by Kerri Ann
Rising off the floor, Miori runs over.
I keep Kato in my sights. I’m not giving him another chance. “How is she?”
“Breathing, but she’s losing a lot of blood. We need to get her help. Kano, too.”
Pulling herself up, Kano sits on the edge of the chair and winces. “I’m fine. I’m just worried about her.” Pulling out her phone, I assume to call for help, Kano starts speaking in Japanese.
I pull my attention back to the wretched man in front of me. “You tried to kill your own flesh and blood.”
“You’d never understand this life. And your American lifestyle is so soft, it sickens me. Kaori was just the same. Weak and soft, always wanting to make things better for the slaves, the dirty useless trash that work in our shops. She was never going to be a good Obayun. Never,” he shouts, spitting the words like venom.
“Well, you’re right there. I don’t get your tradition and bullshit honor code, but there’s no honor in killing your family.”
Closing her phone, Kano pipes up. “The police are on the way, and one of the choppers are fueling to take her to the hospital in Osaka.”
“Thanks, Kano. How are you?”
“I’ll be fine.”
I turn to her sister. “Miori, has the bleeding stopped?”
“I can’t stop it, but I’m trying to keep pressure on it.”
“You don’t get it—” Kato starts.
“You’re right, I don’t, and I don’t intend to. So you just stay there while we wait for the police.”
Smiling darkly, moving forward, I raise the gun as Kato tries to advance on me. “Nope. You stay right there.”
With a sinister smile, he takes another step. “You won’t do anything, Jamieson. Soft, weak, spineless sad sack. You’ll do nothing.”
Clipping off a shot, straight out into the vacant air, it whizzes right by his ear. “Try me,” I say, determined to show him that I have no compunction about him living or dying.
“That was close, but,” he takes another step, “you still won’t do anything. I dare you, Jamieson.”
Man, I really hate this guy. “One more step and I’ll show you how cold I can be, Kato. You shot the woman I love, and both she and my child could be dying right now. Do you think your life is worth more than theirs?”
“I think that you’re too scared to take a life, that you won’t do what’s needed.” Tempting me, taunting me, he moves to step forward once more.
So I shoot.
JAMIESON
Watching the act in slow motion, seeing the bullet, seeing the stain on his shirt and the shock on his face when he realized I had more balls than he gave me credit for, that was worth it in the end. Will I have nightmares about it at some point in my life? No. I feel at peace that his life was forfeit when he shot his own family with the intention to kill.
As his body slumped to the floor, I knew it was over. Thankfully, they were now safe. Dropping the gun, I race to Carli’s side, skidding to a stop on the floor. “Carli,” I say, touching her face. She doesn’t move. Feeling for her pulse on her neck, I notice it’s faint. “Miori, go wait for help. I’ve got her.”
“Just keep your hand here,” she says. Placing my hand over the wound, Miori quickly runs off.
Looking at Carli’s pallid color, I talk to her, hoping she hears me. “Hey, Katana. You can’t bug out, lady. Who the fuck is going to give me a hard time? No one. And you can’t train this child to do the same thing if you both die on me. So get your shit together.” Tears threaten the corners of my eyes. I can’t fathom the idea of her gone and taking our best chance at a wonderful future with her.
“You know you have this fucked up way of getting under my skin, tossing my insides into knots and lighting a fire that I can’t bank.” Brushing stray hairs from her face, I kiss her cheek. “I would give up the snow for you. I’d live in stinky warm LA, just so you can have your bullshit quinoa salads and froufrou water systems. I’d even move here and cramp myself into a tiny apartment, being eyeballed as a giant. Just for you, Carli. Just for you.
“You know I haven’t been with anyone since you left me. I couldn’t. I tried to get on with life, but none of the girls compare. You are one fucked up woman, and you messed me up. I’m wrecked, and only you can fix it. So you can’t go. Show me how stubborn you are by living.” Kissing her over and over, telling her stupid shit, speaking about dumb antics I suspect she’ll pull me into in the future, I babble to keep her with me.
When the medics come in, I don’t even notice them until one appears at my side. Ushering me away, I watch in a detached way as they work to save her life and our child. It may sound cruel, but if the baby dies and my Carli lives, I’ll live the rest of my life making it up to her. But she has to live for me to do that.
Once they feel she’s stable, and Kano is situated, the medics move them out. Turning to Miori, they talk in Japanese. I watch, unable to understand. As they head out the door with her two sisters, she nods her approval as they’re whisked away.
“They’re taking them to Osaka General. It’s a great facility. We should go tell your family what’s going on before we head out.”
“Fuck. I forgot they don’t know what’s going on.” Normally, I’m more on top of that stuff.
Rushing down the hall in the opposite direction of the medics, Miori talks somberly. “She’ll be okay. I don’t have to tell you my sister is as stubborn as a mule.”
“You have that right.” I agree.
“She’ll live, because to die would be to give in. Kaori never gives in.”
Moving quickly down the hall, the two of us quickly become silent. There’s no need to talk about her uncle or the other two men dead on the floor. They’re not important. All that matters is that her family is safe. Her sisters are in good hands.
Stepping into the main hall, I find Circe alone at the table. As Miori walks off to deal with a call, I think of how to explain it in a way that we can leave quickly.
“What’s going on?” Our faces must show stress, as her question is teeming with concern.
“Carli and Kano were shot. They’re on their way to the hospital in Osaka. Where is everyone?” I ask. My mind swims with worry for Carli, but there’s nothing more I can do right now except hope for the best.
“Wyatt’s in the room resting, and the other two went to check out the mountain trails.” Stepping up to me, she hugs me with her good arm. “I’ll go wake him up.”
“No, you stay here. Miori and I are going to grab the other chopper. We’ll call you if there’s any change.” I turn to leave. “It’s best you stay away from the other wing of the building for a bit, though, Circe. There’ll be police all over it. And tell that ex-cop of my sisters to stay clear too.”
“Yeah, got it. But don’t think Wyatt and China will stay here long. Expect us to be hot on your heels.”
Coming over to where we are, Miori pockets her phone. “The chopper is ready to go. We need to leave, Jamieson.”
Moving away from Circe, heading out the door as quickly as I can, over my shoulder I yell, “I’ll let you know when I have news, Circe.”
Striding away, Miori leads us out to the chopper pad where the waiting bird is running. Thinking about everything that’s going on, my thoughts are scattered, and yet succinct. I may not have thought through to the end of my life, but I’ve just figured out that Carli is the woman for me.
Without her, I’d still be whoring my way through girls. And very, very alone.
To lose another will absolutely crush me.
JAMIESON
What feels like days has only been hours. It’s been two hours, and I check my watch every minute. Sitting with Miori, the two of us have been awaiting news. Good news or bad, any news of any kind would be appreciated. We haven’t talked much, as anything we’d talk about is related to her, her sister, or her uncle and his hateful betrayal. Kano joined us after they’d stitched her up, but they said the drugs they gave her will make her sleepy, so we’d s
ent her back in the chopper to the resort to rest. I knew what sending that bird back would do. It would give my family a way to join us. And stepping through the doors with determination and a million questions, leading the way is my little brother.
“Any news?”
Shaking my head, I blow out a frustrated breath. “Nothing yet. They took her, but no one has come out since.”
“There’s cops everywhere in the hotel.” He’s obviously quite flustered.
Before I can answer him, wrapping her arms around me, China hugs me tight. Not what I was expecting, but I appreciate it nonetheless. Pulling back, I give her a kiss on the top of her head. “Thanks for that, China.”
“No problem. What’s going on? They took our passports, James. They promised we could have them back after we were questioned about everything. I think their broken English made it hard to understand. What the hell happened?”
“Her uncle shot Carli and Kano.”
“Who’s their uncle?” Looking at Miori, she turns back to me. “Am I missing something?”
“Kato is our—was our uncle.” Seemingly keeping things together, Miori is amazingly stoic. She’s been dealing with this lifestyle of guns, death, and danger for far longer than she should have. She’s only China’s age, and I find her surprisingly strong, commanding, and forceful. She impressed me.
“And I thought our family was fucked up. You have uncles trying to kill you?” China clips off quite loudly.
As everyone turns, they glare at Doll. Risen drags her close, tucking her into his chest. “Get over here, mouthpiece.”
Murmuring into his shirt, he tries to stop her, but it doesn’t work. “What? I’m just saying, we’re messed up, but—”
“Ms. Katana.”
Appearing beside Miori, dressed in surgeon’s garb, is a stout young man. Bowing in a sign of respect, he immediately switches to Japanese. Rhyming off word after word quickly, it makes no sense to me or the others. As we wait patiently, watching, listening, taking in Miori’s every move, her expression darkens considerably as the doctor runs things down. With a few nods, he bows and walks back through the staff only doors.
“What did he say, Miori? What’s wrong?”
She looks me in the eye, tears slowly starting down her cheeks. “They said she’s stable.”
“That’s good.”
She shakes her head and wipes away a few tears, smudging her makeup. “He hit one of her kidneys and nicked the other. The one was too damaged so it had to be removed, and the other won’t stop bleeding. They’ve tried stabilizing the bleed, but it’s not responding. She’s going to need a donor.”
Without thought, I fall. Thankfully, it’s into a chair.
I can’t be here again. Why is life so cruel that a second person in my life could die from my errors? Two people I’ve cared deeply for. One that’s becoming a part of me, stronger than I thought she could, and one that left me far too young.
“James, she’ll be okay,” I hear Wyatt say. Of all the people here, he knows what’s going through my mind. How it was with Petra. How our lives changed forever when we lost her. How the world is taking the mickey out of me yet again.
“Why? Why me? Why is it always me!” I’m yelling so loud, the room full of patrons waiting on news about their loved ones stop what they’re doing and stare.
Softly speaking, bending low, Wyatt tries to calm me. Right now, my insides are tearing up. My heart is shattering again, and I have no words.
KANO
If they thought I’d stay here, knowing my sister is out there fighting for her life, when I’m surrounded by police, the family, and various other insistent assholes, they were wrong. I’ve lived this life of never asking, never waiting for permission, and deciding my own fate. No one here will stop me from hobbling back to that hospital.
I’d sent the chopper I rode in on back to the city with the Crown’s, but the second helo is due back anytime now. Texting Jacob, our full-time pilot, I tell him to be ready.
Doctors told me I wasn’t allowed a shower to wipe off the grime or the reminders of my uncle’s dishonor, but I sure as shit wasn’t being told I couldn’t change my clothes.
Putting on pants would be a chore with the stitches and pain, so I opted for a dress. Gathering up the crutches, step-hopping back out to the landing pad, I start up the stairs. In theory, it looks awkward, but in reality, it’s a fucking bitch. I must have cursed every muscle movement as I hobbled up one riser at a time. Reaching the pad, Jacob was there waiting with the engine in slow motion. Gathering my crutches in quick motion, he picked me up. Carrying me to the awaiting ride was not quite what I expected, but I won’t turn it down.
Once we’re settled with me in the back and him in the pilot’s chair, I turn on my headset. This is the smaller of our two choppers. It lacks the creature comforts of style and silence. This is less Airforce One and more crop duster, but who gives a crap if it gets me back to the hospital and to my sisters.
What she did today was beyond heroic in my book. Kaori has only just come back into our lives. She doesn’t know us, or what our lives have been like. She put her life that she’d built on hold as soon as she was commanded to come back to Japan. Am I stupid? No. I know the reason as to why she came back. They coerced her with our eminent nuptials. Father, or asshole who may not be named, had pimped us out to two men from the family. He would have rather wed us off for position than care for our futures. He had no idea what either of us wanted, who we were growing up to be, or what we wanted for our futures. That’s the shit stick of being born into the Ryu Yakuza family; our lives didn’t matter.
As the chopper starts to rise, Jacob cuts in. “I don’t have to ask, do I, Kano?”
“Nope. You don’t.” He’s known for a while what was happening within family. We all knew that something would eventually give.
“Will you need assistance again?”
“More than I want to admit,” I murmur.
He laughs into the mouthpiece. “I’ll help you, Kano.” Lifting off the ground, we head toward Osaka. “We won’t be long. I already informed the hospital to expect us on the pad. Unless there’s an emergency chopper coming in, we’ll land without issue.”
“You can just leave me with my crutches, I’ll get down to my sisters. It’ll just take me a bit of time. You don’t have to stick around.”
“Think of it as Star Wars. I’ll piggyback you like Yoda.”
“That’s a visual.”
“Well, someone has to help you. You looked pretty awkward hobbling up those stairs. I can just imagine down.” Pausing, controlling the helo, Jacob cuts back in. “Where’s Muki? Shouldn’t he be here helping?”
Wow. I’ve been so worried about my sister that I forgot about what he did. When Hiro showed up with Taka, that big, stupid brute, I wondered why he wasn’t by Miori’s side. It made no sense to me. Obviously, it didn’t make sense to Muki either. He may have been a big oaf to others, but I found him sweet, attentive, a great friend, and a warm body when needed.
What would you expect when he’s been my bodyguard for close to five years, and he’s only two years older? He may have been built like a brick shithouse, and toed the company line when necessary for me, but he wasn’t a yes man of my father or uncle. I appreciated how often he swayed their decisions regarding me.
And Taka shot him point blank in my room. Walking in behind Muki, Taka raised the gun, fired, and didn’t even blink.
They knew. They knew he wasn’t their tool. Wiping away a tear, I think about the situation that we’re in now. I need all the strength I can muster for my sister. Later, I can cry my eyes out for my friend, but when we land, she’s my only priority.
Kaori couldn’t have flown all the way home just to die because of us.
Life couldn’t be that unfair, could it?
MIORI
It’s all my fault. Everything. All of it.
I’m watching the Crown’s, seeing how concerned they are for my sister, how they care for e
ach other, respect one another, and comfort Jamieson as he’s clearly dealing with an old pain. It’s hard to watch because I’m the cause of this. Me. No one else. Not Kano, not Uncle Kato—well, yeah, it is, but not fully.
I was the catalyst to everything that’s happened since Kaori returned to Osaka.
Fuck.
If my sister dies because of the deal I made with Chen, I don’t know if I can live with it. It is a great dishonor that I’ve created. My sister does not deserve this, and she didn’t ask for it. She tried to leave this life behind.
If I’m the cause of her losing the baby or her life, I’ll never forgive myself.
KANO
“Thank you. You were a big help,” I say to Jacob as we enter the elevator, descending toward the critical care floor.
“I’d always help you, Kano. No matter what, you just need to ask.” Yeah, that’s what Muki used to say, too. Now he’s dead. Clearing my head of that reminder, I shake off the loss of him and concentrate on my family.
When I rode over to the hospital with Kaori, the medics frantically poured over her vitals, working to save her as I watched with a vacant disbelief. My sister is a rock. She’s strong, willful, and stubborn. If father hadn’t died, and if Uncle Kato hadn’t forced her hand, she’d still be living her life in the US, far from this mess. This never would have happened.
“She’ll be okay,” I say, more to remind myself than requiring an answer from Jacob.
“From what I’ve seen lately, and from what you’ve talked about over the weeks leading up to Kaori coming home, then yes, I believe she will be.”
“You’ve listened?”
“I probably shouldn’t have, but it’s hard to miss conversations in the headset.”
I guess our conversations have never been private before, what with family and law enforcement bugging us. So why would I expect the pilot of a chopper to be any less intrusive?
