Page 77 of Whiskey's Redemption

Jamieson

What feels like days has only been hours. It’s been two hours, and I check my watch every minute. Sitting with Miori, the two of us have been awaiting news. Good news or bad, any news of any kind would be appreciated. We haven’t talked much, as anything we’d talk about is related to her, her sister, or her uncle and his hateful betrayal. Kano joined us after they’d stitched her up, but they said the drugs they gave her will make her sleepy, so we’d sent her back in the chopper to the resort to rest. I knew what sending that bird back would do. It would give my family a way to join us. And stepping through the doors with determination and a million questions, leading the way is my little brother.

“Any news?”

Shaking my head, I blow out a frustrated breath. “Nothing yet. They took her, but no one has come out since.”

“There’s cops everywhere in the hotel.” He’s obviously quite flustered.

Before I can answer him, wrapping her arms around me, China hugs me tight. Not what I was expecting, but I appreciate it nonetheless. Pulling back, I give her a kiss on the top of her head. “Thanks for that, China.”

“No problem. What’s going on? They took our passports, James. They promised we could have them back after we were questioned about everything. I think their broken English made it hard to understand. What the hell happened?”

“Her uncle shot Carli and Kano.”

“Who’s their uncle?” Looking at Miori, she turns back to me. “Am I missing something?”

“Kato is our—wasour uncle.” Seemingly keeping things together, Miori is amazingly stoic. She’s been dealing with this lifestyle of guns, death, and danger for far longer than she should have. She’s only China’s age, and I find her surprisingly strong, commanding, and forceful. She impressed me.

“And I thought our family was fucked up. You have uncles trying to kill you?” China clips off quite loudly.

As everyone turns, they glare at Doll. Risen drags her close, tucking her into his chest. “Get over here, mouthpiece.”

Murmuring into his shirt, he tries to stop her, but it doesn’t work. “What? I’m just saying, we’re messed up, but—”

“Ms. Katana.”

Appearing beside Miori, dressed in surgeon’s garb, is a stout young man. Bowing in a sign of respect, he immediately switches to Japanese. Rhyming off word after word quickly, it makes no sense to me or the others. As we wait patiently, watching, listening, taking in Miori’s every move, her expression darkens considerably as the doctor runs things down. With a few nods, he bows and walks back through the staff only doors.

“What did he say, Miori? What’s wrong?”

She looks me in the eye, tears slowly starting down her cheeks. “They said she’s stable.”

“That’s good.”

She shakes her head and wipes away a few tears, smudging her makeup. “He hit one of her kidneys and nicked the other. The one was too damaged so it had to be removed, and the other won’t stop bleeding. They’ve tried stabilizing the bleed, but it’s not responding. She’s going to need a donor.”

Without thought, I fall. Thankfully, it’s into a chair.

I can’t be here again. Why is life so cruel that a second person in my life could die from my errors? Two people I’ve cared deeply for. One that’s becoming a part of me, stronger than I thought she could, and one that left me far too young.

“James, she’ll be okay,” I hear Wyatt say. Of all the people here, he knows what’s going through my mind. How it was with Petra. How our lives changed forever when we lost her. How the world is taking the mickey out of me yet again.

“Why? Why me? Why is it always me!” I’m yelling so loud, the room full of patrons waiting on news about their loved ones stop what they’re doing and stare.

Softly speaking, bending low, Wyatt tries to calm me. Right now, my insides are tearing up. My heart is shattering again, and I have no words.

---