Point of No Return by N.R. Walker Read Free Book Online Page A

that.
    Yumi swatted her son's arm. "Don't want details."
    Kira laughed, and Yumi shook her head at him.
    "Why you not call me to tell me you got a boyfriend?"
    He didn't answer her question, but pacified her with a hug instead. She grumbled at him, but she smiled just as there was another knock at the door. Kira went to the front door and came back with a man who could only be his

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    father. I knew where Kira got his height from. The man who walked in was tall, about six foot three, dark hair, olive skin.
    "Matt, this is my dad, Salvidore Franco. We call him Sal," Kira explained, but then quickly moved his hands, and I realized a little belatedly, he was signing.
    Kira's father was deaf.
    I shook his hand, mumbled my hellos, completely unprepared to be meeting the parents. I don't think I'd ever
    'met the parents' before. It was a little daunting.
    Kira's father, Sal, quickly signed something to which Yumi laughed, and Kira grinned at me. "My dad says you look taller on TV."
    I think I snorted, and I could feel my face heat with embarrassment as the three of them looked at me and smiled.
    Over the next two hours, I came to realize Kira's family was very close, very open about everything, and very, very funny.
    I knew now why Kira was always smiling, because his mom and dad were too.
    Yumi, all of five feet tall, still nagged Kira about being so distracted and for at least not calling to let them know he was okay. Then she turned on me, making me promise to make him call.

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    I quickly deduced Sal read lips, because they didn't sign everything they said, but when Sal had something to say, Kira translated the sign language for me. Sal told me when Kira didn't at least phone his mother, he was the one who suffered. Sal grinned, Kira laughed, and Yumi scowled at them both.
    Yumi talked almost nonstop, making up for the fact that Sal didn't say a word. I liked them. They were very familial, and it was obvious they adored their son. We were invited for lunch the next weekend, and when I explained my job wasn't exactly Monday to Friday, Yumi simply clicked her tongue. "Then you come for dinner through the week."
    She was a tenacious little thing, and while it was obvious Kira got his height and looks from his dad, he got the 'take no crap' kickboxing attitude from his mother.
    Early afternoon soon became late afternoon, and just as Yumi suggested dinner, my phone beeped.
    "It's work. I gotta go in," I told them, reading the message.
    "More bad guys?" Kira asked.
    I nodded. "There's always more bad guys."
    I wasn't really ready for this weekend to be over, but I had to bid them farewell regardless. I shook Sal's hand and told Yumi I promised to keep Kira in line.

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    Kira laughed and kissed me, right on the lips, right in front of them.
    Before I had time to be embarrassed, Yumi grinned up at her son. "I like him."
    Kira looked at me and smiled. "I'm rather fond of him, too."
    I grinned all the way to my place to get changed.
    Then I grinned all the way to work. Not that I'd told Kira how I felt, but if by 'fond of' he meant can't-stop-thinking-about, or wanted-to-spend-all-my-time-with, or completely-besotted-with, then yes, I was rather fond of him too.

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Chapter 7
    I walked into the office to find Mitch, Kurt, and Tony already there. I still couldn't help but grin at work, and of course they noticed. Kurt nodded smugly at me.
    "You're awfully happy to be called into work on a Sunday night."
    "You're last here," Tony added. "You're never the last one here."
    I ignored them, and Mitch smiled at me. He said nothing. He knew there was a reason behind my smile, and for him that was enough. I guess he was just happy I was happy. I smiled back at him, leaning against the table next to him, waiting for Ross.
    Our boss, Commanding Officer Ross Berkman,
    walked in. He was a tall, well-built man with a gray