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Shae eyed him, a curl of annoyance on her lips, but she answered, “It’s a picture of my mother after she was killed. I didn’t know it was there. I think my stupid brother is trying to pull the mess he pulled on my sister. If he thinks that will work, he don’t know me very well.”
Eiji frowned. “Your brother?”
“Never mind. Anyway, she was attacked by a bear in Vegas. That’s how he left her.”
“He?”
Pain filled her eyes, but it disappeared, replaced with anger. “The bear.”
“This is right after she was killed? She hadn’t been moved?”
“Damn it! Can’t you take a hint?” she shouted. “It was my mother, Eiji. Maybe in your culture, it’s okay to be so nosey you keep asking questions about how a person’s mother passed, but not here. Not with me. Good night!”
She turned and flounced to the door to stab her key through the lock. Eiji leaned out and grabbed her arm to whip her back to face him.
“Gomennasai. I’m sorry.” He took the picture from her hand. “This is not a bear attack, and it is not in Vegas.”
Chapter Three
After a restless night of sleep, which lasted only a few hours, Shae opened her eyes to sunlight streaming in the bedroom window, directly in her eyes. She’d thought about closing the curtains but had forgotten, her mind so full of what Eiji told her and the implications of what he’d said. Of course, he could be dead wrong.
She dragged herself from bed and took a long, hot shower
and then rifled through the clothes she’d brought with her for something appropriate to wear during the heat of the day. Last night, after Eiji left, she’d run into the house to call her father. There’d been no answer. Next, she’d tried Kasen, and Sheila, his wife, had answered his cell.
“Hey, Sheila, I need to speak with Kasen—now, please,” she’d demanded.
“Shae, hi to you too. Anything wrong?”
She’d gritted her teeth. “I…well, I don’t know. I wanted to speak with my dad, but he’s not picking up. That leaves Kasen, and I know it’s late, but I also know the man doesn’t believe in keeping regular hours, so please put him on.”
“He’s in the shower. Let me walk in there. Hold on.”
Shae picked up sounds of doors opening and closing, and then the unmistakable tapping of water hitting a shower floor. Sheila’s muffled voice mixed in, and then Kasen came on. “It’s late, Shae.”
“Whatever. I want to know why you lied about where Mom died.”
“Excuse me?”
She started to tell him about Eiji, but changed her mind. Her brother didn’t need to be in her personal life, but then she realized where her thoughts were going. She and Eiji had just enjoyed conversation and dinner. Neither had said anything about taking it further, and while Eiji had opened up some, he still seemed pretty cold to her. That might be his culture, but she’d met Japanese people before. None seemed as closed off as he did. Focusing on the conversation, she’d explained to Kasen the details of what Eiji told her.
“And you assume I’m the one that lied.”
“Well, you’re the one that told us girls the details. Dad had a hard time talking about it. He still does. We were all out of the country, and you were the one to make arrangements and take care of Dad, who was a mess.” She’d started pacing the room. “As a matter of fact, I don’t appreciate you stuffing that damn picture in my purse for people to see.”
“What people?”
“Jackass!”
When Kasen spoke again, he’d cast his voice low and threatening. She should have known she wouldn’t get anything out of him when she made him angry or disrespected him. His ego weighed a ton.
“Don’t call me again asking me stupid questions. You’re on vacation. Rest up, because as soon as we get even a hint of where to find our next target, I’m putting you on it. Your ass is going to charm the hell out of any and all the shifters I tell you to. If you even imagine betraying the family, I will deal with you.”
Shae had shivered despite herself, but she’d demanded, “Who the hell do you think you are, Kasen? I answer to Dad, not you. Or did you forget that?”
He’d laughed. “That’s changed as of earlier tonight.”
After those chilling words, he’d hung up the phone, and she knew even if she tried, he wouldn’t answer any more of her calls until he was ready. She’d dialed her dad and left messages with no luck. Now, at nine in the morning, she picked up her cell phone to try again. The voice mail came on. She stomped her foot in frustration and threw the phone on the bed. Sometimes if her dad was in a meeting or on assignment—which he frequently was—he didn’t answer, and one had to wait until he got free. He always returned her and her sisters’ calls. The only thing she could do was wait for him.
