Page 369 of The Black Trilogy

“I have no idea. I’m not sure he does either. He just saw a shopping opportunity that was too valuable to pass up.”

Shopping, parties. Oh, Bradley. “What’s all this I hear about a funeral?”

“You mean yours?” Dan asked.

“Yes, mine.”

“Bradley did an excellent job with that on such short notice. He even had one of those airplanes towing a banner that said ‘RIP Emerson.’ There was a great turnout too.”

I. Was. Going. To. Kill. Him.

Luckily for Bradley, Nate broke in. “Sloane called. She said Hiro Takeda’s plane just landed and you’d know what that meant. And she also said you’re not answering your phone?”

“I know what she means, and the doctor trod on my phone.”

“I’m not even going to ask.”

Probably for the best. I borrowed Nate’s phone to get Hiro redirected to the hospital then went to find Black. He was sitting next to Akari, looking down at the baby.

“He has my nose and jawline, don’t you think?” he asked me.

I stared at the tiny little person, who’d thankfully been cleaned up by now.

“Yeah, I can see that. He’s going to look a lot like you and Carlos when he grows up.”

“I can’t believe he’s here,” Akari whispered. “They were going to kill him.”

“Who?”

“Diego and Hector. I heard them talking. Diego said he didn’t want a crying child around the place.”

“Well, they can’t do that now. Things’ll be okay; I promise. Your brother’s just landed in the States, and he’s on his way here.”

“It will be strange to see him after so many years. What should I say? It was difficult talking to him on the phone.”

“I don’t think it matters. He loves you so much he’ll be happy if you simply sit there.”

The nurse came back with a doctor in tow. “We need to give you a checkup, Miss Takeda.”

She reached out, but Akari shrank away. “Don’t touch me. Please.”

The sheet shifted off her legs, and I saw what I’d missed earlier. Deep scars marred her flesh, all the way up her calf. She followed my gaze and quickly tugged the sheet back.

“Please don’t let them touch me.” She turned her eyes on Black, pleading.

“We won’t. I promise.” He focused on the medical staff. “Handle with care. Got it?”

The nurse gulped, and the doctor nodded and took a step backwards. Black had that effect on people.

We got Dan’s leg seen by a colleague of Dr. Beech’s and a reconstructive surgeon, and Hiro arrived half an hour later. He looked nervous, nothing like the ruthless cop the dossier Sloane had sent over suggested.

I met him in the corridor and shook his hand, then as an afterthought he bowed. “You will have to excuse my manners,” he said, speaking English this time. “I still can’t believe this is happening.”

“Yeah, sorry about the short notice. It’s been one crazy day. But congratulations, you’re an uncle now. And you must be the grandparents?” I spotted an elderly Japanese couple standing behind Hiro.

The woman nodded, clutching onto her husband’s arm for support, and I led them through to Akari. Tears flowed, as was only to be expected after so long apart, so Black and I left them alone to get used to being a family again.

When we got outside, the parking jobsworth had just finished writing my ticket. I gave him a hundred bucks and the finger as I walked to the driver’s door.

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