Trouble in paradise (official)

Chapter 18 "It'll be okay...right?"

"Lani and I will do the dishes."

"What? Love, you just cooked. We can do that for you." Kisaki noticed the saddened look on her face. She couldn't hide it, no matter how hard she tried.

"You boys have a mission, go get ready." She averts his eyes, kissing him on the forehead. Shion rolled his eyes at the display of affection.

"Shion dear, can you bring the rice bowl?"

"Heh, so you've finally noticed me?" He grins, taking her the bowl.

"I do notice you. For some reason, it seems like you avoid me. So I'm not too sure how to feel?" She takes the bowl with a smile, leaving a kiss on his cheek. "But we can talk later if you're free."

"I'd like that."

He smirks, biting his lip before walking away from her. Definitely gonna take her up on that offer.

Lani sighs softly, collecting the rest of the bowls. She takes them over to the sink, dropping them in the soapy water.

"Nai, I'll wash, you dry?"

"Sounds good to me."

Ran kept his eyes on Lani all night. He watched her fake a smile and go out of her way to hide her face. His eyes followed her as she joked around with everyone at the table. But as soon as the focus was off of her, he saw her mask come off. He noticed immediately. It bothered him how quickly her mood had changed. He couldn't stand to see her like this. Ran was gonna talk to her alone.

Nai switched places with Lani, grabbing the wet rag. "Nini?" She whispered. "Hmm?" She could tell Lani was upset. She was trying to hide it but the more she tried, the more noticeable it became. Nai looks around then back at Lani. "Just—- say goodbye..." She whispers.

"I'd rather not."

"Why not?" She says, putting a glass up into the cabinet. "I mean you don't have to say goodbye goodbye. But you can go up and talk to him, I know you want —-"

"Nai. Just drop it." She snaps. Nai shuts her mouth, looking dejected as she continues to dry off the dishes.

"Mikey." Kisaki was sitting in his chair watching Lani and Nai talk across the kitchen as they washed dishes. "We took a look at the footage today from the club and found a few things."

Mikey lifted his eyebrow.

"The footage showed a dark figure leaving the club a few minutes before the gunfire. He met up with a team of mercenaries outside, who I'm guessing were supposed to dispose of us."

Mikey sat in silence as Kisaki continued.

"I went back looking at older clips from that night and realized he had been in the club the whole time. It's like he knew exactly where the cameras were because he kept his face outta view." He explained as Wakasa and Mochi listened closely. Not saying anything.

"You think it's someone we know?" Mikey said, glancing up at Kisaki.

"I don't know anyone who has enough balls to fuck with us at our own establishment. Especially with all twelve of us present. That's a death wish." He states pushing his glasses up on the bridge of his nose.

"They didn't come with the intent to kill, but to send a message. The fact that he knew how to avoid being seen means he could have easily hidden hitmen throughout the club to take any of us out. And yet he went for this flashy approach. Whoever this is, likes to play games. Or at the very least tried to get under our skin." Mikey smirked, leaning back in his seat.

"Get a photo of any of the shooter's faces. Threaten their families. Do whatever you gotta do and bring em in for questioning. Attacking us is one thing but the fact our girls were there and could have gotten caught up in that shit too. I'm pissed."