Rhazan squeezes my hand, and I realize I have a death grip on his. I relax a measure, but my stomach is all fluttery and I feel a little sick.
Rhazan pulls me toward one of the tipped-over chairs, rights it, and then takes a seat. He must know how intimidating he looks while standing. I post up next to him, my guts hot like bubbling acid and ready to spill.
The stairs creak with many footsteps and I hold my breath.
Time for my family to meet my demon boyfriend.
Ace comes down first, one of Nai Nai’s woks gripped like a bat in his hands. When he sees me, he straightens up and lowers his weapon.
“I thought they had you hostage,” he says as he rushes toward me.
I release Rhazan’s hand and embrace my little brother. After a second, he pulls back and glares daggers at Rhazan. Nai Nai comes next, giving me a soft pat on the shoulder.
“Glad that’s all handled,” she says.
“Is it?” I ask, wondering if she really can sense things that are going to happen.
She shrugs, then smiles at Rhazan. “Jiahui’s boyfriend, so nice to meet you.”
Great help…
Lacey approaches last. She’s apparently of the same mindset as Ace, lowering the knife she’d taken from our upstairs kitchen.
“You okay?” she asks, coming to stand next to me while Nai Nai interrogates Rhazan and Ace watches like a hawk.
I nod. “Yeah, not the first time I’ve been shaken down.”
Her brow pinches together and she leans in to whisper, “Is this the Chinese mafia stuff?”
I bob my head a few times, covering the bruised, self-inflicted bite mark on my arm.
“Girl, I’m going to need a full rundown over some drinks later,” she murmurs as her eyes scan the stone-still Rhazan.
“Name the time and the place, I’m there,” I say.
“When did you meet my sister?” Ace asks, crossing his arms awkwardly with the wok still gripped in one hand.
“In Boston!” I chime in. “We met…at one of the gambling halls I used to go to. Yeah. No, he’s not a gambler though,” I quickly say when Ace’s gaze turns stern. “He’s a…bouncer.”
“Jade,” Rhazan’s voice is soft. “You can tell them the truth.”
Panic spears through me.
“Thetruth,truth?”
He shrugs.
“Uh…maybe we should go upstairs,” I say, running over to the door to flip the “Open” sign over to “Closed.”
“Unnecessary,” Rhaz says as he stands up.
With a flick of his fingers the windows go black with smoke, plunging us into the low light of the planetary lanterns.
There couldn’t be a worse way to reveal he’s a demon…
twenty
My Demon Boyfriend
