Page 64 of Cunning Lies

But because of the Endo-kai, a family isn’t something I’ve had on my to-do list. Being in the yakuza is having an extended familybeyondblood, and that goes for your kids too. I don’t know if it’s right to bring a child into this criminal world.

But it’s an option. If Vi wants it.

For a moment, I imagine filling her up with my come and giving her that family, but that’s not what she wants. I may be impulsive and greedy, but I can still listen. And if Vi wants a family of adopted children, how can I resist giving that to her?

I don’t think about the future. But I want to give Vi everything she wants.

“Adopting sounds nice,” I say.

She burrows her face into my chest, that burnt sugar scent somehow breaking through the fragrance oils and going straight to my head. She smiles at me, and I swear to god, warmth and lightness grip me, forcing me down to my knees.

I want to make her smile like that every day.

Then it dawns on me: we’re sitting and talking. I’ve never had that with a woman before.That’sthe kind of hold she has on me: Vi makes time slow down.

And I don’t even notice.

“Even if we have a kid, I can never leave the Endo-kai,” I say, hoping she understands. Any kids we have will be involved in the yakuza for life, just like Vi and me.

“Of course you can’t,” Vi says. “That’s your family.”

My family.

Vi knows what the Endo-kai means to meandshe accepts it. Just like she wants me to accept her uncle.

I want to do the same for her.

“About that family dinner,” I say. “So your uncle, Tomo, Mama, and all of us fucked up yakuza kids?”

She nods, and I put my arm around her. There are options, but sushi is always my go-to choice, especially for family gatherings.

“Does your uncle eat fish?” I ask.

She shrugs. “He’ll basically eat anything.”

I wink at her. “Then we’ve got a party to plan.”

CHAPTER20

VI

I patdown the sides of my dress. Sleek lines show off my curves, cutting off right past my fingertips. Usually, I’m more of a sweater and hoodie kind of person, but this dress is more appropriate for a Michelin three-star restaurant.

But my stomach crawls. Kenzo and Uncle Jay haven’t been in the same room together for a while. With Patrick dead, it seems like Uncle Jay is next… Or maybe Uncle Jay will make Kenzohisfirst murder. I’ve told Kenzo repeatedly that Uncle Jay never hurt me—not like Patrick. But I know Kenzo, and I’m not sure if Uncle Jay will ever be up to his standards.

So why is Uncle Jay good enough for me?

I scowl at myself, then fix my hair. This was my idea. I was the one who put this family dinner together, as if we could really be one big happy family, and yet now, I can’t make any sense of it. Uncle Jay has been different lately; since Patrick died, it’s like he’s a frustrated workaholic, putting all of his energy into the deal with our secret client.

Finally,he had said when I told him about the family dinner.I can scout out the information myself.

I immediately regretted having the idea in the first place.

I can do it,I insisted, knowing that Uncle Jay snooping was a bad idea, even worse than putting me up for my first con job.

No need. This dinner is enough, sweetie,he said.Just be careful, Vi,he added, almost like an afterthought.Your husband is still part of the yakuza. You don’t mess with that.

I wanted to scream,Then why are we still here?but instead, I hung up the phone and berated myself for my silly ideas.