Loving Jiro by Jordyn Tracey Read Free Book Online

knew he adored Ayumi and vice versa. They stood teasing each other with words as Jiro enjoyed doing, neither in a hurry to race. Kiara glanced around the area. Ayumi had been right about the beach being private. Not a soul occupied it other than them. On the sand, looking hot and sweaty in a suit, Eiji stood at attention.
    She considered what Ayumi had told her and thought that Eiji wasn't a babysitter so much as a bodyguard. The knowledge chilled her. She wondered if he had a gun under his jacket and if that was why he didn't remove it in this heat. As perceptive as Ayumi was, she prayed that the girl was mistaken about Jiro. But how could she be? Surely he hadn't admitted it to her, had he? Was knowing all aspects of what her family was involved in a part of her upbringing even if she was too young to know?
    Questions swirled in her mind, including the question of whether she would tell Jiro she could no longer teach Ayumi if it turned out that he really did kill people for a living. That decision, accepting him as he was, was another challenge. And maybe it was what he was getting to when he asked her about living with her decisions.
    * * * *
    Ayumi looked up from her drawing. “Ms. Kiara?"
    "Hmm?"
    "I've enjoyed these last few weeks with you,” she said shyly. Kiara put down her notebook to smile at the girl. So had she, but she didn't admit how much. “Not just the lessons,” Ayumi admitted. “The lunches and the spending time together. I know we had to drag you along many times, but I think it was good for you too."
    Kiara dropped her gaze. “It was, but...” She hesitated to continue. How could she admit that Odell was pressuring her to drop her most profitable student? Why? Why did they have to go back to the apartment that last time for her to change her clothes? She had not imagined that Odell would be there. One look at Jiro, and he had hit the roof. Now she was a dirty whore selling herself to foreigners, according to him.
    "You think I'm some kind of fool, Kiara?” he had demanded, twisting her arm painfully. “Get your ass out there and tell him you ain't going, that you changed your mind."
    "But Odell, I already said—” she began.
    He smacked her with the back of his hand, hard enough to sting, not enough to bruise or swell. “Tell him you're not going. No, scratch that. Tell him you won't be able to teach his brat anymore either."
    Her eyes had widened in shock. “Odell, his money is what I gave you last night. You know how iffy my work is right now. Please, we can't afford not to have this student. I won't go anywhere with them from now on, okay? Let's just leave it at that."
    He had eyed her with disgust, playing with his goatee. “Okay, from now on you don't go anywhere with them, just teach the girl and that's it."
    "Great—"
    "And ... whatever he pays you, you give it directly to me. Otherwise, you quit."
    A little sunshine, just a little is all she wanted, and Odell wanted to snatch it away. What choice had she had? None. She had sent Ayumi and Jiro on their way saying she had forgotten an appointment she couldn't miss. They had argued for her to reschedule it, but she stood firm. Now here she was wondering how she would tell Ayumi that there would be no more outings with her.
    Ayumi's eyes sparkled. “So many times I hoped that my brother would settle down and get a girlfriend who would last for a while, one that was nice and who would spend time with me. For a while, I could pretend I had a mother like other girls."
    Kiara's head spun. There was no response that would be adequate or satisfying to the girl. She was in no position to even pretend to be a mother figure to Ayumi. Jiro and she were not dating. “Ayumi, you understand that I'm not dating Jiro. In fact, I have a boyfriend."
    "Not one that's any good."
    Her eyes widened, and then she became angry. For once, she saw the frustration Jiro had in handling Ayumi. “That's none of your business, and you shouldn't be commenting on