Page 20 of Forgotten Promise

John watched their interplay with interest, that same sense of longing he always experienced whenever he witnessed families—especially close ones—interacting together sneaking in. It wasn’t a new feeling, so he’d become quite adept at handling it. After so many years, he’d learned how to acknowledge the desire without letting it bring him down.

“Will you be okay to handle everything without me?” Kailani asked, her voice lower as she turned her body toward her brother, her back to them. She lifted her hand, indicating she wanted to speak to her brother in private. The two of them took a few steps away, annoyed when they realized he and Benjamin were dogging their steps.

John chuckled at her efforts. “Kailani, I’m sure your brother is more than capable. So what’s our next move?”

She shook her head. “My next move,” she replied, stressing the pronoun.

“How can we help you if you keep pushing us away?” John asked.

Kailani narrowed her eyes at him. “Stop using that voice with me. You’re not going to get me again.”

Benjamin snorted, trying to cover up the sound with a cough as Makani looked confused.

“I need to fly to the mainland immediately. I hate to leave you here to deal with all of this, but…”

“Kailani,” Makani said. “I understand you have a duty to perform.”

Makani turned around and gestured at a third man John hadn’t noticed, lingering near the gardens, leaning against a tree.

“Who is that?” Kailani asked.

“You’re taking a bodyguard with you.”

Kailani scoffed. “No. I’m not.”

Makani crossed his arms. “There’s no way I’m letting you go anywhere alone.”

“She won’t be alone,” John interjected. “I’m going with her.”

Kailani was already shaking her head.

“We’re both going with you,” Benjamin added.

John closed his eyes wearily, trying to figure out how he could politely tell Benjamin to shut his pie hole and let him do the talking.

As expected, Kailani stiffened, annoyance that was almost alarming rolling off her. Whatever was between her and Benjamin, it wasn’t minor, wasn’t easily resolved, which meant if they were still getting married…

He frowned, wondering what impact this keyholder thing, and the apparently missing Grand Master, was going to have on the three of them.

But that was a problem for a later time. Right now, if he didn’t step in, Kailani and Benjamin would just argue and fight.

“Kailani, you need to get to the mainland and do your keyholder duties, right?” John asked. “But you also need some personal security. If this fire was arson, it’s possible that whoever attacked the Grand Master is coming after your hotel, you, or both.”

Kailani and Makani nodded.

“Benjamin, you own a whole airline, which means you can get us, all three of us, on a flight.”

“I can get us on a private plane.”

John turned to Kailani. “The safest, fastest way for you to travel is on Benjamin’s plane.”

“Saying this is killing me, but I agree,” Makani said.

Benjamin shot him a grateful look, then focused on Kailani. “The pilot will need to file flight plans. Where are we going?”

Kailani looked resigned but only for a moment. Then she straightened her shoulders and said, “L.A. We’re going to your hometown, John.”

Chapter Six

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