Page 31 of Dangerous Deceit

Anxiety weighs down on my shoulders, and I fidget nervously. I need a way out of this conversation.

Cherry taps Kenzo on his shoulder, and Kenzo spins around to address her, but his eyes immediately land on me. I’m mostly hidden behind the tree, but I pray to the gambling gods he’ll come over here soon.

Lightning fast and ready to strike, Kenzo barrels toward us.

My mind races, eager for his presence, and warmth flutters through my veins.

My husband is here.

How can a yakuza criminal comfort me this much?

But the yakuza cut Uncle Jay for touching thekanbu’swife. What if he hurts Patrick for touching my arm? I just want to get away from him; I don’t want him to get hurt.

“Oh,” Patrick says. He pulls back and straightens his suit. “Here comes the groom.”

CHAPTER 16

KENZO

“You’re Patrick, right?”I ask, pulling Vi’s cousin into a firm handshake. He pushes blond curls out of his face, his blue eyes rimmed with red blood vessels, like he did one too many lines of coke last night. “Mind if I call you Pat?” I scrunch his fingers between mine, slightly harder than I normally would. He tries to squeeze back, but I’ve already got the upper hand.

“I haven’t been called that since second grade,” he says politely, faking a laugh.

“Well,Pat,I’ve been neglecting you, haven’t I? Maybe we need a little man-to-man time.”

Patrick smirks, and I grit my teeth, forcing a smile. Vi’s cheeks are red, and there’s a vein throbbing in her neck. She’s anxious as hell but still frozen in what suspiciously looks like fear.

Patrickdid that to her. But why? What is their relationship like, anyway?

“Go help yourself to another drink from the bar,” I say to Vi. “Cherry will take you.”

Vi starts to explain. “I?—”

“Go on now,” I interrupt.

“There’s nothing to discuss here.”

My skin tingles, surprised she’d actually defy me. She must be protecting her cousin from me, and I admire that. Even if he makes her uncomfortable, she’s putting their bond before herself. That’s loyalty.

But Cherry wouldn’t point out the two of them together unless she suspects something. Cherry is protective of others. But Vi hasn’t earned her loyalty like that, which means this little family discussion is inmybest interest. Cherry must think the two cousins are scheming togetherorthat my wife’s cousin is manipulating the marital situation. We like to give each other shit, but Cherry would only bring something up if it’s important.

“I know,” I say to Vi, gently this time. “We’re just talking. Go get a drink.”

I brush a strand of hair out of her face. Her big blue eyes soften, and she nods, believing me. She shuffles off.

Whatever her cousin said or did, he rattled her, and I don’t care for that. The only one who should have that kind of power over her isme.

“Pat,” I say to him. I pull my lips into a wide grin.

He wipes his nose like he’s itching for more blow. “Ken,” he says. No one calls me that either, but I don’t mention it.

“You know, some yakuza gangs forbid their members from using drugs. It’s kind of funny, right? Clean gangsters. Who ever heard of such a thing?” I laugh, pretending it’s a joke. Inside, I imagine the life draining from Patrick’s eyes, purple blood pooling in his cheeks as I strangle him with a rope around his neck. Patrick laughs too and scratches the back of his head. Before he opens his mouth, I continue: “To be honest, there’s not a lot we keep from our predecessors in Japan. Here in the States, we like to do our own thing.” I put an arm around him, and he stiffens, but like an obedient little bitch, he bobs his head. “Have you tried our Shabu-8 yet?”

“About that?—”

“Good shit, right?” I say. Patrick opens his mouth, but I cut him off again. “What am I talking about? I know it’s good. Hell, I don’t follow the no-drugs rule myself. Dice might. Cherry too. But not me.”

I laugh, a cold, hard belly laugh, and Patrick chuckles nervously. “You think I can?—”

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