that same feeling started to creep inside him.

Ricky gave Neal a smile which actually scared him.

"Yeah. Many." Ricky held on Neal who scooted away from him.

"Hey! Don't be scared. What I did can be called defense or survival. Don't label me as a murderer." The young one pouted.

'Still, you killed them'. Neal thought but didn't said out loud.

"You don't have any siblings right?" Neal was taken aback by the random question. He stared at the blonde with a confused frown.

"No. Why did you ask?"

"Imagine you have a little sister. A bastard kidnapped her. She was brutally raped―"

"What on the earth are you saying?!" Neal's eyes bulged out.

"Hear me out pal, your sister was raped and killed. The man didn't get arrested. Years later, he got into an accident. You are the one doing his surgery," Ricky paused and turned towards the listener,

"You have that man, a rapist who killed your sister, at your mercy. Will you kill him, or save him, Neal?" He ended with a question. He already had his answer from how riled up the other one looked right now.

"I will kill him." Neal said without any hesitation.

Ricky smiled and patted his shoulder. "See? Your blood is boiling for an imaginary sister. A healer can be a killer too Neal. You can't judge or label anyone without knowing their reasons."

"You were right. Our worlds have a huge difference. But we are human too Mr. Neal Jayden Knight. We too deserve what you deserve. I hope someday you will know why Hunter likes you so much. And let me say one more thing, you likes him too. May be you don't realise it. But I know you like him, otherwise you wouldn't have been this effected by his act."

Neal looked down. He doesn't know how to reply to that statement. Maybe Ricky is right? Arjun always said he is the type of guy who easily fall for anyone.

Am l that easy?

He likes it when Hunter is kind and gentle, and considerate. But when he saw the Rendell yesterday, he looked nothing different from beast. Although he is a little aggressive and domineering...sometimes..Neal liked being held by that gorgeous male.

When Hunter gave him phone to call Reksha..., he was touched. He liked that Hunter. But when he saw the guy with blood all over his hands...he was... disappointed. And Neal knew something in the way he looked at him that day, did something to that raven haired.

"Did you heard the commotion when we passed the office?"

Neal snaped out his thoughts and nodded slowly. After the day he came here, it was first time he heard Hunter raising his voice at someone else. It scared him actually.

"We are going through so much right now. Our deals with clients, the spy thing, Ian's father, and now Kaiden's dad got attacked too. On top of all your hostility towards Hunter."

"Is Kaiden's father okay?" Neal asked concerned. Ricky gave him a smile and nodded.

"I won't be here for a few days."

"Why?! Where are you going?" Neal asked in a high pitched voice. Ricky is the only close friend he have here. He can't deal with the other Rendells the rest of the days if he isn't here.

Ricky chuckled at the panic-stricken face.

"Don't worry. You and Arjun will be fine. I'm going to see Leo, Hunter's nephew." Ricky said with a cute smile. He is excited to see that little vampire, as Kaiden calls him.

"Oh! They are alive?! I thought Adriel killed him." Neal blurted out. Ricky's smile vanished.

"What did you say?" He narrowed his eyes at the vet.

Neal gulped and started to panic. "H–Hunter have a nephew? I―I didn't know." He chuckled nervously.

The blonde was still looking at him suspiciously, but when he sensed the other's uncomfortableness, he let it go.

".....Yeah."

Both were silent for a while. Neal fidgeted. Did he dig a grave for himself?

"Neal....." Ricky called out slowly, "When I'm away...don't slip up anything like this agian. My brothers are not idiots. You clearly know some things about us, more than you should know. I don't know your source of that knowledge, but...keep quite if you wanna be alive." Ricky warned.

Neal's breath hitched in his throat. He felt like he couldn't talk, swallow or even blink.

Ricky stood up with a sigh. He looked down at the vet who resembled a statue.

"Wanna help me with packing?" The blonde asked with a smile. Neal flinched and looked up, "Huh? Yeah, sure." He stood up as well and followed Ricky.

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"Whatcha looking at?" Ricky asked curiously as he walked towards Neal. They were in Ricky's room. The blonde was stuffing his things and Leo's toys in a bag, and Neal was helping him. They were chit chatting and the vet become silent suddenly. When Ricky looked up, Neal was intently staring at a framed picture in his hand.

"Is this Hunter's sister?" He asked without taking eyes off that kid in the photo. The child was wearing pajamas, hands wide spread for a hug, for whoever taken the photo. What caught Neal's attention was the same eyes of Hunter and the jet black hair which almost reached the kid's shoulder. That big innocent eyes and adorable smile could steal anyone's heart.

Ricky take a look at the picture and giggled.

"No. It's Hunter." He laughed out when he saw Neal's reaction. The guy was shocked. Neal looked back at the kid.

But....it looks like a girl....

Ricky who knew exactly what the other thinking, laughed.

"I know right. He was hella cute back then. Hunter is the only one who got his grandpa's eyes. Every single person here and school adored him. They even called him pretty. Although he hate it, he would blush if anyone compliment his eyes." Ricky said with teasing smile. Neal blushed. Of course, how can he forget his first day here.

Neal looked at that mesmerizing eyes. "It's beautiful. It's like...he have all shades of blue in his eyes." He spoke gently.

Ricky observed Neal for a while before realisation hit him.

"Wait a minute, Oh! Now I know why you are so obsessed with his eyes! Your mother have the same ones right?" Ricky asked enthusiastically.

Neal's eyes widened, "How do you know?!"

"I saw your highschool graduation picture in your facebook. She is very pretty. Do...you miss her. What I'm asking, of course you miss her." Ricky face palmed.

Neal give him a sad smile and looked away. He swallowed the lump in his throat. When will he see his mom again?

He felt two small arms around him. He buried his face on Ricky's shoulders. The faint smell of oranges was somewhat comfortable.

"Don't worry. We won't lock you here forever. You can see her again. Just....you have to wait." Ricky comforted him, patting his back. Neal nodded. At least someone is here to comfort him.

They parted and Ricky turned to continue his packing. He paused and looked towards Neal, "You guys should make up. Hunter may be aggressive, but deep down he is a big softie. You will know when you get to know him more."

Neal didn't say anything. To be honest, he too didn't like this distance.

Maybe it's time....

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"What is he doing?" Kaiden asked with a sigh as he looked at the screen of the system. Hunter shrugged as he too obesrverd the pacing guy in front of his study. He is doing this for the past ten minutes.

Neal was very scared and hesitant to face the boss of the house. He doesn't have the courage to open the door and talk to him. That's why he is been pacing in front of it, unaware of the cameras that watching him.

"Is he finally ready to talk?" Hunter muttered.

"I guess so. But you don't have to explain too much. Ricky already cleared it for you." Kaiden smirked.

"That little shit..." Hunter rubbed his temples, "Tell him to come inside." He said gesturing towards the door.

Kaiden nodded and walked towards the door. He opened it and gestured Neal to come in. When Neal entered, Kaiden stepped out, closing the door.

Neal gulped in fear. He was determined to have this talk. But the neutral expression on Hunter's face is not helping.

Umm..now what?

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