Chapter 16 #2
Across the table, Satoshi's mouth pressed flat and his gaze did not leave Zo. I wondered what was on his mind. Zo and him had enjoyed a steamy intimate night.
Will more come out of that? Or was it just a fling?
Satoshi sat very still in the way only soldiers sat still, with his hands flat on the table and his shoulders squared. To anyone who didn't know him, he looked composed. But I noticed how his thumb caressed the white linen tablecloth in small, seducing strokes.
Hmmm. Zo and him might be back at it tonight.
I put my view back on Zo who had not left the doorway.
Dude. . .
One of my helpers took pictures of him with his huge silver phone. Zo spun to the right, then to the left, and then he bent over and shook his ass which caused Satoshi to nervously clear his throat.
I thought Zo was done with the photo shoot until he twisted around and did a damned split.
For the love of God just come to the damn table!
Now while Zo slid into that split in seconds, it took him several minutes and two of my helpers to assist him getting his tall ass out of the split.
I shook my head.
Zo fixed his dress and waited by the doorway.
Now what are you doing?
Nika strutted in next.
“What is she doing here?” I froze.
Nika had on an exquisitely tailored black tuxedo, fitted to her tall frame. The jacket was nipped at her waist. A glossy black top hat sat tipped at a rakish angle on her braids.
A fake mustache rested above her lip and curled at the tips. She held a simple black cane in one hand and did a little bob with the jazz band’s beat.
What the FUCK?!
She was supposed to be on a plane with Deja headed to New York.
Nika held out her arm and Zo took it, letting me know that they were not only both high as fuck, but they’d apparently agreed to go as each other’s date. They headed over and both snapped pictures of the claw and giggled at each other.
Alright now. Don’t put none of that on social media. This is supposed to be a secret location.
Granted, I was sure that they had no access to the internet.
When Zo and Nika got to the table, Toma and Kaede rose and took seats further away to let them sit closer to me.
Nika lifted her cane in a small salute and the mustache twitched. She sat down and took in the food in front of her. “Bitch, we got shrimp and grits? Shoot. I thought we was going to be eating noodles and shit. Raw fish. I’m so glad I came.”
I sat there speechless.
Nika picked up her fork, looked at it, and twisted the fork from side to side. “Girl, this is some nice dinnerware too. Rich shit. It’s giving take-a-dump-on-a-gold-toilet-and-wipe-my-ass-with-hundreds.”
At that moment, Reo stopped eating his cheese and grits, tilted his head to the side, and watched Nika. I wasn’t sure if he was stunned or curious.
With her fork, Nika pointed at the flowers in front of her. “And these centerpieces are dope as fuck. I’ve got dibs on these two in front of me. Nobody take them.”
She pointed her fork at Hiro and then Kenji who both stared at her in shock. “They’re mine and I’m serious about that shit.”
I blinked. “First of all, you’re not taking the centerpieces—”
“Why not?” She snapped her view to me. “You can take them at weddings. This party is sort of like that—”
“I don’t think you’re supposed to do that at weddings either.”
“Shit, Nyomi. Every time I go to weddings I take a couple centerpieces, bring them home, take the flowers out of it, wash any glitter and whatnot off the petals, air them out, and then the next day sell the flowers to the flower shop for a little something. I get a couple coins but every cent counts.”
“They probably think you’re homeless and are being nice by giving you a couple quarters here and there.”
“Nyomi is right.” Zo jumped in. “No reputable florist is reusing old wedding centerpiece flowers and selling them.”
“Shit. Whatever.” Nika shrugged. “Don’t sleep though. Once I got a whole dollar.”
“All that work for a dollar?” Zo shook his head. “This is what Deja means by the whole poverty mindset thing—”
“Deja just be reading bullshit on the internet and spouting it out.” Nika picked up Zo’s fork and appeared to be appraising its worth too. “Every dollar counts. When it’s time for me to retire. Bay-be, I will not be broke or living out a cardboard box.”
“Nika, what are you doing here?” I raised my eyebrows. “I thought you were on the plane heading to New York.”
“On the plane? No way. I wouldn’t leave Deja here by herself. That’s my cousin. We don’t rock like that.”
I shrieked. “Deja is here too?!”
Kenji uncomfortably shifted in his chair.
“Hell yes. Deja is here. Girl, where have you been?” Nika scrunched her face up in annoyance and then whistled. “That new dick must be good because you’re usually on point and know everything. Now your whole head is dick-matized.”
Hiro had been munching on his chicken and waffles. Instantly, he began to chuckle and ended up coughing to not choke on his food.
I was still not done with all of this new information. “Why is Deja still here?”
“Girl. . .” Nika placed Zo’s fork next to hers. “Naruto didn’t tell you that dude kidnapped her?”
I looked around the table for this new person. “Who the fuck is Naruto?”
“Girl. Naruto. You know him.”
“Nika, I promise you I don’t know a Naruto.”
“You do. That motherfucker over there with the pink hair.” She pointed down at Kaoru as his girlfriends fed him pieces of the honey-butter cornbread.
“That’s not Naruto. That’s Kaoru.”
“Close.”
“Whatever. Who kidnapped Deja?”
“Dude with the long braid.”
“Rin?”
“Probably.”
Terror hit me and my heart slammed in my chest.
I quickly turned to Kenji. “Oh my God. Did you hear that? Rin kidnapped my friend.”
“Oh. Yeah. . .that’s not good.” Kenji shifted in his seat again. Which was odd for him. I was definitely not used to Kenji of all people appearing uncomfortable, especially in a space that he dominated.
The other shock came when his dragon-shadow suddenly disappeared like it was in trouble.
I leaned my head to the side. “Did you know that Rin kidnapped Deja?”
Hiro’s coughing shifted to laughing.
I scowled at him too. “So you both knew that Rin kidnapped her?”
“Hey, don’t look at me that way.” Hiro held up his hands. “Define kidnapping?”
“You know what the hell kidnapping is.”
Hiro shrugged. “I would say that all I know is that Rin invited her to a date she didn’t know she was going to while she was asleep.”
“Asleep?” I shrieked. “What the fuck do you mean asleep?”
“Tora, you shouldn’t worry.”
I glared at Kenji. “But I am worried. Rin kidnapped her. What are you going to do about it?”
Kenji looked like he absolutely didn’t want to have this conversation in front of everyone. “Tora, we should stay out of it.”
“He kidnapped her.”
“Stay out of it.”
Hiro snickered. “Guess I’ll be the only one marrying our Tiger now.”
“And me.” Reo winked.
I crossed my arms over my chest, not willing to let it go. “Kenji—”
“Tora, your hairstylist is no damsel in distress.” Kenji pointed to the door.
I looked that way.
What?!
I parted my lips.
And I thought Kaoru and Zo were going to be the big shock of tonight.