Chapter 1
PART ONE
Joji Yamada didn't consider himself ‘a fool’. Hell, most would call him a conniving and calculating bastard.
A compliment he would always hold dear. And yet here he was, making foolish fucking choices.
The biggest Foolish choice he made was having a fucking conscience. Sure, he could look past the fact that he spared some random woman and child.
But why he didn’t just abandon them in some random non English speaking country was a question not even he knew.
Not like he was in the business of trafficking. In fact his disdain for trafficking was one of the many reasons his ‘mother’ didn’t want him as the head of the Yamada family.
Signing Joji ran his hands over his face, his eyes running over the small child sitting on the couch. Was he three. . .four, hard to tell when all the kid did was play with his hearing aid and watch videos on the phone Joji had given him?
The boy’s mother laid knocked out on the bed. Joji had to lay her on her stomach because of the harsh cuts on her back.
She looked elegant. Even with the scars on her back. Her thick head of dark and light brown dreadlocks fell over her shoulder. Highlighting her high cheekbones and glowing dark brown skin.
Leaning back in his chair, Joji ran his hand through his hair.
Fuck, her cute little face made it hard to think. Probably why he had brought her and her son with him.
A sharp knock pushed through the silence of the room.
Getting to his feet Joji walked over to the door. Finding his cousin on the other side. Seiji was a slender man, with deep stained yellow teeth and bright brown eyes.
Walking into the hall, Joji noticed Seiji trying to get a look into the room.
Feeling an odd tug at his gut. Joji quickly closed the door behind him. His eyes narrowing on his younger cousin.
Noticing his reaction, Seiji smiled at Joji, before taking a deep puff of his cigarette.
“No need to look so mean, dear cousin. I’m just here to make sure everything is to your liking.” Putting one hand in his pocket, Seiji lightly tapped Joji's shoulder with his free hand. "Beautiful girl you got there, is she for sale…"
His cousin’s words didn't shock Joji, having lived most of his life around men like Seiji. Men who believed women were objects to be sold and taken pleasure from.
But it didn’t stop his body from tightening up.
Knocking Seiji’s hand off of his shoulder, Joji narrowed his eyes as he spoke to his Cousin quickly. “No, she is not for sale, and everything is good. The room is nice and big, thank you.”
Seiji frowned at Joji's words, as if the thought of Joji not selling her to him was distasteful.
"Oh, maybe when you're bored with her then. You can share her. You know, to show generosity for keeping you hidden from your mother."
"I'm giving you money!"
“Payment is expected, but gratitude.” A smile slowly creeps on his face. Blowing the smoke from his cigarette in Joji’s face. “Gratitude is just common courtesy, don't you think.”
Again Seiji’s eyes roaming to the door, his eyes flickering with heat.
Holding himself back from grabbing Seiji's head and popping it like a grape. Joji just leaned in close as he spoke again. "I hear your father's still looking for you?"
Face going pale Seiji, moving away with an angry scuff. "Well, your mother's looking for you too."
Yeah, but that did not make them the same. Joji didn't rape and kill his sister.
No, Joji's only mistake was being born to a mother that left him to live her dream vicariously through her prettier son.
"Exactly, let's just stay out of each other's way." Folding his arms. The mix of rage and anxiety that danced over Seiji’s face, as he slowly took a few steps back.
Joji watched as Seiji shuffled and moved down the hallway, his anger clear as he kicked a door down the hall.
He would have to talk to his Auntie about the company she keeps.
Letting out an angry breath, Joji calmed himself before leaning back into the room.
"Hey kid, ya hungry?"
All Keisha Freeman could feel was pain. It rocks through her body, making it hard to breathe.
No matter which way she turned. . .no matter what she did, all Keisha could feel was pain.
Reminding her of how she fucked up, how she and her son should have left that damn hotel days ago.
"Take this for the pain." A deep, unfamiliar voice said.
Making Keisha shake her head as she tried to look at him.
But it was so dark, she couldn't see him. Maybe it was because she couldn't open her eyes, or maybe it was because the room lacked light.
Either way, a slow and painful panic filled her as Keisha tried weakly to get to her feet.
The only thing stopping her was the small hands on her chest, pushing her back down.
"No momma Sleep, get better." It was Aaron . . .her sweet boy was trying to make her lay back down.
God! A sob ripped from her throat as Keisha laid back on the bed.
Keisha had promised him that he would never see her like this again. That she would give him a happy and healthy childhood.
And yet Keisha had fucked it up.
"Ok, off you go . . . she needs her rest."
A soft little kiss touched her left jaw as Aaron hopped from the bed.
A sting of fear hit her at not knowing where he was going. Making her feel even more like a failure of a mother.
Keisha needed him next to her, safe.
"Calm yourself, you will never make it out that door like this. Just give yourself sometime." The stranger said, his big hand pushing her back onto the bed. "He will be safe with Hana, she will take good care of him."
Again he put a pill to her mouth. And again Keisha shock her head, she didn't know who he was, she needed to be aware of herself, of everything around her. "Look, you'll be no good to yourself or your son if you don't focus on healing. Now take this."
Slowly opening her mouth, Keisha took the pill and water he offered. Each move of her throat was more painful than the last. But Keisha was still able to get it all down.
"Thank you." The deep unfamiliar voice said, his hands coming up to lightly pat her on the head.
Keisha wanted to see, she wanted to open her eyes and look at this man.
But no matter what she did, Keisha just couldn't get her eyes to open.
Feeling frustrated with herself, Keisha began to tear up.
Her son needed her. . .she can't be weak.
she needed to-
When did she fall asleep?
Keisha didn't know, but she could feel a nice warm child next to her, she could feel his thick hair rubbing against her arm as he cuddled close. Filling Keisha with a calmness at knowing that he was safe next to her.
It didn't matter that she was in pain again . . .as long as she knew he was safe next to her, Keisha felt at peace.
"Take this." It was that same male again. Keisha wanted to ask who he was, or if he was a doctor. But again she couldn't see or say anything.
The pills went down easily this time . . .they didn't sting like last time, but it still hurt.
"Eat this." He said, bringing over what smelled like tomato soup.
Keisha considered refusing. But her stomach wouldn't let her.
So Keisha ate, and slept, took pills, got helped to the bathroom and at what she thought was night, Keisha got to rest next to her son.
Keisha didn't know how long this was going on for. Most days felt smashed together.
He would command that Keisha take pain pills, he would command her to eat. He would even give her a bath. No matter how hard she fought him the first two times.
But slowly Keisha became calmer. His voice and touch. Making her feel less alone and more comforted.
Especially when he read to her. Though all the books he read to her were of another language and his translation wasn't always the best, it still made her feel less in the dark.
Keisha wanted to thank him. But she couldn't bring herself to do it.
Because no matter if he was good or evil, they still needed to get away from him.
After what she had done…after who she had killed. There was no way Frank would let her live.
