Page 68 of Whiskey's Redemption

From the other side of the table, Carli’s sister, who looks bored, speaks up as she taps away on her phone. “Can we get on with it? I’m hungry, bored, and ready to hide in my room until mylovelybig sister lets me out of my gilded cage.”

“Aren’t you a gem.” Snapping sugary sweet, China turns to Miori. I see this going south soon. “Miori, right?”

As she nods with a sarcastic smile, Risen and I watch the interaction. Our ‘let’s get to know each other’ is about to be ‘who’s more fearless and insane?’ Normally, I’d say that we’d win, but the mafia family might give us a run for our money.

“China, back it down. We’re guests,” I tell her, hoping it’ll cool the situation. Staring across the table at Miori, it’s easy to see they’re both spoiling for a fight. China might give it to her.

Not looking at me, not taking her gaze from Miori, she says, “James, she’s rude. I don’t like rude.” Rising out of the chair, China faces off with the sister. “Why don’t we have some fun?”

“Yeah…no. One arrest should be your limit per year, Princess.” Risen pipes up, pulling her back to his lap. “Accept her rudeness. Be a good girl for once.”

Flopping into his lap, she laughs darkly. “Now both of you are killjoys.”

Laughing at her, I don’t even answer. Turning my attention back to the two at the end still fawning over the ring, I take in the demeanor of the others that are here. Kano, the crazy, sweet twin sister, is watching Circe and Carli like they’re the only souls here. Engrossed in their conversation, she’s absorbing it all. Miori, of course, is still eyeballing China between posts on her social sites, but she seems to have cooled a bit. The twins’ bodyguards are silent and like statues in the corner, and the one is more interested in his fingernail contents than the girls, whereas the other is watching Kano’s every move. He’s hung the fuck up on her.

Kato, the older gentleman that joined us, isn’t what he seems. I don’t trust him. There’s something off about him. He’s shifty. The way he watches Carli, keeping track of her, but then looking sidelong at Miori, tells me something is amiss. I don’t get it yet, with this jetlagged brain, but I will.

As the girls finally break apart, and Carli returns to her seat, things begin to settle down. Finishing her introductions, pushing the last bit of the formal shit out, dinner arrives.

To be honest, I think we were all pretty gung-ho to eat. We all shut up pretty fast and didn’t say another thing during the meal. I didn’t say another thing to Carli until dinner was over, but my mind never quit asking questions. I’ll get the answers soon, though.

Soon.

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