After calling Amy 12 times, Zac managed to talk to his sister and understand what was happening.
Amy had told him that she had missed work today to go to a routine doctor's appointment and that he shouldn't worry.
As for the message she had received, he didn't bring it up directly because he didn't want to seem like he was spying on her. He tried to ask her how her work was going and if everything was okay.
Amy lied and said things were going as usual before changing the subject and asking what he wanted to eat later.
Zac was temporarily less worried, but he was still slightly bothered by the earlier email. He trusted his sister but knew Kai was not a good person.
In at least three cases, Amy had come home with purple marks on her arms after encounters with Kai, and he had heard the two of them arguing at least a dozen times.
As far as he knew, Kai was a loan shark who was involved with some very complicated people.
So he didn't like Kai.
And if everything was fine, why the email from earlier?
That bothered Zac enough to keep him from forgetting about it.
But he had no way of finding out anything about the shop where Amy 'worked,' so after talking to his sister, he made his way home.
...
When he got home around 9 p.m., Amy had a terrible look on her face, as if her soul had left her and she was just a doll that could move by itself.
If Zac saw her now, he would probably be distraught and take her to the doctor.
However, the moment she entered the house and started to take off her shoes, Amy's expression suddenly changed when she heard the sound of Zac's footsteps.
"How was your day, Zac?" She looked at him with a smile that was completely different from the 'lifeless' look of a few moments ago.
Seeing the usual smile on his sister's beautiful face, Zac felt less worried and said to her. "Well, I'd say. I'm enjoying the martial arts gym. I feel I can improve if I continue after the trial period."
"That's good. A little exercise is good for your health. You should continue."
"Yes, but we can't afford it. I may have to sell some of my books to pay for the first tuition before I can save up for other expenses." He said, aware that their financial situation was dire.
She walked over and hugged him. "Don't worry, Zac. I'll make it. You don't have to get rid of your things. They're important for you to have a good future."
"But..."
"No argument." She looked into his eyes before planting a kiss on his forehead. "Continue to study at home and go to the gymnasium without worrying. I'll take care of any problems..." She was saying as she walked into the small kitchen of this residence when she felt her smartphone vibrate.
When she looked at it, her expression changed slightly.
"Zac, are you really hungry?" She looked at him. "I can order a pizza if you're willing to wait..." She smiled at him.
"Whatever you want, sister, hehe." He said, wondering if his sister had received her salary today to suggest such a thing.
"Hmm, stay here and read your books. I will take care of some things in the condominium and return with our pizza." She grabbed a few things and left quickly.
Zac was not surprised and went to do what she had suggested: read something to pass the time. What he wanted to do was meditate and test his powers, but he preferred not to do that when Amy was around, so he decided to do something else.
...
Ten minutes later, Amy arrived at a street four blocks from where she and Zac lived.
Arriving at a square where there was a basketball court with some young people playing, she soon came across a red-haired man.
"Why did you call me here?" She asked Kai.
Kai was smoking while watching the amateur basketball game when he grinned at her. "Can't I meet my sweet girlfriend?"
"You can, but it's not something you usually do." She said as she took his cigarette and took a drag. "What do you want? I have to get back to dinner with Zac."
Kai didn't love Amy but liked her looks and manners. So he didn't hide it. "I came to help you. Thank me later."
"Help me with what?" She looked at him strangely while she put her hands in her pockets.
Kai said seriously. "A group of criminals will attack your house in 8 minutes. They wanted to use you to hurt Zac, but I couldn't let them do it."
"What?" She exclaimed when she heard that.
But Kai grabbed one of her arms, preventing her from moving towards her house.
"You will stay with me until the situation is resolved."
"Fuck you, Kai! Let me go, or I'll scream!" She said as she tried to break free.
He laughed as all the young men playing basketball on the court stopped playing. "Who are you going to yell at, Amy? My friends playing here?" He laughed as he pointed at the people around him.
Then, as she turned red with anger, he slapped Amy's pretty face.
Pa!
"Don't worry. The little shit will be fine. It wouldn't be like this if you stayed behind. But things will end well for everyone since I got you out of the house in time."
"Tsk! You wretch! If you knew about this, why didn't you let me bring him with me?" She asked hatefully.
"Amy, I have nothing to do with your brother. The things I do for him are because of you." He grabbed her cheeks. "Don't think I will get into trouble because of him. I'm just here to keep things from getting out of hand."
"What do you mean?"
Kai waved for his men to continue to play and said. "That little shit Zac got involved with a troublesome brat. This teenage problem got to the boss, and you almost got dragged into it by accident.
I found out about it about 15 minutes ago, and that's why I sent you that message. Anyway, relax and watch the game with me. When it's over, you can go home."
"Shit, Kai, if something happens to Zac..."
He interrupted her threat. "Think of it as a chance for him to learn. Your brother thinks he lives in a fantasy world. This will allow him to mature and learn to keep his head down."
She clenched her fists until they hurt and said. "Remember, everything I do, I do for him. If anything happens to him, forget our agreement."
Kai looked at Amy and said nothing more, aware that even though this woman was already a 'hostage' of his group, she would have nothing to lose if something worse happened to Zac. In that case, she could get out of control and become a problem.
"Keep an eye on her. I'm going for a walk." He left after that with a serious look on his face.
'Fucking brat!'
...
Meanwhile, in Zac and Amy's small apartment, the young man was reading on the bed when he suddenly heard a strange noise coming from the apartment's front door.
Thinking it was Amy coming home, he got up to greet her.
However, as he stood facing the door, Zac saw something different happen than Amy's arrival.
The door to his apartment was suddenly kicked in, and four people appeared, dressed all in black, with cloth masks on their faces and baseball bats in their hands.
"Oh, shit..."