Page 132 of Prickly Romance

Dad has never met a stranger and is known to trade jokes with the pizza guy—no matter how impatient the poor kid is to leave, so the fact that he’s not saying anything is weird.

The moment dad steps aside, my eyes bug.

“Akira?”

Sazuki’s bodyguard is standing on my parents’ front porch with eyes that could kill. As usual, her hair is in a ponytail, her skin is pale, and her lips are blood red. The clash of red, white and black gives her a cold, ethereal aura.

“Do you know her?” dad asks me.

“She works with Mr. Sazuki.”

A hesitant smile spreads over his face. “Hi, there. I’m Dejonae’s dad.”

Akira dips her head but doesn’t speak to him. She hands a package over. “This is for you.”

I accept the box. “How did you know I was at my parents’ tonight?”

“Your sister posted on her social media.” Akira glances past me to the living room where Yaya is watching everything with curious eyes.

Well… that’s not creepy at all.

Akira turns to leave.

“Wait.” I shove the box at my dad. It bounces against his stomach before he can get a good grip on it.

I step onto the porch and close the door. From the corner of my eye, I notice the curtain shifting. Dad and Yaya are probably spying on us.

I edge Akira over to the corner.

She bristles.

“Akira,” I lick my lips, ignoring her obvious irritation, “I wanted to ask you something.”

She taps her foot.

“Has Sazuki ever… played a duet with anyone before?”

“Yes.”

My heart drops like a stone in the ocean. “Who?”

“Niko.”

I glance up quickly. “Just Niko? No one else?”

“No.” She looks at me with cold eyes. “Why is this important?”

“No reason.” I turn toward the door, my mind churning.

Sazuki asking me to play piano means something. It has to.

My heart skips a beat.

“Miss Williams,” Akira calls.

I stop rigidly.

“Mr. Sazuki is not like your peers. He is established in his own right and he bears the responsibility of the foundation as well as his familial duties.”

---