“If we’re ever going to have a chance at surviving this thing as a unit, then we’re going to have to figure this out together. Both our houses are in flux. Until we know how deep this deception flows, neither of us can risk letting our guards down.”
For a few moments in that diner he’d doubted her. He’d doubted what they were building, he’d doubted what he felt for her, and most importantly, he’d doubted what she’d felt for him. But when she saved his life, she’d put any doubts he had to rest. He knew Oshun well enough to understand she was probably never going to be the “I love you” type. But, nearly getting herself killed to protect his life was all he needed to believe that what they shared was mutual, and deeper than any spoken declaration could ever be.
“I’m in,” he answered. “Give me a few days to get things rolling. We need to get medical attention setup for you wherever we’re headed.”
She shook her head. “No need, arrangements for everything we need have already been taken care of. You just have to decide if you’re ready to leave it all behind for however long it takes us to figure this mess out, or if you’re going to walk away from us.”
Walking away from her, from them, wasn’t a possibility. This night had proven she would have his back harder than any of the men he employed. Letting this woman slip through his fingers wasn’t an option.
Besides, he’d learned a simple fact tonight in that parking lot. They were strong independently, but together they were unstoppable. If any two people could figure this out, stop their enemies, and manage to stay alive, it was the two of them. His enemy had become his best asset, and he’d follow her into the bowels of hell.
He felt his lips curve into his signature lopsided grin; the one that danced on his lips when he needed to show the world he had nothing to worry about. And, he didn’t. He was confident this partnership was going to yield great results, and the matching smile Oshun gave him from her bed, expressed the same confidence.
She’d started out being a piece he just wanted to have a good time with. She’d ended up being his peace, the other half of his gangster’s soul.
Masaki leaned down over her, still smiling, until his lips pressed against hers, and he heard a relieved moan escape her mouth.
“We’ll burn this motherfucker down together, Oshun. We’ll kill them all.”
8
M asaki waited until he thought Oshun was sleeping and released her hand, gently placing it against the white hospital sheets. She needed her rest, and he’d stayed long past the time the lurking nurse had given him. The longer he stayed, the longer he risked being spotted by the wrong person. Since neither he nor Oshun knew who the wrong person actually was, safety was more important now than it had ever been.
“You sneaking out already?”
He turned quickly at the sound of her voice and offered a smile as an answer. “You need your rest, Oshun.”
She fumbled, pulling herself up slowly using the upper side rails of the bed. He stretched out his hand to stop her, but quickly realized his protest was about to fall on deaf ears.
“I will rest when we’re gone.”
Her words were still choppy. The chest tube, and the resulting post-op pain, made it difficult for her to speak. He wanted nothing more than to take away her pain. But since he couldn’t do that, the next best thing would be to bring those responsible for her injuries to justice. His brand of justice.
“You can’t exact retribution until we know who’s behind this,” she stated. “Rushing out there without any details will get you killed. Please, stay with me. Help is on the way.”
She stretched out her hand to him, her shaky smile brightening when he clasped her hand with his and brought it to his lips. Her smile was everything to him. It was the draw of her sensual smile that had called to him across a crowded club three months ago. Tonight, her smile touched his soul with tender strokes because she was alive to share it with him. He’d accepted long ago that her smile was his undoing. As he removed his jacket and sat in the abandoned visitor’s chair, he reconciled once again, he’d do whatever he had to keep that smile on her face.
“Who is this mysterious savior you keep speaking of?”
“The only person I know we can trust,” she answered as she looked toward the glass door.
He followed her gaze until he saw a tall, lean African American man with similar coloring to Oshun, a warm brown with red undertones just beneath the skin. His hair was in locs too. Not nearly as long and defined as Oshun’s, but they still commanded attention, letting you know you were in the presence of someone important and powerful.
“Masaki Yamaguchi, this is my father, Zion Sampson.” She took another breath as she shifted her gaze to her father. “Daddy, this is Mas.”
Masaki stood to offer his hand, but the man’s stoic nature made Masaki think better of it. The older man took a moment to look at Masaki, then turned his attention to his daughter.
“You sure about this, baby girl?”
She nodded slowly, softening the gruff man’s exterior. He returned his gaze to Masaki, and stretched out his hand in greeting. “As my daughter told you, I’m Zion Sampson. I’m the man that’s going to get the both of you to safety until we figure out how to handle this.”
“How soon before we leave? I’ll need to collect my mother.”
The older man shook his head. “You can’t. If you move your mother, whoever is watching you will know. Oshun will be moved tonight. If you’re going, you’ve got to move too.”
“But my mother…”
Masaki felt a squeeze to his hand that drew his attention down to Oshun. “On my life, I promise you no harm will come to your mother. My father will protect her as if she were me.”
