My Yakuza A.J. Llewellyn (ebook reader with highlighter txt) 📖

going on in the yard. Couldn’t we maybe get some sun a couple times laying out on a blanket?” Shiro asked.

“Yeah, that maybe possible. Let’s give it a couple days though, okay?”

Before Shiro could answer, Kono’s cell phone rang. “It’s the boss.”

“Speak.”

“What, I’m a dog now? What’s this speak shit?” his Lieutenant asked in mock annoyance.

“Hey, Loo, nah, I just don’t wanna answer the phone normally, ya know?”

“Yeah, I get it. Are you at the new location?”

“Yes. We got here about a half hour ago. Any issues that I need to know about?”

“No. But there are a lot of people digging around trying to locate Shiro. That includes the media as well as some Asian looking-gentlemen who are laying out a lot of money to find his location. My guess is that they wanna set him up for a hit to tie up a loose end.”

“Any news on his mom?”

“Not yet.”

“Anything about me?”

“No. After your very emotional farewell three days ago, your ashes are now sitting on the shelf in my office. The Mayor even sent down a commendation for you for service above and beyond. He’s gonna be pissed, I think, when you show up in court. He picked a nice rose bush he expects to fertilise you with.”

Jerrell laughed. Kono tried to find the humour in all this, but silently seethed. If the damned mayor ever threatens to jump off a bridge, I’ll give him a little extra push right over it.

“There are gonna be a lot of surprised and pissed off people when I show up. One thing we didn’t talk about is where are we going to stash Shiro when I go in for the trial?”

“Why don’t we stash him over in Jersey? You’ll need to stay away from him so that you don’t lead any killers to him. I’m sure they’d be waiting for you to do something like that and solve one of their problems for them.”

“We’ll talk about it and decide what’s best. I’ll let you know as soon as we arrive at an answer.”

“You need any money?”

“Nope. We got enough. Do you have the plans set for moving me to the courthouse yet?”

“Yes, but I haven’t put them on paper or told anyone other than the Captain. I’ll go over that with you next week.”

“Okay boss. Anything else?”

“Nope, just keep your heads down.”

We will, in each other’s asses.

“Will do. Bye,” Kono said and hung up.

“You want some coffee, Kono? Everything we need is here.”

“Sure, then we gotta talk about a couple things.”

“That doesn’t sound good,” Shiro said with a frown.

“No, it’s just planning for the next steps in this whole thing, that’s all.”

Shiro brought the coffee into the living room and sat down on one end of the sofa with Kono at the other end. After sipping his coffee, Shiro asked, “Okay so what’s up now?”

“We need to plan what you’re going to do while I’m tied up at trial and what you’re gonna do when the trial is over. We have two weeks. There’s time, but we should…you know, hash out some ideas.”

“I see. So I can’t stay with you during the trial, right?”

“No, I’m afraid not. It would subject you to intense risk. The Harada clan would put a hit on you without question, and we can’t take that chance.”

“What about after the trial?”

“Well, I kinda wanted to talk to you about that anyway.”

Shiro sat up straight.

“I don’t think it’ll be healthy for me, or for that fact you, after the trial is over. Would you ever consider moving to Hawaii with me?”

Kono was stunned. He put his coffee down and sat back. “Move to Hawaii with you? You want me to give up my Detective’s shield and move to the other side of the world? And do what?”

“Well, Hawaii always needs cops, too, and you have to admit it would be far nicer to police in Hawaii then in New York City, right?”

“Again, I’m a police detective here, not a rookie patrol beat officer. Besides, who says I wanna live with you? You’re talking about a lover-type relationship, aren’t you?”

“I just thought that since we….”

“Since we what? Fuck well together? You wanna base a relationship on our ability to get our rocks off?”

“You don’t have to be such a bitch about it, Kono. It’s more than just fucking for me, I really like you, and in fact, I more than like you. I know I could fall deeply in love with you.”

“You have feelings for me?”

“Yeah, Kono, I do. Is it so surprising that someone would find more in you than just a good fuck?”

Kono didn’t respond. He wasn’t taken totally unaware of Shiro’s feelings for him, but he hadn’t really thought about his own feelings. He was no good at relationships.

“It’s okay,” Shiro said. “I know that look.”

“What look?”

“Rejection. Not to be a martyr about it, but I’m used to it. It’s okay. I can go back to Hawaii. I can go to my aunty’s house out in Kauai. She doesn’t even have a telephone. I’ll be very safe there.”

“I don’t want you to go someplace with no phone.” Kono was alarmed now. “And hot island guys. Shit.”

He reached across the sofa. His whole body melted into Shiro’s. “Let’s make love. Not war. Let’s not talk anymore. The truth is…I just didn’t know how to react. I like you a lot more than most people I’ve dated and it is more than just sex. Can we leave it at that for now?”

Shiro wound his arms around Kono’s neck. “Yes.”

Kono kissed him. What the hell was he going to do with this? Lovers and moving, giving up a career he loved?

Shiro pulled away as the kiss intensified. He got up and turned the television on and sat back down, sitting close to Kono, who was trying to digest what Shiro had said.

Their attention ripped off love and fastened to the news anchor who had just used both of their names.

“Our investigative reporter has found this afternoon that