Wait a minute. Two hearts. Not three.
Granted, it would be a big assumption that the hearts represented women. I just couldn’t think why else he would put hearts on his neck like that, right next to bullets.
I leaned in slightly and realized he had two piercings on his left ear too—a diamond stud and a ruby.
Almost like. . .two women were leaving their claim on his ear.
But again. . .not three.
Big assumptions still. . .but what else did I have.
I put my view back on his face. “Question.”
Kaoru smiled at me. “Yes.”
“How many girlfriends do you have?”
Kaoru’s attention cut to Kenji for a heartbeat and then he quickly looked back at me. “Three.”
Hmmm. Looked away from me that time. Interesting. That could be the lie.
“Statement three: you have an addiction to karaoke.” I let myself smirk. “Question. What’s your favorite song to sing?”
Kaoru’s answer came fast. “X Japan’s ‘Endless Rain.’”
The corner of his mouth kicked again, and for a single second his handsome face softened.
Hmmm. I don’t know the song, but he owned that super-fast.
“Twenty seconds.” Reo wrote down something in his notebook.
The test beat in my ribs.
Two truths. One lie.
I considered the first statement. That death body count was insane, but it seemed real. I went back to the two hearts inked under his jaw and the two jeweled piercings.
And that quick glance at Kenji when he said, “three girlfriends.”
I considered the karaoke part. I had no idea if the song he said was even a real song, but he answered so quickly. . .it just felt right.
Fuck. This is actually pretty damn hard considering the fact that I can’t get one wrong.
My heart boomed in my ears.
Which statement should I pick?
Reo adjusted his glasses. “Time is up. What’s your answer, Nyomi?”
Shit. I don’t know.
Kenji let my waist go, stepped back, and studied me.
That made me even more nervous.
I let out a long breath. “Two hundred and thirteen men. I believe it. Your voice and delivery said that was real.”
I tapped my foot. “And the karaoke? You rattled off the title too fast. I feel like. . .that’s a man who’s done that song a dozen times.”
