Page 30 of Fast Fury

“Okay,” he said. “Meet you there.” He checked his watch. It was seven-thirty now. He had just enough time to run home and change if he was going to make it down to Wailea in time.

“All right. See you.”

“See you.” Hani lowered the phone to his lap, the sting of tears burning the back of his throat. He cleared it and swallowed, forced all that shit away as he started his truck and drove to his place.

He was so deep in his thoughts about Kai and what he would have to do, that only partway there did he remember about thehaolewoman who’d been asking about him, and Juan’s warning that he was being watched. Hani kept checking his mirrors but it was too late now to discern whether or not anyone was following him, because this part of Kahului was busy and there was a line of cars behind him. He swore under his breath, dots of perspiration breaking out over his upper lip.

Vowing to be more careful from now on, he stayed vigilant as he parked behind his luxury townhouse and headed inside. Showered, shaved and changed into a dress shirt and khaki pants, he got back in his truck and headed for the west side of the island.

A few cars stayed behind him on the highway there, but the one directly behind him wasn’t tailgating as if afraid of losing him, and none of the others were passing to try and get closer. His gut told him he was still in the clear, though there were plenty of other ways the cartel could track him.

He relaxed, the nerves buzzing in his stomach now mostly to do with the upcoming reunion with Kai. Shame crawled through him, threatened to smother him. He’d made bad choices in his life and it was way too late to fix any of them now. He was in too deep. There was no escape. He was nothing but a pawn of theVenenocartel, and an expendable one at that.

Maybe Kai can get me out.

As soon as the desperate thought flashed into his head, he dismissed it. He’d done shitty things and trafficked dope for a living because until now it had been easy money. Kai was already in enough danger. Maybe theirtutuas well. For once in his life, Hani had to put someone else’s wellbeing before his and think of the only two people he really cared about in this world.

The streets of Wailea were quiet, filled only with the wealthy tourists who paid obscene amounts of money to stay at this luxurious part of the island. He only ever came here on business, whether for meetings or to deliver shipments of product to his dealers who sold to the people who stayed there. And the Grand Wailea was the area’s crown jewel.

He drove up to the luxurious main entrance and handed the keys to the valet, glancing behind him as he stepped out into the sultry night air. A few cars behind him were familiar. Again, none of them concerned him. He would go meet Kai, play it cool, pull him aside for a minute and say something awful to make a clean break, then something else to try and make him leave the island tomorrow.

As he turned toward the open entryway into the hotel lobby, he spotted a familiar figure heading his way. A few inches taller than him, built like a freaking linebacker.

The rush of emotion he’d been trying to hold back burst free, thickening his throat, and his whole plan crumbled around him. Unable to help himself, he broke into a smile and walked faster, drawn to his cousin like a junkie to his next fix.

Kai stopped, his expression closed. Distant. But as Hani came nearer his cousin’s face changed, split into a reluctant grin that made Hani’s heart catch. “Hey,” Kai said.

Overcome by a sudden wave of emotion, Hani walked right up to him, wrapped his arms around those massive shoulders in a back-slapping hug. His chest ached, ready to split open. “Good to see you,hoahanau,” he said, his voice rough.

Kai hugged him back. “You too, man.” He half-turned away from Hani and reached out a hand to someone standing behind him. “And this, this is Abby.”

Hani’s smile slipped, freezing in place as he stared at the newcomer. She was about five-five, with short, platinum blond hair and bright blue eyes, wearing a purple dress that made her pale skin glow. She was pretty, and not Kai’s usual type at all, since he always went for leggy brunette model-types…

Yet the unmistakable pride on his cousin’s face as he looked at her with that smile made Hani’s stomach sink. He’d seen that look once before, when Kai had brought a girl home during his time in the Marine Corps. He knew what it meant, because he knew Kai better than anyone. Even theirtutu.

“Hi, Hani,” she said, offering her hand politely, everything about her radiating poise and confidence. This one wasn’t shy. She knew who and what she was, and she looked him straight in the eye when she spoke to him. “Nice to meet you.”

He shook her hand, numb inside. “Yeah. Same.” Fuck. Kai was in love with her. Or if not, well on his way there. They both had a long history of shitty relationships. From whatTutuhad told him about Kai’s most recent relationship with some girl named Shelley, Kai hadn’t been happy in a long time. But it was obvious he was happy now, with Abby.

More guilt piled onto the growing mountain he carried on his shoulders. He hadn’t even considered that Kai would be meeting a woman, let alone one he was involved with. Hani didn’t want her or his cousin getting hurt because of him. What the hell was he going to do now? He couldn’t say the things he needed to in front of her, it would cause too much of a scene.

Kai slid an arm around Abby’s shoulders and pulled her in tight to his body, the gesture possessive and protective all at once. “Let’s head down to the restaurant and get our table. Then we can catch up.” He turned away with Abby.

“How the heck do you pronounce it, anyway?” she asked.

“What,Humuhumunukunukuapua’a?” Kai laughed at her dumbstruck expression. “It’s the Hawaiian name for the reef triggerfish. Our state fish.”

The answering smile she gave Kai made Hani’s insides writhe. Dammit. That was the fanciest restaurant in the whole place.

What now? He shouldn’t have come. Shouldn’t be here at all, it was too risky. And how the hell was he supposed to pull off his plan now, in that setting with all kinds of people around as witnesses? Stupid. God, why was he always so stupid? “I can’t stay for dinner,” he blurted out.

Kai stopped and looked back at him in surprise, frowning. “Why not?”

“Something last second came up on my way here. But I’ll have a quick drink with you first, before I go.”

Those deep brown eyes held his for a long moment, the warmth in them cooling. Then Kai nodded. “All right.”

Hani exhaled a long, quiet breath as his cousin turned away and kept walking. He couldn’t tell Kai off here. So tonight was a reprieve of sorts, but it didn’t change the inevitable. Tomorrow he would have to tell Kai what he’d come here to say, no matter how much it would gut him to do it, and hope the hell it was enough to work. Hell, he had to try.

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