Page 30 of The Queen's Denial

As I look through my father’s office, which I believe is warranted given the circumstances, I easily find her information in one of the “Business Associate” files. I figure she’s likely the only woman my father has ever known whose actual name is “Oksana.”

I call from my father’s number so that she doesn’t screen me first. From what I’ve heard, she’s a little bit reclusive.

The phone rings and rings, and just when I’m about to hang up, it stops. I hold my breath, waiting for a greeting, but I get none. I’m sure there’s someone there, though.

“Oxy? Oks… Oksana?” I say slowly, as if I’m trying to coax an animal out of a corner.

“Who the fuck are you, and how do you know my name? Both of my fucking names?”

“I’m Chi Yan. I’m Akio Yan’s daughter. Andy — you know Andy Scutari, right? He’s been watching over my estate and — and he’s been—”

“Yes, I fucking know what’s been happening. I mean, you’d have to be living under a fucking rock not to know what’s happening. So, what do you want from me? I don’t even know you.”

I feel hopelessly out of my depth, which is an emotion I try never to feel. Ever. I take a deep breath, puff up my chest, and put on the best act I possibly can. “Okay. Listen. I know you’re freaked out, because I am too. But I’m just calling to see what the hell is going on and what I can do to help Andy and Cas. I want to make sure Andy can contact me if he needs me. I mean, what is he going to do when they let him out of jail? Are you going to pick him up?”

Oxy snorts. “Are you, in your adorable little red Corvette? Just the cutest model ever, am I right, or am I, like, right?”

I sigh into the phone. “Okay, you’re mocking me using a New York accent, girl. I’m in Boston. You gotta overpronounce the ‘a.’” I take a slow, centering breath in and continue. “Listen, would you just stop being a huge asshole for a few minutes and hear me out? I’m trying to help them. And who gives a shit if I drive a red Corvette?” I’m sure she was trying to unsettle me with that insult, but I know plenty of masterminds, so I expect her shitty attitude.

Oxy sighs, sounding a little extra pouty — probably because she didn’t get to have any fun with me. “You drive a red Corvette. I’m not sure there’s anything else that could be more obvious than a red fucking Corvette on the road. If anyone is trying to look for you — and I’m sure they are — that shit will give you away in no time.”

I roll my eyes. “Then work your magic, Oxy. But I need to go grab them as soon as I can, and I need you to tell me when they need me. I doubt they’d use a phone to contact me if it could be traced.”

Another sigh, this time of disdain. “You seriously think I don’t have blocks on their phones right now? Come on, this is rookie shit.”

I’m not sure how to say that I don’t care whether they have blocks on their phone. I don’t want Andy thinking he should call anyone else. I want to protect him, for once, and I know I can.

“Fuck this, Oxy. I need you to tell me exactly when he gets out. The minute you know.”

“I don’t have to do anything a spoiled little mafia princess tells me to do. Trust me, I don’t take orders from anyone, even your boyfriend.”

“Okay, first off, I’m not mafia, and I’m not a princess. I’m the next Yakuza queen. And I want us to be able to work together in the future, just like you work with my father, Andy, Cas, and even Mara. Or, I could just make sure you lose your little meal ticket. I have an in with your most direct employer. My best friend is the object of his absolute obsession. So let’s not do this anymore. I want to help your friends out, and I’m asking you to help me.”

I hold my breath and pray that she’s not awful enough to say no. Finally, a long, dreary sigh. “Fine.”

*****

I have everything planned when Daiki gets here, and things move smoothly for me. We book a mansion under one of Daiki’s aliases, take a shit ton of security with us, and get the fuck off of the estate I grew up on.

It’s a restless night. There’s no word from anyone, and I’m low-key freaking out the next morning, running on just a few hours of sleep and sipping coffee out of the largest mug I can find.

Daiki speaks to me in Japanese. “You shouldn’t be drinking so much caffeine, Chi-chan.”

I shoot him as close to a glare as I would ever dare shoot any of my elders and say nothing. I just continue sipping.

“It will be fine, Chichi. Trust that they know what they are doing.”

“It’s not them I don’t trust,” I say harshly. “It’s everyone else.”

Finally, I get a message from Oxy that Andy has been granted a hearing. She seems certain that he and Cas will make bail, and all I can guess is that she has somehow hacked into a website for information and has found something about their case. She gives me an estimate of when I should head over there, and I’m idling at the curb when he and Cas are finally let out of jail.

Cas is beat to hell, and they both stink of the jail cell, but they are alive, which is all I can really ask for in a time like this. Andy tries to act cool, but I know he’s happy to see me when he practically eats my face off first thing. It’s okay, though, because I’m the same way, pushing back on him so hard I’m afraid his lips may bruise. I notice Cas eyeing Daiki’s idling car as I come up for breath, and I smile at him.

“That’s just my father’s man.” I tell him briefly aboutDaiki — that he’s here just to watch over me.

“Watch you? Do you know how creepy that is?” Andy asks with a scoff. He has never seemed to understand our relationship, always misinterpreting Daiki as some overbearing, pervasive presence. But it’s not that at all. I welcome his wisdom and insight.

If I were a more sentimental person, I might even say he loves me like a daughter. I don’t know how Andy could ever understand after growing up with two very present parents, but it doesn’t really matter.

---