She turns and puts one foot in the tub, then sinks down as bubbles fizz all around her. “This feels amazing.”
“Have a nice soak, little rebel. You’ve earned it.” I kiss the top of her head. “I’ll be back later. I need to work on a few things.”
“What things?” She waggles her fingers through the bubbles. “You know, I never asked my father questions like that. I think maybe because I didn’t want to know the answers. But with you … I want to know everything about you.”
I should lie to her, tell her I’m doing some sort of legitimate business. But I don’t. I tell her the truth. “The Itos have been making moves against me. The yacht–” I force the flashback of Mei screaming for me to the back of my mind. “The yacht was an act of retaliation. It was just the opening salvo. There’s much, much more that needs to be set in motion before Friday.”
“Why? What happens on Friday?” She leans back, the tips of her nipples flirting with the surface of the rippling water. She looks like some sort of water spirit, here to lure unsuspecting men to their graves. For Mei, I’d happily go beneath the waves forever if it meant I got to stay with her. “Kaz?”
I blink, remembering myself, and meet her gaze. “You called me Kaz.”
She shrugs. “I’ve heard Toru call you that. I think it’s cute.”
I snort. “Cute, eh?”
“Very. I figure if your best friend calls you Kaz, then so can I.”
“You’re correct.” I sit on the edge of the tub and turn off the water. “Warm enough?”
“Perfect.” She sighs and sinks lower, her dark strands of hair floating on the surface. “So what’s Friday?”
“Tenacious, aren’t you?”
“Very.” She nods.
“The Itos have called a meeting of the major Yakuza families, mine included. It’s going to be a big party, though I’ll be there for business only.”
“A party?” She sits up and hugs her knees. “Can I go?”
“I wasn’t going to take you–”
Her face falls instantly.
“But now that you’re feeling better…”
Her eyes brighten. “I can go?”
“I have a seamstress coming tomorrow so you can choose your gown. Anything you want, Mei.” I still want to leave her here under lock and key, but I’d be fooling myself to do that. She’s safest when she’s with me. She belongs by my side.
“Oh my gosh, I’m so excited!” She claps, sending water splashing onto me.
“Oops, sorry.” She settles down.
I grip her hair and pull her to me, kissing her hard before standing. “Enjoy your bath, little rebel. I’ll be back soon.”
“Okay.” She nibbles her bottom lip.
“But no more baking for my men.” I waggle a finger at her. “Got it?”
“Aww, but I like making them happy.” She gives me the big doe eyes.
I groan. “Fine. You can bake. But only if I’m in the kitchen with you and you’re dressed from head to toe.”
“Deal.” She disappears beneath the surface, my sweet little water spirit, one I’d happily follow into the depths of hell and back.
16
Mei
“This is the one,” I tell Brigitte. I’m smiling so much that my cheeks are starting to ache.
I can’t wait to see what Kazuo thinks of my dress. I’ve spent all afternoon getting ready for the party. It might be pathetic to admit, but this is actually the first time I’m going to an event like this.
I never got to go to the ones my father and stepmother threw over the years, and I'm not counting the ones at boarding school. Boys weren't even allowed at those, and no one was hanging out with me, that’s for sure. My father is so scary that not only did the boys avoid me, but so did other girls. It’s one of the reasons why I’ve learned to entertain myself, or as my father likes to put it–get into trouble.
“I had a feeling this would be the one. That's why I saved it for last.” She winks at me in the mirror.
I talked to Brigitte on the phone yesterday, answering all of her questions about what style of dress, along with what color I preferred. I sent her a picture of myself so she could see my shape and pick out what she thought would look the best on me. All the dresses she brought are beautiful, but this one is perfect. It accentuates all my best features.
“I didn’t even know what ‘sexy but not too sexy’ was until this dress.”
I laugh. That’s what I asked for. I wanted it to be a soft white of some kind as well. Brigitte is clearly good at her job because she pulled it off flawlessly. The soft petal pink dress is both flirty but innocent at the same time.
I turn when I hear the bedroom door open. Kazuo freezes when his eyes land right on me. They always do. Whenever he enters a room, he’s always searching for me. I think he might be becoming obsessed with me. That’s my plan at least. I need Kazuo to fall in love with me. Too bad I know nothing about the art of seduction, but going off the heated look in Kazuo’s eyes right now, I’m not failing at it. At least that’s a start.