Today’s weather report : blue skies with a 40% chance of blue skies and a 99. 98% chance of bloodshed.
Here’s how it went.
Meet Cloudy, says the girl who introduced herself as Lacy. She seems around fifteen, with piercing eyes and shiny brown hair. There is an ease to the way she holds herself, and I guess it comes from living in the middle of the Mafia.
Once Hunter agreed to Veah’s debt, they disappeared. Now it’s me and Cassie, being led towards the room Cassie is going to stay in.
Oh, he’s a dog, I exclaim, crouching down to scratch his furry white ears.
Yeah, he’s
I am still kneeling when I hear a familiar voice.
I’m heading out to the marketJude made a special request for pistachio-chip ice cream.
It takes me too long to slowly, carefully look up.
From where I am crouched, my fingertips digging into the soft fur beneath Cloudy’s ears, I slowly rise to my feet.
We are standing in front of a door in a sleek, polished corridor, and it is now open, revealing the last person I expected to find here.
Kaya ?
Tommy ?!
Kaya . . .
Tommy, I blurt out . What are you doing here ?
A flush darkens his porcelain skin. He rakes a hand through his chestnut curls, his blue eyes bright in the corridor’s light. Well, I . . .
Zio, can we take Cloudy on a walk ? says Kiara, eyes flickering between us like she doesn’t want to get in the middle of this.
The girl next to her, who called herself Lacy, blinks her round green eyes innocently. And with Tommy’s nod, they take off down the corridor, pulling Cassie along with them.
I’m pretty sure I hear the echo of giggling.
Tommy looks like a deer caught in headlights. His eyes are wide, and he keeps running his fingers through his soft, curly hair.
Um, Kaya, he begins. So . . .
I didn’t know you were an uncle, I say.
Um, yeah. About that . . .
Lacy and Kiara said they were going to take us to see Hunter’s brother, I say suspiciously. Where is he ?
I peer behind him into the room, as though Hunter’s brother will somehow magically appear.
There is nobody there.
I have a bad, bad feeling about this.
For once, I wish I wish my common sense would try a trick called Vanishing.
Please, please tell me you’re not Hunter’s brother.
Tommy looks down. About that . . .
My voice is getting higher. Because if you’re Hunter’s brother, that would mean you’re a gang member. That would mean you’re literally the heir to a crime organization and that you’re a part of the Mafia.
See, the thing is
And that would mean you never told me ? I’m probably shouting. I don’t care. My best friend is a gang member. Why wouldn’t you tell me you’re a part of the Mafia ?
Because I knew you’d react exactly like this ?
Tommy !
He slinks back into the room, letting me through. The guest bedroom is coloured with cream and gold, quiet and inviting. But I don’t care, not as I push Tommy with a single hand.
Are you kidding me ? I snap. Do you know how wild these past few days have been ? First, I wake up handcuffed on Halloween to some hot girl. Next, I find out she’s being chased by the freaking Japanese Mafia and that we’re now both in danger. Then I get kidnapped by the Yakuza because they want me to hack into some database, I sign a contract, I’m pretty sure I’m about to dieexcept the hot girl comes back and saves me even when she doesn’t have to ! So the next thing I know, she’s telling me in order to get out of this mess, we have to fake my death, make a new identity, and go to bloody Tokyo ! And let’s not forget the fact the wonderful little visit home just today ! Today ! When the stupid, reckless, idiotic, hot girl managed to break my stepdad’s arm and help me save my sister and bring us here.
I poke his chest again. For emphasis.
Four days ago, I didn’t give a rat’s ass about the Mafia ! All I wanted was to make enough money to support Cassie through med school ! Now, guess what ? I’m being chased by the Yakuza and it’s all because of a stupid cute girl, whoand guess whathappens to be a goddamn Yakuza boss runaway !
Tommy holds up his hands in surrender, grimacing.
Now you’re going to tell me my best friend, and possibly my only actual friend, is a part of the Mafia, too ? Hell no ! There’s no way this is fucking real. Cue the cameras. I’m ripping up this fucking script. I’m done with this movie or show or book or whatever the fuck is going on behind the scenes ! I’m done ! There’s no way this is real !
There are tears in my eyes by the end of this.
I’m breathing harshly, and I scrub furiously at my lashes, smudging away the moisture there.