“When did you know?”
There was silence across the line. If he hadn’t heard background noises, he would’ve checked to make certain their connection hadn’t been lost. He took a deep breath. Yelling in this room would only draw unwanted attention to him, so he let his breath flow loudly in and out instead.
“I asked you a question, Oshun. When did you know my right hand, the man I trusted with my mother’s life, was trying to kill us? When did you know? Was it when that motherfucker tried to end us both in that diner? Or was it when he tried to kill my fucking mother? When did you know? And when were you going to share that shit with me?”
O shun knew he would find out, had narrowed it down to almost the exact minute he would become aware of her deception. She thought she’d prepared herself for it. She’d known when she made the decision to keep this information from him that he’d feel betrayed. Who wouldn’t? But she hadn’t believed her reaction would be the quivering nerves that twisted her stomach.
She stole a glance at Heart Searlington sitting in the driver’s seat of the unmarked surveillance van they were in. Heart keeping her eyes focused on the smartphone in front of her was about as much privacy as could be expected in their current close quarters. But privacy or not, Masaki wasn’t about to let her out of this conversation.
“I figured out it was Stein when my father called me to tell me the decoy spot had been hit. If only you and he believed your mother was there, I knew he was the one that ordered the hit.”
“And it never crossed your mind in the two minutes it took you to leave your room, and return to mine, that maybe I’d want to be aware of Stein’s treachery? That maybe I’d want to end that son of bitch before he had another chance at my mother, or the woman I loved, or me?”
“Masaki, listen to yourself,” she pled. “You’re calling me from where? A police station? You’re talking about ending someone in a police station. This is why I didn’t tell you, Mas. I didn’t want to risk your anger getting in the way, possibly allowing Stein to go free. Or even worse, causing you to go off without thinking, without protecting yourself first.”
“That wasn’t your choice to make, Oshun.” His voice was quiet, but she could feel the force of what he’d said reverberate through the line. “What gave you the right to make that decision without my input?”
“Because I love you,” she countered. “I love you enough to save you from your own miserable self. And if you’ve got a problem with it, tough. We’ll deal with that shit later. But right now, I need you to get your head right. Because so help me, Masaki, if you let your foolish anger fuck this sting up, or worse, you get hurt because of it, I will ring your neck my damn self.”
He growled into the phone, the timbre of his voice low, and deep. “Don’t think this shit is over because you say so. You promised me no secrets, Oshun. I won’t forget this.”
The line disconnected, and Oshun stared at the phone in her hand. She’d held her ground, made no bones about the decision she’d made. But the finality in Masaki’s voice, the way he’d ended their argument, it rang eerily of a coming goodbye.
1 5
O shun put her phone away and sat quietly in the passenger seat of the surveillance truck. She was fortunate the entryway to the back, where all the equipment and Heart’s other officers were hidden, was closed. At least her shame was only visible to her quasi friend. “I know it’s been a long time since we’ve been involved in each other’s lives, but you can talk to me if you need to,” Heart offered.
It was tempting to unload everything that was sitting inside Oshun’s chest right now. The pressure was so great, her breathing felt slightly labored as a result. What Oshun wouldn’t give to confide her fears to another human being. When you were the boss, you didn’t get to do that. Letting your guard down could be perceived as a weakness. Weaknesses were to be exploited in her world, and she couldn’t leave herself open to that kind of threat.
“I appreciate it, Heart,” Oshun answered carefully. “I just can’t.”
“Because I’m a cop,” Heart replied with her signature smirk painted on her lips.
“Partly,” Oshun responded. Being on opposites sides meant their friendship could only be taken so far. They’d known each other, would always be there for one another, but their ability to bond as friends was limited for one simple reason. Oshun embraced her truth. “But mostly because we both serve a purpose in this community, and I can’t give up mine to follow yours.”
Oshun held no shame in the life she lived, and the choices she’d made. For their friendship to flourish, Oshun would have to repent. She might run counter to what the dominant culture believed was honorable, but her path had saved an entire community. A community that even Heart with her best intentions as a police officer often forgot about.
“Fair enough,” Heart replied. “But here’s some advice to take with you. I almost fucked up the good thing my husband and I have because I made decisions for us without consulting him. Not once, but on several occasions. It took a lot of work for us to get back on steady ground. I may not support what you do, Oshun, but the way you and Yamaguchi look at each other, it’s obvious what you have is worth protecting. Don’t let this life you’re leading cause you to lose your man.”
Oshun pushed her head back into the headrest and glanced over at Heart with a smile. “Sounds like you’ve gotten smarter over the years, Searlington.”
Heart nodded her head. “Of course, I have. It’s why they pay me the big bucks as Captain.”
A banging sound from the back captured their attention, breaking the levity between the two women. Heart turned around in her seat, and walked the small space that led to the back compartment of the vehicle. Oshun followed, taking a seat near the back doors where she had an unobstructed view of one of the many screens on the inner panels.
“So, once we brought Yamaguchi in, a call was placed to Stein, telling him his client had been picked up. We’ve been tracking his movements, he’s at my precinct now,” Heart stated. “The guy he’s hired to take your man out is actually an officer of mine. We just need Masaki to get Stein to admit his role in the attempt on Mrs. Yamaguchi’s life, as well as your shooting.”
That was a lot to hope for. Especially since this was a supposedly impromptu meeting. How was Masaki expected to draw all of this out of him and not make the low life suspicious?
“Let’s hope the lawyer feels chatty tonight,” Oshun replied.
Heart waved her hand dismissively through the air. It was obviously an attempt at deflection to help Oshun feel reassured about Masaki’s safety.
“He’s a lawyer, Oshun. They’re always feeling chatty.”
Oshun appreciated Heart’s attempt at diffusing her angst, but the truth was, she wouldn’t be all right until Masaki was in her arms again. Even if the only thing he did was yell at her, she didn’t care. She just wanted this ordeal over, and Masaki safe. Once he was safe, everything else would be fine.
M asaki slid into the back of Stein’s car. It was an act that felt all too normal for the current situation. He’d known this man since he was a boy. He’d served as counsel to Masaki’s father. Had been the only outsider allowed into his clan for as long as anyone could remember. How could he have been the betrayer?
