Page 75 of Cunning Lies

“Are we okay?” I whisper.

He doesn’t answer.

I sink inside of myself, my posture slumping. I head back toward the master bedroom. In the windows, the sun shines, peeking over the desert landscape, and my whole life feels like it’s been shaken inside of a snow globe. This is still me. We’re still in Kenzo’s penthouse. And we’re still alive. But nothing is the same anymore.

I want to sleep. I tell myself that when I wake up, Kenzo will be singing in the kitchen again, making miso soup from a packet. We’ll eat hundreds of bowls until we both feel like we’re ourselves again.

But that’s not how this works.

Footsteps thud on the ground behind me. I tense as Kenzo’s hand lands on my shoulder. I spin around and wrap both of my arms around him in a hug, refusing to let go. But he stiffens like I’m a stranger. Still, I don’t let go. If he can force orgasms out of me, then I want a fucking hug.

Finally, his shoulders relax, and he hugs me back.

“Vi?” he asks. That distance is still in his eyes, but there’s something else there too. Hurt. Pain.Regret.Does he feel bad about what he did to me? “If you’re lying, innocent people will suffer.”

Suffer.

It’s a euphemism, and I know that. But I tell myself that it’s okay. I should care, but after losing everything—my mom, my dad, my house, my life—and learning to live again with Uncle Jay and Patrick, I can’t think of anyone else besides us.

Those innocent people aren’t my family. They aren’t my home. I don’t care what happens to them, as long as Uncle Jay is okay.

But that’s a lie too.

Nausea twists in my stomach. I mumble out two words: “I know.”

And with that, Kenzo gently pulls himself away from me. The emotions creep in. Loneliness. Fear. Guilt.

I said the name of that company to save myself and Uncle Jay, and now, innocent people will die. And it’s my fault.I lied.

“Got business to take care of,” Kenzo says.

My skin is clammy, but I’m too stunned to say anything else. He locks the front door with his phone, then it closes behind him, keeping me caged inside. Where I’m safe.

There’s no way out anymore.

In the bathroom, I fall to my knees and vomit. I’m alone again, and I don’t know what to do.

CHAPTER23

KENZO

Legendary Analysis isa startup company that put a twenty-two-year-old in charge of over a half of a million dollars, and thus, the kid became a prime target for corporate blackmail.

The CEO’s skin is so clear, you can clean silver with it. He offers a firm handshake.

“How can I help you, Mr. Watanabe?” he asks. He’s so formal, I almost laugh—this kid is way too innocent to be doing what Vi is claiming.

I wasn’t supposed to start on Legendary Analysis until we had more information, but here I am. I instinctively know he’s not who we’re looking for.

So what the fuck am I doing here?

“I’m one of your investors,” I say. “I represent the Samurai Corporation.”

“Oh, wow,” he says, a nervous grin plastered across his face. “Thank you for believing in our mission. We truly think that with testing kits like this at home, we can—”

I wave a hand in between us. “I’m here on personal business.” I slam a hand down on his shoulder. “Does the name Jay Petrus mean anything to you?”

He gives a clipped chuckle. It irritates me. “I’m sorry, who? Is that one of our new hires? I’m not familiar with their names yet.”