Is this a mental breakdown ? Possibly.
I wanted to tell you, Tommy says. I really did. But it’s safer if
Whatever ! I growl. Don’t even finish that with something like, I’d tell you but then I have to kill you. I’m so sick of you bloody criminals !
Tommy winces. It really is. Safer, I mean. Anything you know
Can be used against you ? I let out a frustrated sound. God ! You sound like the fucking Godfather ! I’ve had enough, Don Corleone.
Tommy stares at me blankly. I don’t really know what is, but let’s go get some cinnamon buns.
I throw my hands in the air and let out a shriek between my teeth.
I’m not even going to bring up the irony of you being a part of the Mafia and not even knowing what the Godfather is.
Movie, right ? He gives me an easy grin. Come on. I did mention cinnamon buns, right ?
He knows just how to soften a girl. I hate him.
You think you can just make this better with cinnamon buns ?
He tilts his head, considering. Well, yeah.
Well, fine ! I snarl.
Fine, he says.
Fine, I grit out.
His lips twitch. The semblance of a smile. Okay, fine, let’s go.
Updated weather report : chance of rain. Sunny skies. A gruesome and terrible death. Beautiful day outside !
The cinnamon buns are so good I want to cry.
Today might be a little bit of an emotional day.
Are you PMSing or something ? Tommy asks from across me.
I narrow my eyes at him, shaking my cinnamon bun at him like it’s a knife. Don’t you dare bring that up, Thomas Winston Easton. That’s as insensitive as, like, slaughtering a cow.
That didn’t make any sense.
Good, I say, still glaring. The warm icing melts in my mouth, the cinnamon-and-sugar flavour dissolved with a flaky bite.
The Mafia has no right making such good cinnamon buns.
About what you were saying earlier, he says. The hacking part. Did the Yakuza really try to recruit you ?
Yeah, I say, swallowing. They wanted me to get through a firewall. They didn’t say for what, but they had looked up all my recordsthey knew all the tests I had passed.
So they basically figured you were a genius ?
Excuse me. I am a genius.
What kind of genius wakes up handcuffed to a Yakuza boss ?
The drunk kind ! I snap. And I’m not appreciating these inconsiderate accusations.
Okay, Albert Einstein.
That’s offensive for two reasons. One, because Albert Einstein stole most of his wife’s collaborated work and credited it as its own. And two, because you’re annoying.
Tommy grins. In case you forgot, we’re beyond sixth grade. You’re annoying isn’t an actual comeback.
I throw a precious piece of cinnamon bun at his face. I’m that mad.
When your best friend decided to conveniently forget the fact that he’s a gang member of some stupid Mafia family called the Wolves, I think it’s appropriate.
Before he can say something that will infuriate me furtherfine, I might be having a bad daya woman appears at our table.
She is lovely and brown-skinned, with a full red mouth and a bright smile.
I couldn’t help but overhear you two arguing, she begins.
I think everybody in a twenty-mile radius heard you arguing, another woman chips in. Her hair is sleek and black, with soft, glittering eyes. She must be of Japanese descent. She kisses the first woman’s cheek with an adoring look.
My name is Gianina, and this is my fiancee, Mikayla, the first woman explains.
It actually softens me a little. It’s silly, but whenever I see a gay or lesbian couple something in my heart melts a bit. Just the fact that’s it’s possible. That they’re accepted. That it’s not even a big deal.
That’s what I want. One day.
By Yakuza boss, do you happen to mean Heaven Tanaka ? says Gianina.
I blink, a little surprised. Yeah. That’s her. Veah.
I must say Veah with something wistful, because Gianina and Mikayla exchange a knowing glance.
Immediately, heat creeps up into my cheeks.
What ? I say defensively. It’s her fault I’m in this mess. I didn’t ask to get changed by homicidal Japanese Mafia and make a new identity.
There’s one thing you should know, Mikayla says.
I set down my second cinnamon bun at their grave expressions.
Heaven Tanaka isn’t just a Yakuza boss, she’s an assassin. So if you’re getting chased now, it has to be because of a hit that went wrong. A kill that went bad. It’s the only possible reason they’re after her nownothing else is a good enough reason.
So, she did something dangerous ?
Yeah, Mikayla says. Something bad.
I swallow. I know how cold, how vicious Veah can be. In the time we’ve been together, she must have killed around twelve people.
We’ve only been together four days.
How much worse does it get ? How high is her body count ?
Mikayla laces her fingers through Gianina’s. All I’m saying is . . . if you’re going to Tokyo with her, watch out.
Okay, I say, and I’m thinking I might actually pay attention to my common sense for once.
Tommy gives me a relieved smile once they leave, and it makes me think that he was worried I was about to blow up again.
The truth is, I’m too confused by Mikayla’s warning.
Something bad.
I should have asked.
I had the chanceI should have asked Veah, Why are they after you ? Why do they want you dead ?
Why didn’t I ?