Page 89 of Deadly Aloha
The plane finally stopped.
I stood very still as the flight attendant got permission from the pilot to open the door. “You had no right,” I finally said. Eleven hours later, and I still hadn’t figured out how I was going to tell Lu about Nishi.
“Punish me if you choose,” he said, unblinking. “I stand by my decision.”
I spun away, needing to see to Lu. She was pregnant, for fuck’s sake! How could Tangaloa do this? I should have been here. I should have been the one to tell her. He was my oldest friend, but I would not let this slight go unpunished.
I would get Lu out of here and then deal with Tangaloa’s betrayal.
As soon as the stairs were lowered, I was down them. I didn’t even take the time to breathe in the fresh air of home. I bolted past the flight attendant and hurried to where Lu was waiting on the tarmac.
She came forward too, though not quite at the speed I was aiming for her. I had my eyes on her, taking in her raw nose, her bloodshot eyes, and her swollen eyelids. How could Tangaloa do this to her?
I was so distracted, planning my retribution, that I never saw the fist coming. Lu stopped just as I reached her, cocked her arm back, and slammed it as hard as she could into my face.
I didn’t go down, but I did stumble. Though my cheek stung, it was my shock that had me grabbing the side of my face. “What the fuck, Lu?”
“That,” she snapped, “is for thinking I would blame you for Nishi’s death. How could you think that I would hold you responsible when you gave her a more peaceful passing than she would have had if you weren’t there?” Tears overflowed her eyes. “She died knowing she was coming home. I willneverblame you for helping her pass painlessly.”
She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around my neck. My hands automatically went to her hips. “And this,” she went up on her toes to kiss my lips, “is to thank you for keeping your promise.”
My hands gripped her tightly as I leaned my forehead down on hers. “I didn’t bring her back alive. I failed her.”
“You didn’t,” she insisted. Her voice broke and a tear fell from her chin onto my arm. “I get to say goodbye to her properly now, as does her family. You gave us that, Aloiki. You gave us,” her voice cracked, “closure.”
“I should have given you more, done more…”
Lu tipped her head back to look up at me. “No, you shouldn’t have. I know you, Aloiki. And I know you did all you could. I have no doubt that there was nothing you could have done that would have changed her fate.” Tears streamed down her cheeks faster. “And as much as it kills me to know she’s gone, there’s a sense of peace in that.”
I took her lips. “I need inside you, but there are two children exiting the plane with Tangaloa right now.”
“Ah, about Tangaloa.” She pulled back from my lips. “I also promised him I wouldn’t let you anywhere near my pussy again until you swore that you wouldn’t punish him for telling me about Nishi. He insisted it wasn’t necessary, but as I said, I know you, and I know that it is. So, promise or you and your hand are going to get very familiar with each other.”
I let out a low growl. “That’s not funny.”
“I’m not joking,” she said with a straight face.
“If I kill him then there’s nothing standing between me and your pussy,” I warned through gritted teeth.
She held up a finger, a frown on her face. “No. Don’t do that. Not now. Not when that fucking hearse is here formybest friend.”
Shit. That twisting in my stomach returned. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”
“Thank you. And Tangaloa?”
I could see she wasn’t going to let this go, and I needed access to her pussy. Fuck. “Fine,” I relented. “He’s off the hook.This time.” I snagged her around her waist and pulled her flush up tomy chest. “But don’t you ever use that on me again. One time,Hokupa?a. You and me, we don’t do ultimatums.”
“You’re right,” she conceded. “Are you okay to drive? We brought the bikes here on a flatbed. We can call it back if needed.”
“I’m good,” I insisted. “I’d never risk you otherwise.”
She smiled up at me. “I know. Let’s go get you into bed. I need you inside me too.”
One Week Later
Weatherby Dalton-Jones IV was not forgotten, but we chose to lay Nishi to rest before we dealt with her murderer and rapist.
In the tradition of our people, we celebrated Nishi’s life as we mourned her passing. Friends and family gathered at Waikiki Beach, where we feasted, sang, drank, told stories of Nishi’s life, and danced in remembrance.
