“Are you threatening me?” he hisses, face taut and his eyes blazing.
“Hell yes I am, old man. So if you don’t want your little and very embarrassing secret out, you are going to get off your conservative bullshit horse and let me be with your son, okay?” He takes a threatening step my way, but I hold my ground. “Oh, and don’t think about retaliating. I’ve sent a copy to my friend and instructed her to releaseall the evidence if she doesn’t hear from me in the next three hours.”
Daichi makes a dismissive sound, his shoulders sagging. “You’ve lost your mind.”
“Yeah well, your son does seem to have that effect on me. I wasn’t even into dudes before I met him.”
He hums, folding his arms. I swear some of the annoyance and anger leave him, but it could also be a trick to get me to let my guard down so he can snatch my phone. I was totally bluffing about sending the video to anyone, but I think I gave a very convincing performance.
“And what makes you think you won’t change your mind again?”
He has a point, I suppose. But then again, I think my attraction to men was always there, just kind of dormant. “Because it’s not just the sex that’s amazing. Chai’s fun and goofy and so easy to be around. He makes me feel safe and wanted. He also talks to me about all kinds of stuff, even things I don’t really understand. But I’m learning, because I want to support him in any way I can.” I chuckle, remembering when he mentioned his mom. It came up when I was telling him about losing both my parents. I didn’t press him for the details, but I’m sure he will tell me when he feels ready. “Anyway, what I’m saying is that as wild as it might seem or sound, Chai is my person. So I don’t care if you approve or not, I’m not handing him over.”
I’m panting by the end of my unintended confession to Chai’s dad, clutching my phone as I wait to see him blow up at me.
He barks out a loud, guttural laugh that rings across the entire office. “Leon Caruso. You, a nobody troublemaker, dare come to my office and threatenme, the Head of a yakuza organization?”
Oh shit, I don’t think my Hello Kitty dirty move worked. I roll up my sleeves, toss the phone in my pocket and take on a fighting stance. Ah, fuck it. If I have to beat the shit out of this old man to make him understand how serious I am, I’ll freaking do it.
He laughs again, and this time I can tell I’m not imagining it. The frown and the annoyance simply vanish from his face, and in their stead an amused smile appears. “It seems like Chai has found his match, then. Always knew he had a thing for the crazy ones, but I never expected it would be someone as crazy as you, Leon Caruso. You are resourceful. You play dirty. You don’t back down. You aren’t afraid to stand your ground for what you want. You are loyal to my son, even if I threaten your life. You believed him when I refused to and helped him prove he will be a good leader. You truly surpass even my biggest expectations.”
Wait. Hold on a minute. I am not computing. What crazy nonsense is this old man spouting? Did he just…approveof us?
Daichi walks back to his chair, plopping into it. He watches me while I still try to comprehend what just happened, tapping away on his Hello Kitty phone.
“Go off then. We have nothing more to discuss,” he says a little distractedly.
“Um. So about me and Chai and your Hello Kitty obsession… I’m a little confused what happens now,” I string together, revisiting the last part of our conversation.
“You and Chai can do as you wish. I trust you are both mature enough to make it work. We will announce your relationship to the rest of the Group next week. I do ask that until then you keep things… discrete, as to not cause unnecessary rumors.” He lifts his gaze from his phone,raising an eyebrow at me. “I’d appreciate it if you don’t mention my side hobby to anyone. It’s in your interest, given that it would make Chai happy if the two of us got along.” He winks at me and it carries that impish playfulness that Chai’s smiles sometimes do. “Eventually.”
Oh.Oh shit.
“Holy shit. Did you just say you are fine with me and Chai dating…?”
He glances up at me, trying and failing to appear stern. “Would you like it in writing?”
I gawk at him, speechless.
He waves me off. “Go off now. Chai and Aran should be done with the announcement anytime now. Don’t make my son wait or I won’t hear the end of it.”
I dip my head, turn around and open the door. But then I pause, glancing at Daichi over my shoulder. “Can I tell him? About this?”
“As if I can prevent you, even if I ordered you not to.”
I grin and slip into the hall, already dialing Chai. Daichi is right. He’s sooo right. I just defeated the last boss and there is no way Chai won’t be the first to find out.
“Hey, boyfriend, where are you? I just had the wildest encounter with your dad.”
“My dad?” Chai’s voice pitches higher. “Leo, are you okay? I’m on my way up to the lounge.”
I veer left and backtrack my steps to the fancy bar just in time as the elevator doors slide open and my amazing mafia heir steps out. He looks like he’s seen a ghost, his eyebrows slanting even more as I charge at him and almost crash us into a fancy looking vase-art thingy.
“Leo! Did he do something to you?” He grasps my hand, nostrils flaring. “I don’t care about his dumb traditions, he will either accept you or I will disown him.”
I’m pretty sure disowning doesn’t work this way, but that’s semantics. I appreciate the sentiment all the same.
“There is no need.” I squeeze his arm discreetly, letting the contact linger. “I spoke to him. He knows about us and…” I take a dramatic pause, gazing into Chai’s dark eyes as a million emotions flick in their mesmerizing brown depths. “He okayed it.”
