One Night Stand With The Mafia Prince

" f**k " I swore under my breath, giving up on any attempt to focus. Suzy had been dragging her foot on my floor, creating a persistent tapping noise for the past hour. I’d tried to ignore it, but my sister seemed determined to push my buttons. "Can’t you do that some other time? I'm trying to study here!" I snapped, finally losing my patience. I knew she was doing it on purpose, and she was doing a damn good job of irritating me. I should have locked the door when I came in. Suzy gave me a pout, one she clearly thought would win me over. "Can’t you just do me this one favor? All my friends are going to a party at this new club in town, and I can’t miss it. Please come with me, or at least let me go by myself," she pleaded. I rolled my eyes. Couldn't she see I was trying to be responsible? Our parents had left me in charge, and the last thing I wanted was to let them down. "Mom and Dad specifically said no parties. Just because they aren’t here doesn’t mean we can ignore them." "Come on, Jade! It's not fair that we never go out. We’re in Tokyo, for God’s sake!" It was exactly because we were in Tokyo that I preferred the safety of my room. Dad had accepted a job here without hesitation, and while my parents were thrilled about the opportunity, they hadn’t considered the impact it would have on us. By “us,” I mostly meant me. Suzy, ever the social butterfly, had made friends easily, while I struggled with the adjustment. For someone who was already antisocial, living in a new country was a nightmare. It wasn’t just the language barrier; there was an undercurrent of danger here that no one else seemed to notice. Japan was controlled by an underground organization far more ruthless than the Yakuza—at least, that’s what I believed. My parents had laughed when I mentioned it, of course. Suzy had thrived, as expected, but I felt like an alien in a foreign land. I wasn’t unattractive—people had complimented my looks—but the beauty standards here were different. Losing my few close friends back home had only made me angrier and more withdrawn. I was coping, but just barely. "There’s nothing special about Tokyo," I mumbled, more to myself than to her. "At least think about it, Jade. You’ll meet new people. Some of my friends will be there too, and who knows? You might even meet the love of your life," she teased, winking. I rolled my eyes again—was that supposed to entice me? "You’re just trying to convince me because you know Mom and Dad wouldn’t let you go without me." "Is it working?" she asked, hopeful. I sighed. As much as I hated the idea, maybe going out would be better than spending the whole week cooped up in my room. "Maybe," I admitted. Suzy squealed in delight, nearly deafening me. "I promise you, Jade, it’s going to be so much fun!" --- The music throbbed, and the dance floor was packed with people—some dancing, others drinking, a few stumbling around. It made me wonder if these people had nothing better to do on a weeknight than hang out in a place like this. Then again, who was I to judge? I should have stayed home, but it was too late for regrets now. "Let’s get a drink," Suzy suggested, waving goodbye to one of her friends. I had been standing awkwardly in the corner, waiting for her to finish socializing. Unlike me, Suzy seemed to be having the time of her life. I couldn’t understand how she enjoyed this scene, but then again, this was Suzy. I shouldn’t have expected anything less from her. Reluctantly, I followed her to the bar, avoiding the occasional touch from strangers. I reminded myself to stay calm—this was a club, after all. It wasn’t exactly a place where personal space was respected. Thankfully, the bar wasn’t as crowded as the dance floor. The bartender, a tall guy with dark hair, flashed a suspicious smile as we approached. "Can I get you ladies anything?" he asked. "Just soft drinks, thanks," I replied. He raised an eyebrow, his smile widening. "Soft drinks in a club? That’s unusual." "I didn’t ask for your opinion. Just do your job," I retorted, a bit sharper than I intended. Suzy shot me a look, and I shrugged in response. I didn’t mean to be rude, but I already regretted coming here, and it was easy to take it out on someone else. "You’re so rude," Suzy scolded. "It’s fine," the bartender said with a chuckle. "Tough day, huh? I’m Brian, by the way." "I’m Suzy, and this is my sister, Jade. Don’t mind her attitude." "It’s all good. Here are your drinks," he said, setting two glasses of what looked like orange juice in front of us. I couldn’t help but feel a little ridiculous—orange juice at a club? Really? "So, are you two new in Tokyo?" Brian asked. "Is it that obvious?" I replied, narrowing my eyes. Brian chuckled. "You’re cautious. That’s good if you want to survive in this city." "What’s that supposed to mean?" I asked. "Just the usual—there are always a few mafia issues, but nothing to worry about," he said with a grin. "Incredibly funny " Suzy said, clearly not taking his words seriously I rolled my eyes at both of them. Suddenly, my phone buzzed in my pocket. Pulling it out, I checked the caller ID. I frowned. Ammy? Why was she calling me? "What’s wrong?" Suzy asked, noticing my discomfort. I shrugged it off, not wanting her to worry. "I need to take this." "I wouldn’t go out there if I were you. It’s not safe," Brian warned. "You mean your mafia issues?" "Just stay close by. Don’t wander off into the alleys." "Whatever. I’ll be right back." Turning around, I made my way through the crowded dance floor and out of the club, bypassing the security guy. I found a quiet corner a little distance from the club and dialed Ammy’s number. She picked up on the first ring, no doubt waiting for me to call back. "Hello, Ammy. It's nice to hear from you. What’s up?" "It’s nice to hear from you too, Jade." "Now tell me, what do you want? Because I know for certain you wouldn’t call unless you needed something. And why do you still have my number? You said you were going to delete it. Better yet, why are you even calling me?" The last thing Ammy had said to me before I left Queens was to go burn in hell. We were never really close, but we had a lot in common and got along well. She was wild, and so was I—or at least I used to be. "Did you really think just because you moved away, you could get out of our bet?" Ammy laughed hysterically, making me wince. "Now answer—truth or dare?"