CHAPTER 31
CHAPTER
ONE MILLION AMERICAN DOLLARS? JUST to guard the old lady? And we get to live here? And I can have women whenever I want? You’re shitting me, right?”
Nash had had Thura come up to his apartment and they were standing out on the balcony to avoid being overheard. He had told him about their being hired to be Masuyo’s security team and the details of that arrangement.
“I take it you don’t have a problem with any of that?” said Nash.
Thura stared at him in confusion. “Why would I? I am in nirvana, man. And I’m not even dead!”
“I suppose we’ll need to coordinate with Ms. Steers’s protection detail.”
Thura’s smile faded a bit. “Them dudes do not like us, not one little bit. I seen it with my own eyes.” He perked up. “But for a million bucks they can hate me all they want.” Thura laughed but then noted Nash’s stern expression. “You don’t look happy, man.”
“I don’t like being told what to do.”
“Wait, you did not have a choice?” said Thura.
“No, and neither did you, for that matter.”
“So we can’t, like, quit if we want to?”
“I wouldn’t advise it, no,” said Nash.
“That woman?”
“What about her?”
“She scares the shit out of me, just. . .being, man. Just by being.”
“Well, I don’t think her mother will be any easier,” replied Nash.
“So when do we start?”
“I’m sure we already have in some ways. But officially, soon.”
“And the other guy, your boss? Does he get to leave?” asked Thura.
“Yes, he’s heading back to the States.”
“So he’s free then?” said Thura.
“I didn’t say that, because he’s not.”
“What is really going on here?”
“Just keep your head down, do what you’re told, and don’t rock the boat.”
“I am good at not rocking the boat. In Myanmar, I never rocked the boat.”
“Until I came into your life,” Nash pointed out.
Thura grinned. “Yes, you speak the truth there, man. So, the daughter, you think she’ll treat us okay so long as we do our job?”
Nash rubbed his arm where the blade Steers wielded had cut him. “I hope so. But she can be difficult to read at times.”
Thura went back to his apartment, and Nash looked in on Temple in his bedroom, where he was packing his things.
“Everything good with Steers?” Temple said, looking up.
“As good as they can be,” replied Nash. “So, you going back to running your business?”
Temple shot him a glance. “Why, did Steers say something?”
“No, she just said that you two were still going to be doing business.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“So, I guess even though you’re going home, you really won’t be free of her, either.”
“Keep that up, Hope, I might forget my promise to you,” snarled the other man.
“Safe travels,” said Nash before going to his room.