Fire and Ice - Anne Stuart [36]
He was tiny. Old and frail, with wisps of white hair on a bald, freckled skull. Thin lips, eyes almost hidden beneath the crepey wrinkles. His suit was white, silk, exquisite. And his voice, when he spoke, was surprisingly strong.
“What have you brought me, Grandson? Back from the dead, is she?”
Reno bowed, so low his thick braid of hair brushed the ground, and he yanked her down with him. “We need your help, Ojiisan.”
“I could have told you that,” the old man said. “What took you so long to come to that conclusion?” He spoke English, slow, deliberate, and Reno switched to that language, as well.
“She should be safe at this point. The second group of Russians met with an accident, and it seems unlikely that anyone else will come after her. But just to be certain I thought she would be safest under your protection while I made a few inquiries.”
“My people can make the inquiries. Don’t tell me you think your sources are more informed than mine.”
Reno had risen by now, and he met his grandfather’s sharp gaze with an innocent expression that fooled no one. “The Committee can get information….”
“The Committee is a group of overgrown children playing games,” the old man said. “I know what’s going on in my own country.”
“Did you know that you have a traitor in your midst?”
The room was empty—even the huge Kobayashi had disappeared, and at Reno’s simple words the old man froze. “I should have you killed for saying that,” he said, and Jilly held her breath.
And then Reno laughed. “Ojiisan, you’re terrifying the gaijin. She doesn’t know that you couldn’t even spank me when I was growing up.”
“It would have been better if I had,” the old man said. He turned his impenetrable gaze on Jilly, and she felt herself caught by those dark eyes. “Has my grandson taken good care of you? Has he been polite? I may not beat him, but his cousin, Takashi, will have no hesitation.”
“He saved my life,” she said. “Twice. I can’t say much for his manners, though.”
The oyabun gave a short bark of laughter. “I suppose that’s more important. Would you excuse us while we talk? Kobayashi will take care of you. Has my grandson fed you?”
“Not recently,” Reno said. “She’s been complaining all morning. She wants a shower and a chance to change her clothes.”
“We can see to that,” the man said before Jilly could protest. A moment later Kobayashi appeared, surprisingly graceful and silent for such a large man. “Take Lovitz-san to the red room and bring her anything she needs. And make certain no one interrupts my talk with my nephew.” He had switched back to Japanese, presumably for Kobayashi’s sake.
The big man bowed low, and Jilly had no choice but to follow him. Their discussion had nothing to do with her, and Reno had already dismissed her from his mind. He was dumping her here, and she was just as glad to get rid of him. She hadn’t been able to look him in the eye after the dark, tumbled moments of the night before, and now she wouldn’t have to. She was safe inside this fortress—no one would dare contravene that scary little old man. If he truly had a traitor in his midst, then Jilly could only feel sorry for him. Ojiisan was no match for a dozen bad guys, and he had Reno to back him up.
As for her, she could just forget about Reno. He was done with her, and if she never saw him again, it would be too soon. Too bad Taka couldn’t beat the crap out of him for no reason. Maybe he’d do it as a personal favor.
The food was divine. Miso soup, an egg dish mercifully free of tentacles and green tea. By the time she’d devoured everything, she was feeling almost human. Kobayashi had brought her backpack, and he’d shown her the bathroom connected to the room, his English brief but adequate. There was no mistaking his orders. She was to stay put until someone came and got her.
Which was fine as far as she was concerned. It would mean she was less likely to see the red-haired, tattooed skunk….
The shower felt so good she almost cried. There was a soaking tub, as well, but she decided to avoid that, remembering far too vividly what had happened