Page 42 of Lau Ahi
I wanted to gag hearing my father discuss this man’s accolades. He sounded like every man I’d run from in our social circle in London. Now some weak handshake rich boy was my intended. “Great, so he’s a nepo baby.”
“Not quite, although the Nakoas have—”
“Nakoas? What Nakoas?” Fate couldn’t be this cruel to me for a third time. I absolutely refused to believe that lightning could strike thrice.
“They have a shipping corporation and dock leases that make our partnership crucial. Have you heard of them?”
My eyes narrowed even more because fate was throwing this man or one of his relatives at me. “Would this Nakoa heir currently be workin for the FBI?”
“Yes. He said that you all have been introduced.”
My head went to the surface of my desk in defeat. “They’ve asked me to help them on a case.”
“That’s wonderful news, Asha! Why didn’t you tell me?”
“When would I have had the time, abo?”
“Fair enough. So you’ve met Ori then?”
“Yes.”
“I take it that you didn’t think highly of him?” I was unsure whether I needed to lie to make him feel better or be honest.
“Besides you, what man do I think highly of?”
“I had him checked out and I have to say whatever your interaction it must have been more positive on his part.”
My head lifted and damn my father for knowing just how to pique my curiosity. “Why do you say that?”
“Because the choice was between him and another man in their organization and he requested to be the one to partner with you.”
The confession left me at a loss for words. I didn’t want to read anything into this since his desire to volunteer could be because we’d slept together. I’m sure whatever meetings he hadwith his partners would be awkward if he could tell someone what I looked like as I came. But there was a small part—
I scoffed at how he was trying to flatter my ego with his insinuation. “I doubt that. You know how your brethren are. They like to have biddable wives and I bet he’s the type to want to turn someone into that.”
“Again, have I ever put you into a dangerous position on purpose, Semira?”
“No.”
“Then trust me when I say now is no different. I wouldn’t have joined you with a man who was going to crush your spirit in that way. I say attempt because I know my child and you would’ve had his head mounted on your wall the first time he tried.”
I beamed under his praise glad that he couldn’t see my face. “Flattery will not get you off my bad side, old chap.”
“Do you want to be a part of the negotiations or do you want me to handle them?”
His changing the subject was his way of giving me a semblance of control. But I didn’t want it. To be handed control was tantamount to being given an extra length of rope in captivity. It gave the illusion of progress but you were still in chains. I hadn’t even agreed to any of this and felt my lung’s capacity to inflate diminish with each breath.
“No. You want me to trust you so I will. You do what you think is best. I’m sure you have more than enough money to help me out and a backup plan if I need to escape the country.”
He waited a beat before he answered and his voice wasn’t nearly as playful as I’d expected. “Their reach might make that nearly impossible.”
“Who are you marrying me off to, abo?”
“Someone who is worthy enough to be called your husband. Now, what is this about a case?”
The last thing I wanted to do was discuss the case with him because now that meant discussing Agent Nakoa.Since I was apparently marrying the man I'm probably going to have to stop calling him that.
I’m sure no one would understand my lack of arguing about any of this happening but my father's efforts at a peaceful resolution to the issues in Eritrea had been ignored. I’d assisted him with outreach and even Nev had tried from her place on the UCCA but to no avail. Even bribery hadn’t moved the men who were firmly on the side of the capitalists eager to continue unrest to ensure their profits soared. Without question, I knew this was his last resort and was probably one of a dozen contingency plans. Everything else we’d tried had failed and this was his final chip. The idea of this man being powerful enough to thwart an entire government was intriguing but it also meant he would have the ability to do far more damage if he desired.
