Chapter 16

Chapter

Sixteen

KAI

Two weeks later

" I f she bends over the table like that again, I"m going to lose my shit," I grumble at Fabien who just sighs.

We had Leah right where we wanted her for all of five minutes before life imploded around us. It feels like it's been decades. Her research was only partially recovered, and in order for her to graduate on time, she needed to remain focused on her task.

It took her ten days to gather everything she needed and submit her thesis for her final grade. She made it with hours to spare. She graduates tomorrow, and we couldn't be prouder of her.

Everything we started that got placed on the back burner is just smirring on the surface now.

"I know for a fact that she's not wearing underwear." He drops that bomb with a slap to my ass before walking away.

"Dick," Phoebe says from my left, and I nod.

"Where are you taking her to dinner?" I turn to my partner and kiss her softly.

"I'm cooking for her. She just wants to relax. So instead of a crowded restaurant, we're going for massages and then home." I can see the mischief sparkling in her eyes.

"You're going to get her naked before you even feed her, aren't you?" Phoebe shrugs as she takes a sip of her drink.

"So unfair." I sigh.

"You made the decision to wait. I was more than willing to help you with your blue balls." I groan and roll my eyes.

"We all agreed to wait." I remind her.

"My vibrator made no promises." I slap her ass and walk away before I do something stupid.

Like, fuck her on the bar.

"I need a break," I hiss at Fabien, who's behind the bar.

"Go ahead, I got this." He pours a series of shots for a group of barely legal kids waiting.

I walk outside and puff on my vape the second I clear the doorway. I lean up against the brick wall, closing my eyes as the smoke fills my lungs.

"Excuse me, sir?" I open one eye and stare at the police officer standing five feet away.

I blow out my smoke in the other direction and stand straight.

"Yes?" I don't move closer as he flips open a notebook.

This can't be good.

"Are you the owner?" I frown but nod.

"Fabien Fukuma?" Now I'm really confused.

"No, that's my business partner. He's inside. How can I help you?" He snaps his notebook closed and pulls his handcuffs from his belt.

"Mr. Kai Thorton?" I nod at a loss as to what these cops want with us.

"You're under arrest. Place your hands behind your back." I scoff.

"For what?" It comes out as a yell, and thank God it's a slow night because the alley carries my voice inside.

"What's going on?" I hear Fabien call out as I'm shoved into the brick wall and put in the cuffs.

"Mr. Fabien Fukuma?" The other officer, not currently holding me, asks.

"I asked my question first." He crosses his arms across his chest and stares the officer down.

Behind him, I'm sure Phoebe is on the phone with his mother.

"Mr. Thorton is being arrested for terroristic threats." I burst out laughing at the absurdity.

"Who did he allegedly threaten?" Fabien has a hard time asking.

It's a few days before Halloween, and the club loves to run pranks, but this one seems like they may have gone too far.

"A former employee has filed the charges. You'll need to come to the station to give your statement." I'm pulled off the wall, and I sober up pretty quickly when I'm placed in the back of the police cruiser.

"This isn't a joke, is it?" The officer frowns and shakes his head before slamming the door closed on me.

"Fuck." I watch out the window as Fabien argues with them, and Phoebe holds his arm to stop him from doing anything stupid.

This is not how I thought my night would be ending.

We were all going to go home and celebrate. Plan our Halloween party and pray it didn't turn into a Hurricane party because of the damn storm headed our way.

Tonight was supposed to be about us.

Instead, I'm going through former employees in my head and wondering who I pissed off so bad that they'd pull this shit. Only one name comes to mind.

Charlotte Monroe.

The little bitch that was vying for mine or Fabiens attention then got mouthy with Leah right after the fire. This stinks of her. But why?

Can someone be that vindictive?

Sadly, I think of my family and answer my own internal questions. Women who believe they've been wronged can come up with a half dozen ways to fuck you over before lunch.

The officers get in the front seats, and before they close the doors, I hear Fabien scream for me.

"Kai! We'll meet you there." I nod at him as we pull away.

One good thing will come out of this.

I get to see my favorite person in the whole world—the best mother-in-law a guy could ever wish for and a nightmare for any police officer this side of the Mason Dixie.

Genevieve Davenport-Fukuma, aka Judge.