Total pages in book: 131
Estimated words: 145402 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 727(@200wpm)___ 582(@250wpm)___ 485(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145402 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 727(@200wpm)___ 582(@250wpm)___ 485(@300wpm)
Neil lifted a cup down from the cabinet and shook his medicine out of the bag. There he stopped, because he could only imagine how much it'd hurt his fingers to unscrew that child-safety cap. He looked around for something to make it easier and saw Kevin waiting in the doorway.
Kevin glanced from Neil to Matt and spoke in French. "When Riko finds out what your father did to your face, he will retaliate."
By now Matt was used to them jabbering away in foreign languages around him. He gave no sign he heard them or cared what they were saying but pulled coffee beans and filters down from the cabinet. Neil warred with himself, heart tripping and skipping with unjustified nerves. He studied Matt's profile until Matt cut the grinder off, then looked past him to Kevin.
"Can he do anything about it, though?" Neil asked in English.
Matt froze with the filter halfway to the coffee maker. In the doorway, Kevin tensed up in incomprehension or disapproval. Neil felt Matt's eyes on him but didn't return the look. Just last night he'd said he was done lying to Matt. He couldn't expect Matt to believe him if he talked behind Matt's back today. The upperclassmen knew the whole story now, anyway, so there was no reason to hide this inevitable complication.
"By now Kengo knows my father's dead and I'm alive. Worse, he knows the FBI has already talked to me. He has to make a decision on me one way or the other. Will Riko risk making the first move?"
Kevin flicked a cool look at Matt but obediently brought the conversation back to English. "They touched what they never should have. By erasing your tattoo they've swept him aside as insignificant. Riko won't tolerate that." Kevin lifted his left hand as a prime example of Riko's violent inferiority complex. "If he thinks he can sneak past his father to get you, he will."
"Let him try," Neil said. "He knows where he can find me."
"Your false bravado helps no one."
"Neither does your cowardice," Neil pointed out. "I was only afraid of Riko because he knew who I was. What can he hold against me now that everyone knows the truth?" Neil gave Kevin a moment to digest that then said, "Andrew says the Ravens have to let this feud play out this spring, so Riko can't even come after the rest of you yet. They might kick and fuss a bit but you're safe from them for now."
"You believe him?" Matt asked.
Neil shrugged. "Tetsuji calmed their crazy fans down by saying the Ravens would handle us on the court. He has to deliver, so yeah, I believe Andrew. But hey, since Riko's hands are tied," Neil said, glancing back at Kevin, "now's a perfect time to take that off your face."
It took Kevin a moment to catch on, and he jerked like he'd been struck. "Don't even joke like that."
"I'm not joking. Allison said she'd spot me the cash to take mine off. Maybe she'll do the same for you now that I don't need her help."
"No question," Matt said. "She loves a good scandal."
"Stop," Kevin said. "Shut up."
"You're supposed to be done being second-best," Neil said. "Prove it."
Kevin made a cutting gesture at him and stormed out. He didn't bother closing the door behind him, and Neil understood when Andrew wandered in a second later. Andrew brought a roll of duct tape and some garbage bags with him and went past the kitchenette to sit on Neil's blankets. Neil closed the bedroom door and went to join him in the living room. Andrew waited until he was seated before lifting the bottom edge of Neil's hoodie. He raised it an inch or two, then checked another spot, and finally poked his hand up under the edge.
"I don't have a shirt on under this," Neil said.
Andrew accepted that in silence and settled down to wait. Neil held a bandaged hand out for the tape and bags, but Andrew gazed into space and ignored him. Matt finished up in the kitchen and went past them. When the bathroom door was closed behind him and the shower cut on, Andrew motioned to Neil's hoodie. Neil tried not to wince as he popped the buttons undone. He got the shirt as far as his elbows before he had to take a breather and rest his aching hands. Andrew gave him only a second before peeling the sleeves off his arms one at a time.
Andrew pulled a garbage bag over each arm, tore the excess edges off, and taped the jagged ends to Neil's biceps. He tugged at both bags to check for any give and added another layer of tape to be sure. When Neil's arms were good, Andrew started on his face. He picked up one of the plastic ends he'd torn off, folded it over and over in on itself, and taped it over one of Neil's cheeks like a shiny black bandage. Neil was pretty sure Andrew put more tape than plastic on Neil's face, but Neil wasn't going to complain. Andrew finished his other cheek and inspected his handiwork. Neil guessed he was satisfied with the end result because Andrew tossed the scissors and roll of tape off to one side.
Andrew tugged the blanket out from under them and draped it over Neil's shoulders like a cape. Neil tried pulling the ends together over his chest but couldn't get a good grip with bags over his fingers. Andrew watched him try twice, then pushed his hands aside and did it for him. Then there was nothing to do but wait until Matt was done. Matt went from the bathroom to the bedroom without slowing and dressed in record time. Instead of detouring back to the bathroom sink to fix his hair into its usual gelled spikes, he carried a comb into the living room and looked between them. Neil glanced his way, but Andrew didn't acknowledge their audience.
"I'm going to see if Dan needs help rescheduling her flight," Matt said. "Come next door when you're ready."