Page 79 of Moros

“Sketchy things.” He moaned. “Did you spike your coffee?”

A Japanese man who looked like he walked off the CD cover of a Jpop album approached them and wrapped his arms around Bailey’s shoulders from behind.

He placed a lingering kiss to her neck.

“Listen, sir.” Bailey giggled. “My husband is very jealous, and he carries very big guns for a living.”

The Japanese man laughed then straightened to hug Khadri who stood.

When they sat again, it was as if they were old friends.

“I didn’t know you were coming down.” The Japanese man spoke. “Everything okay?”

“Not really.” Khadri asked.

“You need a hand? Mouth and Pit are here as well on training with the JDF.”

Khadri shook his head. “Not yet. This is more of a fact-finding mission. We’re going back in a couple of weeks.”

“Zero, we’re here on vacation, remember?” Bailey spoke up.

“Baby.” Zero pouted.

“I know.” She relented and kissed his lips.

“We?” Zero asked. “Who’d you come down with?”

“It’s a very long story.” Khadri told him. “Right now, I just want to sit with my friends and hear about your beautiful babies and how the rest of CIRO is doing.”

“He’s broken hearted.” Bailey told her husband.

“Oh lord—why don’t you come by later?” Zero asked. “I brought some of the good stuff back with us.”

Khadri nodded, grinning. “Aww, you get me.”

Another woman showed up who screamed happily when she saw Khadri. She flailed, darted across the space in her stilettos, dropped her purse into Bailey’s lap then tossed herself into Khadri’s arms. He hugged her, twirled around then set her back on her feet.

I’m going to be sick.

Was this how he felt watching me leave with Todd?

That pain—how could I do that to him?”

“Nitro.” Khadri chuckled, pulling out her chair. “You look lovely.”

“Aww.” Nitro snickered. “You’re just saying it ‘cause it’s true.”

I couldn’t sit there anymore.

Not having ordered anything, I snuck out and doubled over to throw up in a set of flowers to the fight of the building. When I was feeling a little better, I wandered the small parking lot to find Khadri’s rental and tried the doors.

It was locked.

Looking around, I found a lawn with a large tree to hide from the sun and waited.

By the time Khadri exited, Zero was with him. The two men talked as they walked across the lot, and I could tell it was a serious conversation—probably one they couldn’t have with the ladies within hearing shot.

“You need to watch your back,” Zero was saying. “If you need me, I’m here. And I know you have Dude and Zero—but Barbie is in Arizona right now visiting some friends. She can be on a plane any second.”

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