Page 52 of Shifting Gears

But where I expected fear, anger, shock, or even a knowing smugness that a caught murderer would have, all I saw were the eyes of a man fighting back sadness.

“Hold up. You think I was the one who killed Raven?” he said as he folded the photo.

“Yes! It had to be you! No one knows who you are, and you were the last person seen with my sister before they found her dead!” I shouted at him.

I heard people mumbling to each other over to my left, and I turned my head. A few men from the warehouse next to us were watching. They looked like mechanics, and suddenly, I felt the urge to run to my car and take off. But I couldn’t, not when I was this close to getting my revenge!

He stepped over to me, and I snapped my eyes back at him, bracing myself for anything he had to throw at me. I stilled as he reached a hand down.

“I’d never hurt her. If you let me explain, I can tell you just how wrong you are about Raven and me. Thought you looked like her. It makes sense that you’re one of her sisters.” He kept his hand out and sighed. “Unless you want to put on a show, take me up on my offer.”

“I don’t trust you,” I said as I slapped his hand away.

“You don’t gotta trust me to listen to what I have to say. But if you don’t give a shit”—he shrugged his shoulders—“then get the fuck out of here and leave me alone,” he said as he tucked his hands into the pocket of his sleeveless hoodie.

I sat there, glancing between him and the men standing nearby.

“My car. And if you try anything, I will crash us into the damn ocean,” I said as I pointed at the end of the pier ahead.

“Fair enough,” he said as he turned and walked over to the car.

He bent down near the side of the car and picked up the blade, hiding it from view. Then he slid into the passenger seat and leaned back, tossing the blade onto the floor in the back seat before looking out the windshield, obviously waiting for me.

I stalked over and got inside my car, slamming the driver’s door shut. I threw the car in drive and kept my foot firmly on the brakes.

“Tell me everything then, killer,” I said as I twisted to face him.

“I didn’t kill your goddamn sister. Fucked her, sure. But I never hurt her,” he said as he stared back at me.

Fucked her?! There’s no way …

But I thought back to some of the last conversations I’d had with her. She’d sounded happier, hopeful, like something big was about to change and for the better. Could he have been the reason for that?

I took a minute to really get a good look at him. He was relaxed in the seat, leaned back with his black ball cap tipped up a bit, revealing his dark hair and a set of amber-colored eyes that smoldered as they stared back at me. His body was in amazing shape, from what I could see. Tattoos wrapped all over his arms, accentuating each perfectly proportioned muscle. He was good-looking, and I could see how someone built like this could appeal to my sister.

“Why should I believe you? How do I know you aren’t just saying things to try to get away with murder?” I snapped at him as I gripped the steering wheel tightly.

“Because she told me something about the situation she was in and how a part of her wished she could just take off with her sisters, but she couldn’t. Why would I step into a ring to fight in place of her fighter if I planned to kill her? It would have been easier to let her lose by default. She was someone I cared about. The morning after the fight, I dropped her off at a breakfast joint in the city. It was the last time I saw her. I get you don’t fucking know me, but if you use your brain for a second, you could see who was most likely to hurt her—me or the yakuza she was with?” he said, his calm, deep voice never wavering.

I sat there, letting everything he’d said sink in. But if what he was saying was true, then this meant Kaito was more cunning than I’d thought. He’d set up Raven’s death in a way that he knew would send me after this man in front of me, seeking revenge for her killer.

Did Kaito hope I would kill for him or that this guy would kill me once I attacked him, getting me out of the way as well? He never liked me. I could tell he had only restrained himself because of Raven.

“If you’re actually being honest … then I’ve had this all wrong,” I said to him finally.

Defeat filled my heart. If Kaito had killed Raven, how was I going to get my revenge on one of the city’s most renowned yakuza leaders? How was I going to avenge her?

A tear slipped down my cheek, then another.

He reached out, and his rough, callous thumb brushed a tear away.

“Hey, it’s okay. Talk to me,” he said in a gentle tone.

“Kaito fooled me. That’s why I came here. He had played my emotions like a fiddle, and I almost fell right into his plan. I don’t even know your name, and I tried to kill you. I’m never going to make this right for Raven. I’ve already failed her so much!” I cried out as I fought to control my tears.

“Nah. Hey, take it easy. Deep breaths, baby,” he said as I wiped my eyes. He reached over and put my car in park, then turned the key, killing the engine.

I sat there for a few minutes, letting him stroke my cheek as I calmed down.

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