“Why are you telling me this? To make me hate you less? What’s the point of telling menow?”
“Because you know who struck that deal with me.”
I glare at him until my fingers twitch, and I jerk out of the chair. “Jason.”
He nods. “I’m sure you must have suspected it at some point, but I couldn’t tell you anything then, or I’m sure you would’ve tried to leave the country to find Aoi.”
“Damn right I would have!” I stalk around the room. “But at that time, I thought I was being crazy for suspecting that psycho of having led you to Seattle. Fuck, Aoi needs to know!”
My legs grow a mind of their own and haul me toward the door, but Bellami’s authoritative voice stops me in my tracks. “Where do you think you’re going?”
“To tell him what really happened. Jason is dangerous and fucked up, and he needs to know it.”
“As if he doesn’t already,” he says, standing up and walking toward me. “Aoi has been dealing with that man his entire life. He knows what kind of person his uncle is, and he has already cut him off not that long ago. At least according to my reports.”
“But-”
“He’s not even talking toyouanymore.” He squeezes my shoulder. “Aoi needs time to digest the recent events. You barging in with that information about your shared past will only make things worse. He might not even believe you. Leave that out for the time being. We’ll figure it out later.”
“Then what do I do?” I ask, sensing the familiar sting behind my eyes, and my throat constricting. “I’m so lost. He won’t talk tome and refuses to answer my texts and calls. His friends won’t let me near him either.”
“Take it easy,” he says. “He needs time, and you have to get your shit together before you do anything stupid. He doesn’t want to see you and you have to respect that.”
“What if Jason tries something?” I shoot back. “He’s a constant threat. Stalking and obsessing over Aoi like a fucking psycho. We can’t just leave him without surveillance.”
“I’ll take care of this.” He grabs his phone and types something in before focusing back on me. “You need to relax. Hang out with Scott. She’ll help distract your thoughts.”
“I can’t just hang out with Liv and wait for Aoi to forgive me,” I snap. “How can you ask that of me? I can’t just do nothing while the man I love is suffering because of me, and his crazy abuser is running around freely!”
“Enough already.” He heaves harshly and pierces me with his unshakable gaze. “Do as I say. I promise I’ll take matters into my hands and guarantee he’ll be fine.”
My chest rises and sinks with each heavy breath, my heart hammering furiously. “You promised. Don’t fuck this up or else-”
“Je te promets que je gère la situation donc calme toi et va te détendre avec ta pote, d’accord?7”
I nod slowly. “Je vais essayer mais je garantie pas de ne pas péter un plomb au bout de quelques jours sans nouvelles de lui.8”
Bellami chuckles and gestures toward the door. “Maintenant dégage de mon bureaux ou je te jette dehors. J’ai du boulot à finir avant de rentrer auprès de ma femme.9”
“T’as le sens des priorités toi,10” I mock.
“Get out you brat,” he says, throwing a pencil at me but missing.
I grab the door and use it to shield me. “Your aim sucks!”
“Casse toi!11”
Snickering, I rush out of the company building and dial Liv’s number. She doesn’t answer on the first few rings, so I do what any normal best friend would do. I spam her with calls until she answers because her job is to be my best friend, and best friends answer the phone even if they’re having explosive diarrhea.
“What the fuck is your problem?” she snaps the second she picks up the seventh call. “Is your ass on fire?”
“I would already be dead if I had to wait for you to answer your damn phone,” I grumble. “Whatever, can I come over? Or can you come over? I need to tell you something and it can’t wait.”
“It’s about Aoi, isn’t it?” she asks, her tone softening. “I miss Ao anyway, so I’ll come over in a bit.”
“Thanks. You’re the best.”
“Indeed, I am.”
