Chapter Ten
Los Angeles, California
Akiko slowly stood when Kit reentered Ito’s ICU room. “I thought you all were going to Anson’s to sleep.”
Kit was dreading this conversation and she was sure it showed on her face.
Staying seated next to Akiko’s chair, Harlan studied Kit carefully. “What’s happened, Kitty-Cat?”
Kit gestured to Ito. “Any change?”
“Kit,” Akiko bit out. “Answer us.”
“I will. But not here. Can you come back to the waiting room? I got one of the nurses to give us a private area. We need to talk.”
Akiko shook her head stubbornly. “I’m not leaving him.”
Harlan rose, putting his arm around Akiko’s shoulders. “Let’s hear what’s happened, then we’ll come back. This won’t take long, will it, Kit?”
“No. Let’s go. Sam and Baz are waiting for us.”
Baz was, at least. “Sam went to get coffee,” Baz said when they got to the private conference room. “He asked you to wait until he gets back.”
“I’m back,” Sam said, following them in. “I got waiting room coffee, so it’ll be fuel only.” He grimaced. “Smells like it’s been cooking for a while.”
“Right now I don’t even care,” Kit said gratefully.
She took a sip and made a face. “Wow. Okay, Akiko. We’ve found out a few things.
First, there’s still no sign of Ricky Nicchi.
He’s not at his house or his dojo and he didn’t return to Ito’s apartment, either.
He’s important, because he’s got answers.
I’ve got information, but no answers.” She drew a breath and gripped Sam’s hand under the table.
“Mary Sherman was your aunt. The DNA has confirmed it.”
Akiko swallowed. “We knew that already.”
“We did,” Sam said in that kind way he had, “but now it’s official. You have cousins. Twins. Raisa and Dahlia. They’re black belts, just like you. Studied at Ito’s San Diego dojo.”
“I must have met them at some point,” Akiko said numbly. “I used to teach the little ones. But I’d remember twins.”
“Fraternal,” Kit said. “They look nothing like each other. They don’t even look like sisters.”
“They’re pretty badass,” Baz added.
“Do they want to meet me?”
“Eventually, yes, but not right now,” Kit said honestly. “They’re still grieving. They’re currently in a safe house.”
“Because someone shot at the house where they were staying. But not at them.”
“We assume,” Kit said, measuring her words, then shrugged her hesitation away.
Akiko needed to know. And so did the twins.
“The shooter has been stalking Dahlia at her university. Never got close enough to touch her and never made an aggressive move, but it was enough to rattle Dahlia. And, like Baz said, she’s badass. I don’t think she rattles easily.”
“I’d like to meet them,” Akiko said. “When they’re willing.”
“I’ll follow up with them,” Kit promised.
“Is that it?” Harlan asked.
Kit shook her head. “That was the good news.” She briefly closed her eyes, opening them when Akiko huffed angrily.
“Just tell me, Kit.”
Kit met her eyes. “Mary Sherman fought her attacker. She had his skin under her nails. The DNA came back on him, too. He’s also related to you, Akiko. He’s your half brother.”
Akiko’s eyes widened in shock. “My what?”
“Your half brother,” Sam repeated, his tone so very gentle. “Through your biological father.”
Akiko’s mouth opened, but no words came out.
Harlan cleared his throat. “Do you have a name for this half brother?”
“Not yet,” Kit said. “They’re checking him against the criminal DNA database. That could take another day or two. If we’re lucky, there’ll be a hit. But he’d have to have been convicted of a crime.”
“How did you get this information?” Harlan asked.
“From Navarro. He’s also working the case. Personally.”
“Because the lead detectives are too afraid to leave the precinct?” Harlan asked, reading between the lines as skillfully as he usually did.
Kit nodded. “Basically, yes. For now, I needed you to know that the shooter is a blood relation, Akiko. You are the central piece to this puzzle. You need to be careful.”
Akiko appeared dazed. “But he didn’t shoot at me. Just you.”
“For now.” Kit hated to hurt her. “But that doesn’t mean that they don’t have sinister plans for you. They killed Mary Sherman before she could talk to you.”
“Maybe Mary Sherman was the bad guy,” Harlan said. “Maybe she planned to harm Akiko and the shooter saved her.” He shook his head. “But he shot you. And then Marshall and Ashton.”
“Exactly.” Kit leaned across the table, setting her hand in front of Akiko, who immediately took it.
“We need to find Nicchi. Do you think Paolo can help us? Nicchi knows stuff that he’s not telling us and I don’t know why.
I thought he’d spill after Ito was attacked, but we can’t find him. Can you call Paolo?”
“Yes. He’s probably asleep, but he’s a light sleeper, so…” She took her phone from her pocket with hands that visibly shook. “I’ll just…” She trailed away, staring at her phone, looking so lost it broke Kit’s heart.
I’m an asshole, Kit thought. Dropping a bomb like that without even a hug. Akiko liked hugs. Needed them, even.
Kit gave Sam’s hand a final squeeze before letting him go and moving her chair next to Akiko’s. She wrapped her arms around her sister’s shoulders. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I’m so sorry. I don’t know what else to say.”
Akiko pressed her face into Kit’s shoulder, her body shaking. “Who am I? I have a half brother who killed my aunt. And tried to kill you. Twice. Who even am I?”
Kit could answer that question, goddammit.
“You’re Akiko McKittrick,” she said fiercely.
“And you are amazing. You have the best heart.” Her voice broke a little.
“You love everyone, even me, even when I probably don’t deserve it.
You’re Harlan and Betsy McKittrick’s daughter and they’re proud of you.
You’re sister to Rita and Tiffany and Emma.
And Dawn and Amy and Stephie. And Anson and Mateo and all the others.
And especially to me. You’re smart and capable.
You run a business that brings people joy and adventure.
You could break me in half with your pinkie, but you never would,” she added lightly, then drew a breath that hurt her chest. “We love you. That’s who you are. ”
Akiko broke into a sob. “Kit.”
“I know.” Kit rubbed her sister’s back, embarrassed at her outburst. “Too much, huh?”
“Just right,” Akiko whispered. “I’m so confused.”
“I know. It’s a big deal, finding your family. I mean, I guess it is.” Because she had no idea who her family was. She’d never really wanted to. “You’re allowed to feel however you feel.”
Kit chanced a glance at Harlan to find him wiping his cheeks, but his smile was electric. He rested his big hand on Kit’s head, then Akiko’s, but said nothing. He didn’t have to.
He’s proud of me, too. She always knew he was, but it was in moments like this that it really hit her. She’d come a long, long way since she and Wren had hidden in his barn.
Her gaze moved to Sam, who gave her a nod of approval, his expression soft. “Nicely done,” he said quietly. And that his approval meant as much as Harlan’s? It was a little terrifying.
“Goddammit,” Baz muttered, because he was wiping his eyes, too. “I liked you better when you were snarky and sarcastic.”
“Liar,” Kit said affectionately. She kissed Akiko’s temple. “You’re going to be okay. I promise.”
Akiko shuddered out a breath. “You can’t promise that.”
“Watch me.” It was a vow, and Kit was one hundred percent serious. “You will be okay. I can’t promise that Ito will be okay. I don’t know what he knows, and he can’t tell us until he wakes up.”
“If he wakes up,” Akiko muttered.
“If,” Kit allowed. “I might be super pissed at him when we find out what secrets he’s been keeping, but he was there for you before we could be and…well, I’ll always be grateful for that.”
Akiko nodded then pulled away, wiping her face with the sleeves of the sweatshirt she wore. “You’re wrong, you know. You always deserve it.”
Kit frowned. “Deserve what?”
“You said that I love you, even when you probably don’t deserve it. But you always deserve it. You always have.”
Kit sniffled, determined not to cry. Not in front of all these people. Although, if she couldn’t cry in front of the people she trusted most, who could she cry in front of?
Still. They had work to do. “Thank you,” she whispered. “Now call Paolo.”
“You’re welcome. And okay, fine. I’ll call him.”
Her hand still trembled when she picked up her phone, but not as much, so Kit would take that as a win.
Akiko put the phone on speaker after dialing. “He won’t be nice if I wake him.” Then she frowned as Paolo’s phone began to ring. “Or he might be awake, but without cell service. If he doesn’t pick up, I’ll try the sat phone.”
“Where did he go?” Kit asked in surprise. “Did he go out on your boat?”
“He might have,” Akiko said, then sighed when she got the beep at the end of his recorded greeting. “Paolo, it’s me. Call me. It’s urgent.” She ended the call. “I don’t know how else to reach him at this hour. His hangouts are all closed.”
“Kit,” Sam said before Kit could ask her sister another question. “Nicchi’s back.”
Kit turned in her chair. Ricky Nicchi stood outside the door, visible through a tall, skinny window. She beckoned him to enter.
When he did, there was no need for him to duck under the doorframe. His head was bowed low, his shoulders sagging.
“Come in,” Kit said. “Meet my sister who you claimed not to know.”
Akiko stared at Nicchi in surprise. “You told her you didn’t know me?”
“We’ve never met,” Nicchi said defensively.
“True, but you have to have known who I was. Ito had to have told you about me. He told me about you. Paolo has worked with me for five years. You know who I am.”
Nicchi carefully lowered himself into one of the chairs. “Okay. You have questions. I have questions, too, and also some answers. But first, Akiko, have you talked to Paolo at all today?”