“If I did, why would I tell you?” I return. I have no loyalty toward the Mob, but as angry as I feel toward my dad, I can’t betray him. I decide to turn Kai’s question back on him. “How trustworthy areyou?”
“I’m straight with those who are straight with me.”
“So all my dad has to do is give you back some computer or something?”
“That’s correct.”
I stare at him closely. “And that’s it?”
“Like I said, the princess gets to return home and never has to see the dragon again.”
“And no one has to get hurt?”
“As long as there are no surprises. Otherwise, I can’t guarantee anything.”
Jack’s jacket is unbuttoned, and I see a holster with a gun tucked beneath his left arm. “Do I get one of those?”
He lifts a brow. “You’re asking me to arm the enemy?”
From lover to enemy in less than twenty-four hours. Fuck me.
“You…you use that often?” I ask of the gun.
“No,” he says gently, as if to reassure me.
I’m not reassured and follow up with, “When was the last time you used it—or any gun?”
“Not including practice, I assume.”
“Not including practice,” I confirm.
“It’s been a while. Two years or so.”
“Is that because you have men to do the…the killing for you?”
Without flinching, he replies, “Yes.”
“Have you ever—?”
“I don’t think you want to be asking these kinds of questions. You might not be happy with the answer.”
Needing something to relax the spike in agitation within me, I ask, “Can I get a cigarette?”
Jack nods to the other guy, who opens the door and hops out. I see that it’s pitch black outside before the door closes. How long was I out?
“Where are we?” I ask.
“Back in San Francisco.”
I take a small amount of solace in the fact that we’re back in the Bay Area. I wonder if my father might be near and if there’s a way I can escape. There’s no way I can get past Jack—if that’s his real name—and his men, who I’m guessing are not too far. I need more time to think.
“So you’re not really some import-export businessman,” I say. “I’m guessing Jack isn’t your real name.”
“It’s Kai. Kai Lee.”
He’d tell me his real name? Maybe it’s just another fake.
“I’m not worried you’ll go to the cops,” he explains. “You can’t implicate me without implicating your father.”