Page 42 of Cops and Robbers

Lukas. She had been correct in her assumption about Raz’s relationship with him. Her fist tightened in her lap. His death was on her hands because Matsuda had made Midnight kill that night to send Kate a message. But she couldn’t tell Raz that or the truth about Midnight. He’d never forgive her.

She was going after her sister, as Raz was going after the Bell that had destroyed his life. Guilt curdled in her stomach. Kate had lied to Raz and told him that he could get Lucifer’s Bell and the LRAD replica in that submarine. She was aware the Bell was down there, but the replica that Matsuda had built was off-grid. She’d led Raz to believe both would be down there, and from the anger that had enlivened his tongue when he talked about his friend using him or Lukas’s death, she just couldn’t bring herself to tell him the truth.

She needed his help. Her plan wouldn’t work without the Dragon SEALs, but she was only putting off his wrath by not telling him. She withdrew her hand from his, hating herself for lying to this man who had been through so much. If he noticed her withdrawl, he didn’t say anything. The truth was, even if she knew the replica wasn’t down there, she had hoped that Naomi would know where it was. If she freed Naomi, they could find the replica and destroy it too. She hoped Raz would understand that.

Needing to comfort him in any form she could, she said, “We’ll stop him. I promise.”

He stopped as traffic came to a standstill, horns honking around him. “I should have gone after the Bell that day.”

“You had to live another day. You’ve been fighting for so many others since then. This explains why you’re such a great agent. It wasn’t your time to stop it then, but now it is.”

“Thank you.”

Her chest swelled and at the same time hurt. She gazed out the window to avoid his heated stare.

“Tell me about her…the woman Matsuda took from you,” Raz said.

She cleared her throat. “Thought you weren’t into telling downers back-to-back.”

He shrugged. “Might as well. We’re going to be stuck in traffic for a minute.”

“We may need some alcohol after this.”

He laughed. “Okay, then just stick to the fonder memories of her.”

“All right. Naomi Mizuki adopted me as her sister and was my polar opposite. Introverted and reserved. So prudish, she’d always say, “Oi Kate-chan, dōshite…“ Kate shook her head. “Sorry, it was something like, “Hey kid, why do you keep sticking your hand in fire?” But when I felt down on myself for being so immature, she told me to never lose that spark. ‘Us serious people need a reminder of what fun is.’”

“She’s not wrong,” he said. “Your bubbly personality is a ray of sunshine to hold on to.”

The compliment set her heart ablaze. “Thank you.” Twitching with awkwardness, she sought more to talk about. “And my god, was Naomi funny. I think it was because she was so serious all the time that her jokes would slap you silly. She had every reason to be confident, but while I flaunt it, she was so humble and wanted to bring everyone up with her. She fought for me when nobody else did, and I wouldn’t have made it without her. She…was my only family.”

“She sounds like an amazing woman.”

Kate nodded. “The best sister—“ that you betrayed and abandoned. The truth sat heavy in her chest, and her voice broke as tears pricked her eyes. She wiped the wetness from her cheeks.

“It’s okay, Kate,” Raz said. “We’ll get justice for her.”

She didn’t want justice for Naomi. The only thing she wanted for her was freedom. And no matter how much it hurt, she’d suffer the heartache of manipulating Raz to see that through.

After parking his vehicle in the hotel garage, he exited and locked hands with Kate, his mind clearing slowly from the connection. They had bonded more over stories of their childhood the rest of the way. But the hotel was a reminder of the fragility of their relationship, and the nerves came back in full force.

After they made it to the lobby, a man in a suit greeted them. “Can I help you?”

“Reservation for tonight,” Raz said.

“I need ID and a credit card.” Raz produced both with one hand.

Kate stretched their arms as she leaned toward the complimentary water. He tried to pay attention to the questions the attendant asked him, but Kate’s constant tugging had him watching her while she worked to retrieve a glass of water, one-handed. Such a dexterous woman.

“Here’s your room key.” Those words couldn’t come fast enough.

“Wow,” Kate said, pausing when another clerk came to the desk. The clerk’s flawless makeup appeared picturesque. “I love that shade of lipstick on you.”

The clerk’s cheeks reddened. “Thanks.”

His lips twitched into a smile. He’d recognize that pink anywhere. In the elevator, he squeezed her hand.

“The iconic Sakura Bloom strikes again,” he said, naming the shade of her lipstick prints.