Page 208 of Lau Ahi
“You had no issue being an arrangement for Ori, why can’t you be the same for my son?” James’ face was lit up as if my agreement was assured.
“First off, I’m still married,” I held up my hand flashing a ring I would never take off. “And secondly, I love my husband. As it stands you and your father don’t have a pot to piss in or a window to throw it out of. Alone, I’m worth more money than you’ve probably ever seen and that’s without the money and properties I inherited from my husband or my position within my father’s company. I already have a husband and if I were in need of one I wouldn’t get one who brought absolutely nothing to the table.”
I allowed my voice to be filled with the scorn I felt at them thinking I was just some pass-around for the highest bidder. And what was even more insulting is that they didn’t have a dime to bid with. They saw me the same way as the women they’dbeen stopped from exploiting. I refused to be the cash cow for any man. Especially these pieces of shit.
“Fuck you too, bitch. Nobody said that the idea wasn’t happening so be careful of the enemies that you make today. They could be your masters tomorrow.” Theo’s words sealed his fate. I was going to kill him and relish doing it.
“If you raised a hand to me I would cut them off, grind them into patties and feed them to you before I disemboweled you.”
I stared Theo directly in his eyes as I spoke channeling the same words that Alec jokingly told me Ori used to say so many months ago.
“You heard my daughter. And we don’t barter women like chattel.”
“She just sold herself last year—”
Pappy stood then and all eyes went to him. “I’ve listened to you go on enough. Asha Nakoa is myohana. No one will disparage her in my presence. You all can get out; we are done here. The clock is ticking and you only have eight weeks before your time is up. Use it to find friends and alliances instead of making more enemies.”
Pappy said what he needed to and didn’t bother to elaborate. The steel in his voice and the ice in his gaze however, showed everyone he wasn’t playing. He might not have had the underworld ties that the rest of theConsortiumdid but he wasn’t a slacker.
The diseased branch of the Franklin family tree stood up in unison before walking angrily out the door. There was nothing left to be said, with Mr. Miller and Pappy getting up to speak to one another and Matty and Faith hugging. I gathered my things with my mind racing before a voice forced me to stop.
“I see that look in your eye.” Hakeem was focused on me and I didn’t bother to hide the look on my face.
“What do you mean?” I tried to infuse as much innocence as I could into my voice.
“Don’t do anything rash. My cousin will haunt me forever if I let you do something crazy like go after Theo and James.”
“Hakeem, I know you don’t know me but I never do anything rash. I’m extremely methodical in everything I do so don’t worry about me. I’m good at taking care of myself.” I gave him a smile before picking up my handbag and heading toward Faith.
Pappy bent down and gave me a hug before standing back and studying me with a smile. “I am happy to see the life back in your eyes.”
I squeezed his hand before hugging Faith. “It helps when you have a reason to live.”
“Asha—”
I didn’t want to hear them trying to talk me out of anything and I wanted to spend time with the people who reminded me of Ori.
“Not right now. Maybe never. For right now, let’s get something to eat at one of Matty’s restaurants. I’m hungry for the first time in months. I can share clothes with my sister again, which means I’ve got plenty of calories to spare. Do you all have time?”
I knew they wouldn’t deny me my request, as they had both been worried about me when I’d refused to see anyone. Pappy stood taller as he moved toward the exit.
I had a new purpose besides the one with my family and I was going to make Ori proud and see it through.
GONE
ASHA
“Asha, please. Please, just—”
The bed dipped as Sasha’s slight weight sat down beside me. Trying again to coax me to a place of normalcy I’d never touch again. I refused to open my eyes despite the way I could feel it on my face. I felt wrong to feel its warmth when I knew he was somewhere alone and cold.
Why did you lie to me?
“Just what? Just what?” I was irritated. Told her I wanted to be alone but she was pushing again.
“I’ve never seen you like this before.”
“I’ve never lost someone I loved before.” The realization hit me even harder having to say it out loud when I barely got enough time to express it to him. The person who should have heard it and felt it. “I’ve never lost something I loved before. And I’m angry.”
