Part 30 (2/2)
”Your mother was a prost.i.tute?”
Jack nodded.
”Mine was, too. My father was j.a.panese. She was Korean.”
”Is that how you ended up in the Yakuza?”
”Yes. They took me in. They protected me.”
Jack exhaled.
Funny what she considered protection.
”Officer, can you love?”
Jack thought about it, but didn't answer the unusual question. They just lay there awhile. Jack didn't want to move. Right now, he didn't have to think; he just wanted to feel.
”I see love in Marisa's sketches of you. She loves you. I see it in the way Alice looks at you. But you...you hold back, and I wonder...can you love?”
Jack closed his eyes as she s.h.i.+fted her head against his chest. Kiku's arms tightened slightly. She continued.
”I don't know if I can.” Her sigh ran across his chest. ”I have been with men, but I have never loved.”
Jack breathed in deeply. Her head rose and fell as he breathed.
”When life has beaten a person down, one withdraws,” she said.
Jack's mind raced with the thought.
”Do you know how to grow tomato plants?” she asked.
His brows pulled together as he lopsidedly grinned at her. Her mind worked in such tangents. ”No.”
Kiku softly touched his chest. ”I grew some plants on my balcony when I first came here. There was a frost, and I thought they died. I started five plants. Four died. But the plant that lived, it started with three leaves. When the frost came, the plant pulled back all of its nutrients from its leaves so the plant itself would live. It survived, but those leaves died.”
He softly touched the ends of her hair.
”Is that what happened to me?” Jack could hear a slight tremor in her voice. ”Did I cut off my feelings to survive? Is that why I can't love?”
He could feel her breath on his neck. She exhaled again as she lifted her head up.
”I watched you in the restaurant, and you intrigued me. I could see you knew the danger, but you still went ahead. That is the kind of man women love.”
”What kind?”
”The kind of man who would journey into h.e.l.l to get them back.” Her fingers ran down along his jaw, and she slowly lifted his chin. ”Why did you tell the Mancinis to let me go?”
Jack closed his eyes. ”I need you to find Marisa.”
Her hand moved up to the side of his face and softly touched his brow. ”You still lie to me.”
Jack debated for a minute. ”You didn't take her. You don't think the Yakuza did, either.”
”They didn't.”
”Does Takeo tell you everything?” Jack waited, but she said nothing.
”You know what the old Italian said is true.” She laid her head back down.
”I do.”
”Do you know who Damocles is?”
Jack shook his head.
”Damocles worked for King Dionysius. One day, Damocles said Dionysius was so lucky to be king. Dionysius answered, 'If you think I'm lucky, how about you try out my life?' Damocles agreed and enjoyed his position until he noticed a huge sword hanging by a horsehair over his head. He saw then what the true price of being king is.”
”Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.”
”When you went to see Takeo and threatened him with harm if something happened to Severino's daughter, you put a sword over his head. Because you are a police officer-he did not kill you-but he will not let you leave that sword dangling long.”
Jack lay there as he looked up at the ceiling. Their breathing fell into sync, helping him relax even more.
”He told you I was sent to kill you, but you still asked for me back. Why?”
Jack touched her arm. ”Something you said. You and me. We're a lot alike.” His mind flashed back to the soldier. ”I followed orders blindly once. But I don't do that anymore. I couldn't just let you die.”
”If Marisa dies,” she whispered, ”you will die, too.”
Jack closed his eyes.
”And it will be me who must kill you.”
”You'll have to get in line.” Replacement's voice was just below a growl.
Jack's eyes flew open as he sat up and dropped Kiku onto the couch.
Kiku lay there, loosely wrapped in the sheet.
Replacement stood with her arms at her side and her feet spread apart.
”Nothing happened.” Jack held up one hand.
”It is not what it appears.” Kiku stood up. ”Jack had a nightmare and I came out to check on him. There was nothing s.e.xual about it.”
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