Relationship Status: Mafia

Chapter 28

Alice POV

In the morning, I was surprised to find Matsuo still asleep in bed. At first, I thought I had woken up too early, but the sun was already up and shining brightly. I sit up to stretch, glancing over at Matsuo, sprawled out on his bed tangled in his sheets. He lay on his stomach with his head buried in a pillow and hair tousled in every direction. I had to stifle the laughter from bubbling out at the sight of him discombobulated.

Quietly, I walked to the bathroom, careful not to make any noise, and closed the door. Before I stepped back out, I had thrown water on my face and swish some around my mouth.

"Oh Jesus Christ," I'm startled as I walked out of the bathroom.

"Don't come any closer." He spoke in a low husky voice that stopped me from moving or breathing for that matter. "Just leave."

As soon as he spoke, I spun on my heels and walked out of the room so fast I'm a blur. The television was on in the living room where Zhen was occupied sitting on the couch. He glanced at me and then smiled. For a moment, I have to look at the windows to make sure the world is not ending because he never smiles. However, it isn't a normal smile. There was something hiding behind this one.

"What?" I narrow my eyes at him when I reach the bottom of the stairs.

"Nothing," he brings his eyes back to the television and his smile is gone. "Where's Matsuo?"

"In his room still tired." I answer him as I walk into the kitchen to fix myself a glass of water.

As I walk back to the living room, Zhen sits up to get a better look at what assume is my appearance. Especially, my disheveled clothes.

"So," Zhen begins to speak casually as I drink my water. "How long did you keep Toma up last night?"

I choke on my water at his suggestive question. I cough furiously a few times before regaining my composure slamming down the cup on the countertop. Zhen grinned wickedly at my flustered reaction enjoying the reaction he got. I loathe this jerk so much right now.

"What do you mean?"

"He means nothing," Matsuo was standing at the top of the stairs like a ghost that materialized out of nowhere scowling at Zhen. "My office, now Zhen."

Matsuo is dressed in the usual suit sporting his normal business-as-usual presence. I knew what Matsuo wanted to speak to Zhen about and I was still mad that Matsuo thought I couldn't help with his little silent captive problem. So, as Zhen walked up the stairs I followed behind. As we were walking to Matsuo's office Zhen tried to close the door, but I stop it with my hand.

"What do you think you're doing?" Zhen glares down at me.

"I can help." I speak loud enough hopeful that Matsuo hears me.

I can hear him speaking in Japanese in a low but barely audible voice. Zhen scuffs loudly looking at me with irritation and disdain as do him. His hand releases the door in which I swing open walking right into the office.

"Before you speak, keep in mind that I am very temperamental this morning." Matsuo sounded exhausted and looked even worse, he didn't even bother putting on a tie today.

He had just opened his laptop before looking up to me as a few stay hairs fell above his eyes. It takes me a minute to realize that he's waiting for me to speak after staring at him for God knows how long.

"I can help."

"You said that already." Matsuo points out.

"Just let me talk to the guy in my room, I can get him to-."

Matsuo let's out a tired sigh cutting me off. We had this talk yesterday ending when he mocked my detective skills. Which, in fact, I still hold a grudge against him amongst everything else he's done to me starting with kidnapping me.

"Fine, do what you will, continue to hurt him even though we both know you can't get him to sell out his boss using your methods." I begin to walk out but stop at the door. "Unless you decide to pull your ego out of your ass and let me talk to that guy, we might have a chance at getting something out of him. But I doubt that's possible for you to do so, you might as well kill him now."

I walk out leaving those words to hang in the room. This can either end in two ways; Matsuo gives in and let's me help or he finally delivers in his empty threats his been giving me. Before my foot even touches a step on the stairs I hear Matsuo.

"Hey cop!" He didn't sound angry but exasperated. "Come back here."

I turn on my heel grinning to myself as I walk back to his office. Zhen wasn't happy to see me, so I ignored his exaggerated eye roll.

"Zhen, you can leave." Matsuo looks over my shoulder at him.

I sit down in the chair in front of Matsuo's desk after I heard the door close. Matsuo was typing away on his laptop for a few minutes before leaning back in his chair. He then proceeds to open a drawer, pulling out a bottle of aspirin not even bothering to drink water before taking a pill.

In all honesty, Matsuo looked like hell. This is a first that I've seen Matsuo look disheveled. Even his demeanor is different, he was off his game to say the least. I was definitely leaning towards him threatening me again than letting me help, unless that's why he called me back in here.

"So, you think you can get that guy to talk?" The lack of confidence was so thick you can cut it with a knife and serve it on a silver platter.

"More or less." I stared into his tired eyes.

"It's either you can or can't so, which is it?"

"I can."

"Okay, you'll get you chance." I blink in disbelief at him. "But you've only got five minutes to get him to talk."

"That's not fair! You've been torturing him for hours yesterday and he hasn't said a word." I stood up almost knocking my chair over as anger floods my face.

Matsuo stands up slowly without taking his eyes off me finding his arms over his chest.

"Then, you better make every second count." Matsuo's lips twitch up into a smirk as he walks around his desk towards me. I started to pout that he gave me a time limit however, I'm not going to let this discourage me.

Matsuo looked down at me, still dressed in his clothes. "But first, you're not talking to him wearing that."

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