Aftermath

Ch 70: Warnings

A/N: Sunday evening

Sang

Kota passed the dice to Luke. "I hate to do this, but I need to call it a night."

"Right after I buy Park Place?" Gabriel whined. "If I didn't know better, I'd think you were trying to avoid the fucking loss of a lifetime."

Victor chopped him. "Give him a break."

"Sorry, boss," Gabriel apologized.

Kota opened his mouth, then bit back whatever was on his mind. "Consider it my concession. Why don't you just put my properties back in play; that will reinvigorate the game. Or if Nathan or Silas show up, one of them can take my spot. Regardless, I need to stop; it's been a long day."

"Yes, it has," I agreed. I could see the exhaustion in his eyes and was glad he was making the call on his own.

Standing, Kota put his hand on Victor's shoulder. "I know I argued about going, but you were right about going to the spa. That massage was amazing; it really helped with some of the nagging pain and discomfort I've been feeling."

Victor looked pleased. "I told you that Lei's specialty was rehabilitation massage."

"He did a great job," Kota agreed.

"I'm glad you got that shit shaved off your face," Gabriel interjected. "I thought I was going to have to fucking shave you myself."

"Yep. You guys probably didn't even recognize me with that four days' worth of stubble." Kota chopped Gabriel as he went behind his chair. "Though apparently that's more possible than I first thought," he added quietly, more to himself than any of us.

Luke blinked up at him, looking just as confused as I felt.

"G'night, guys. Sang," Kota said. "Don't play too late. We've got school tomorrow."

The thought of going back to Ashley Waters settled in my stomach like a lead weight, though I wasn't worried for myself; I was scared for Kota. The school had been dangerous before we had ever started; now it felt much worse.

"Good night," the others chorused as Kota went into the living room.

I watched him leave, wondering why he wasn't going upstairs. "Can we take a break?"

"Yeah, good idea," Gabriel added.

"Anything for you, Princess," Victor agreed. "Let's take ten."

Gabriel dashed off toward the bathroom while I grabbed my phone and went after Kota.

In the living room, Kota was checking the locks on the front door and making sure the alarm was on. He glanced at me as I walked in. "I know that someone else will probably do this, but this way, I know I've checked it out."

I faltered, not sure if I wanted to say anything.

Kota perched on the arm of the couch and made eye contact. "What's on your mind, sweetie?"

I bit my lip, then forced the words out. "Have you thought about not going back?"

"To school?" Kota looked surprised. "What's this about?"

I opened a photo on my phone and showed him the threat that Luke and Silas had found. "Since you were asleep when we found it last night and we were gone all today, I didn't know if you had seen it."

"No, but I've heard about it." Kota's eyes swept over the phone. Then a slow smile spread across his face. "Interesting."

I gaped at him. "Interesting? Someone's threatening you, and all you can say is 'interesting'?"