“If you leave here, you will be in danger,” Sariah insisted.
“Lady—I’m always in danger.That’s what comes of hanging out with that one,” Jin said grumpily.
Kira arched an amused eyebrow at the thumb he jerked her way, wondering if she should be insulted at the implication that she always found trouble.
She thought about it for a moment then mentally shook her head.
Naw.It was kind of true.
Kira waited for the woman at the table to do something.Anything to stop her maybe son from walking out the door.
The woman continued to sip from her drink, staring down at it as if it was the most fascinating thing in the world.
Come on.Say something.
She couldn’t let Jin walk away like this.
Except it seemed like she could.
“Wait,” Kira called reluctantly.
Jin shot Kira a questioning look that she ignored as she glared at the other woman in frustration.
“Lady, I’m not a fan of games,” Kira warned.
She saw that tiny smile of victory before Jin’s maybe mom hid it behind the rim of the cup.
Jin liked games.But only when he started them.
The lady lowered her cup with a knowing gleam in her eyes.“You’re so adept at them though.”
For once, Kira found herself unable to stare someone else down.Her attempt landed like a pebble in a still pool, the water swallowing it with barely a ripple.
“Last chance,” Kira warned.
Sariah’s brows slammed down into a scowl.
“I have faith you’ll do the right thing,” the lady said.
“And what, exactly, do you consider the ‘right’ thing?”
The lady’s smile bathed Kira in warmth.“Whatever you decide it is.”
Jin reached out to tug on Kira’s arm.“Come on.Let’s go.”
Kira narrowed her eyes, not budging.
Seeing her reluctance, Jin stomped a foot.“Fine, I’ll leave by myself.”
He let go of Kira and marched toward the door.He made it all the way across the room, with one hand on the doorknob, before she broke.
“Compromise.”
Jin looked back with an aghast expression.“Compromise?”
He said it like he’d never heard the word before.Like he was tasting the syllables and found them utterly disgusting.
“Yes, compromise.”Kira shot him a sidelong look.“You know—that thing people sometimes do when they don’t want to burn every bridge.Ever heard of it?”
