Page 71 of Secret
"I love you too, Uncle Kasey." She smiled as she stood, turning to see her dads as they walked into the kitchen. "You were right, he stunk and was a mess. I even made him shave." She looked proudly at Kasey.
Kasey glared at the two men as they set the grocery bags down on the counter. "Didn't dare face me yourself? Had to send Faith in to do your dirty work?"
Xander laughed. "We knew you wouldn't punch her. We weren't so sure about us." Xander stepped closer, suddenly looking serious. "Honestly, how are you?"
Kasey shrugged. "Life's been better."
"It will improve. It's just going to take a little time," Xander told him. "We get you back working again and give you something to focus on, it will be easier."
Now wasn't the time to argue about work. They would have the rest of the evening to do that. "Who's cooking?"
"Me." Matt pulled steaks out of one of the bags and set them aside. "You, Faith, and Xander can do some game therapy or something while I get dinner ready."
"Faith is on her own for a bit. I need to talk to Kase first." Xander reached over and tugged on Faith's hair. "Besides, she needs the practice because I plan on kicking her butt on whatever game she picks."
Faith huffed. "You're just mad that I won last time we played."
"I'm mad anytime you beat me." Xander grinned.
Kasey watched as the three of them went about getting things ready for dinner. Once the groceries were unloaded and Matt was starting to get dinner ready, Xander reached into the fridge and pulled out two beers, handing one to Kasey. "Out back?"
"Guess that's best. We won't get blood on the floor."
"We're not fighting." Xander narrowed his eyes.
"You gave up that option when you showed up at my door tonight." Kasey glared.
"You're not going to fight. Dad and Xander were right. You needed someone to show up and make you take care of yourself. So don't argue. Go outside with Xan and listen to what he has to say. I hate seeing you sad, so find a way to be happy." Faith stood beside Matt as she chastised him.
Matt smiled while Xander laughed.
"Exactly what she said." Xander nodded toward the backyard. "After you."
Kasey begrudgingly made his way out the back door. He went over to the small porch swing he had and sat down. "You aren't going to tell me anything I haven't told myself." He watched Xander take a seat in one of the lawn chairs.
"Maybe not, but maybe you'll listen to me. You've obviously been ignoring yourself." Xander twisted the cap off his beer. "So, all I know is what Bryon told us. Noam isn't arresting you and he isn't giving your secret away. I'm guessing he ended things with you?"
"Of course, he did. You can't expect him to stay after I hid stuff from him."
"It was more than just stuff. It's not like you told him you're a Leo when you're an Aquarius. The shit you hid you hid for a damn good reason. He has to see that."
"I'm sure he does, but it doesn't change the fact that I fucked up the trust that was between us and put him in a position that could cost him his career. If I'd been arrested by someone else and they found out Noam and I were dating, it would destroy his life." Kasey opened his own beer, flipping the cap into a planter he had beside the deck.
"So, this moping thing you have going on, is it because the relationship is over or is there more to it?"
"I don't fucking know. I miss him, but I don't blame him for not wanting to be with me. I get it. I really do. It's just this whole situation has made me question everything. I'm tired, Xan. We've been doing this for years and it's like we aren't even making a dent. There are more pedophiles out there than ever before. The internet has made it so easy for them to find kids. Are we really making a difference?"
"You tell me. In the last month we worked, we saved over twenty women and twelve kids. Those are people who are no longer being raped, sold, abused, beaten, or maybe even killed. On top of that, we castrated ten men last month. How many children did we save by making sure these men couldn't rape again? How many did we save by having these men locked up again?" Xander took a drink of his beer. "The way I see it, we might not see the good we do, but that's because those kids aren't raped, they aren't kidnapped, they aren't groomed, sold, and abused. We stopped that before it could happen."
Kasey stared at the ground, thinking about everything Xander had said. It was all true, but it didn't change the fact that more and more pedophiles were appearing. More willing to take the step to fulfill their disgusting desires and hurt children. When did it end?
"Listen, Bryon is ready for the team to start working again. He's got several stings lined up. He wants to put you into the rotation." Xander braced his arms on his knees as he stared at Kasey.
"Fuck!" Kasey arched his head back, closing his eyes. "When?"
"First one is tomorrow. Dyson's taking that, but there is another one Friday night. Bry wants you and me to take it. It's a married couple, their own kids on site. Both under the age of ten. Photos show they've been abused since they were as young as three."
Kasey's stomach turned.
