Cajun Justice(61)

She shook her head and smiled at him.

The bar manager stopped by their table. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“You, too,” Cain replied. “Thank you for the hospitality tonight.”

“Thank you for protecting Sato-san. He used to be one of our favorite customers, but we have not seen him in several weeks.”

Mr. Sato hangs out here? Cain thought. The multimillion-dollar CEO? I can’t see him singing, but I guess I can imagine him enjoying the company of these women.

Tanaka stopped talking with the Russian hostess, Natasha, and turned to the manager. “Sato-san is very busy managing the company. He has been working day and night. But he is well, and I will let him know you have asked about him. I am sure that will please him.”

“Arigato,” the manager gratefully responded. “Also, I would like to present you with a bottle of our finest champagne. On the house, of course.” He motioned to a bartender, who brought over some glasses and a bottle of Dom Pérignon nestled in a silver bucket of ice.

Cain and Tanaka thanked the manager, and then toasted each other.

“I toast to Cain-san and his new life in Japan.”

“To turning Japanese in twenty years—maybe only ten after tonight. Kanpai!”

Tanaka opened his blazer and reached into his inner pocket. He pulled out two cigars and held them in the air. “Here you go,” he said as he handed one to Cain.

“First Sabrina, then Dom Pérignon, and now a Romeo y Julieta. I can’t wait to see what’s next,” Cain exclaimed. He was having a fantastic time. Cain cut the tip off his cigar and placed it in his mouth. He reached into his pocket to grab whatever box of matches or Zippo he had that day. Before he could, Sabrina lit his cigar with a lighter she had hidden somewhere on her body.

“Wow!” Cain exclaimed. “You’re quite resourceful.”

“I take care of my favorite customers.”

“Am I already a favorite customer?”

“Yes.” She smiled.

“Well, then you should know I prefer to light my cigars with a match, instead of a cigarette lighter.”

“I will remember that for next time.”

Cain chuckled. “You’re confident I’ll be back, huh?”

“Oh, you’ll come back to see me, or I’ll have to kill you.” They both laughed.

The four of them drank champagne and enjoyed lighthearted conversation. Music played in the background as various customers sang different American songs in the karaoke area.

“Shall we order another bottle of champagne?” Tanaka asked.

“Let’s ask the ladies,” Cain suggested.

They smiled and nodded yes, which didn’t surprise Cain.

“Another bottle it is.” Cain smiled.

Sabrina and Natasha stood and went to the bar to get another bottle of Dom Pérignon.

“Tanaka, this is actually more fun than I had imagined.”

“I knew you would like kyabakura.”

Through the noise of the crowd, Cain heard a man and a woman singing a Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr. duet. Cain swayed his head to the music and sang along: “Walking down the av-e-nue. Me, and my shadow.”

“I like this song, too,” Tanaka said.

“My mom and pops had this record. They played it all the time in our living room. My sister and I would perform this duet for our parents.”

“You told me you couldn’t sing.”

“Well.” Cain smirked. “Not good enough to get paid for it. I’ve gotta see who is singing this song. She’s impressive, and definitely American.”

He stood and walked through the smoke-filled lounge toward the karaoke area. Onstage was a very fit Japanese man who appeared to be in his late twenties or early thirties. Despite being inside the club, he wore a pair of rose-colored Matsuda sunglasses with gold frames. Cain noted that the man seemed different from other Japanese he had encountered—he didn’t seem to adhere to Japan’s strict societal norms. He wore a typical dark suit and white shirt but with a bright-purple tie. On his wrist was an expensive watch with an overexaggerated case and crown. The wristband was bright orange. It was easy for Cain to see, because the man’s arm was draped over the American woman’s shoulder, his hand close to her breast.

What the hell is Bonnie doing here? Cain thought as he tried to make sense of the situation. She must be here with some of her American friends, right?

But the way this man was touching his sister made him mad, so Cain walked onstage and removed the man’s arm from Bonnie’s shoulder, and instead put his own arm around her. Together, Bonnie and Cain finished crooning the song: “Me, and my shadow. All alone and feeling blue.” They feigned taking cowboy hats off their heads, putting them on their feet, and kicking them into the air.

The crowd erupted in applause.

“Smile and give them a show,” Bonnie said to her brother. They bowed to the cheering audience, but Cain observed two men at a nearby table who were not clapping. They stood and started walking toward the stage.

The Japanese man who had been singing with Bonnie warned Cain, “Get away from Bella.”

“Bella?” Cain turned to his sister. “What the hell is going on?”

“This woman is taken,” the Japanese customer said.