Ainsley's POV

I just put on that ignorant smile, before I turned to walk towards the bar, my thoughts swirling around. I didn't like the way they spoke about this Kieran guy, and I definitely didn't like the way they kept saying I looked like the guy, especially when my nerves are already jittery because of Hanh's situation. I definitely didn't need some mafia looking men to somehow kidnap me too just to take out their anger based on their own insecurities about being old and decrepit.

Behind the bar, I focused on wiping the glasses, but my hands wouldn't stop shaking. I took a deep breath, before I tried to focus on something else. With everything that was happening, I was happy to get some information that pointed that I would get the answers I wanted in the Irish mafia, but here I was, snuck with the Chinese mafia with my best friend in deep and out cold. I had to figure out my next plan of action, but I really couldn't focus on anything with that group of Italian mafia members looking at my every action. My own nerves were going crazy, and I guess I have a random group of Italian mafia men to thank for concluding that once Hanh gets back, I'm getting her out of this mess.

If my gut was right, and if those Italian guys were implying what I thought—if Kieran was Aidan or if there was some crazy twist of fate like in those dramas or telenovelas where this Kieran guy took Aidan's face, I wasn't going to drag my best friend into a deeper mess. At this rate, I wasn't going back to the US because I was going to kill this guy, and unfortunately for him, it sounds like we were in Japan at the same time.

I didn't notice that my knuckles had turned white from gripping the glass I was polishing until Baba plopped right in the bar chair right in front of me. Baba's sudden appearance almost made me drop the glass. Almost, but I think I should try to reiterate being a dumb blonde, at least for the Italian guys. The glass slipped right through my fingers, hitting the floor with a sharp crash, and sending shards everywhere.

"Ops! Slippery fingers I guess," I babbled, forcing a nervous laugh. My hands were shaking worse now that my nerves are now acting back up. Maybe seeing his face was the reason why my nerves are now worse.

Baba chuckled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Aw, don't worry, sunshine," he drawled, voice smooth. "Happens to the best of us."

I huffed, crouching down to gather the larger shards, but Baba beat me to it, brushing my hands aside. "Ah-ah, careful," he said, smirking. "Wouldn't want you cutting those pretty fingers. Leave it to the professionals."

I let out another nervous giggle, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. "Oh gosh, you're right! I'm such a klutz." I glanced over, noticing that the Italian guys were still staring. Baba did clean up the shards, as I served some of the other customers that came up.

"You sure you're up for your shift tonight?" Baba asked as he finished tossing all the shards.

"Of course I am," I scoffed. "I still got that debt to pay off, don't I? And I'm looking for some big tips with your rich cliental here. Especially with my buyer right here assuming that I'm using my friend to pay off everything!"

"Ooh, she's still spicy about that," Baba said, throwing me a smirk.

I thought with my nerves like this, there was a good chance that I would have a mental breakdown, but I just wanted to break his head. It was surprising to me, how I could feel this way with Baba when there's a bunch of suspicious men sitting a few feet away.

"Ooh, be careful there! I can see that vein of yours popping out," he said.

"What can I get you, Baba? Whiskey? Saki?" I asked, completely over his commentary.

"Back to work I see. You know how to make an Old Fashion?"

"Don't insult me, Baba," I said, rolling my eyes, before reaching for the bourbon. As I muddled the sugars and the bitters, my nerves came back. I wasn't looking at Baba or the Italians, but I could feel the eyes from the Italians bearing into me. Man, now, I wished this shift and night would be over faster. I didn't need the Italians anymore, since now I gotta focus on who this Kieran guy is, and I also had to figure out how to get Hanh out of here. Once I finished making the drink, I slid the glass over to Baba.

"Remember to tip me well."

"Pay you to pay myself back?" he joked.

"Hey, I'm just doing my job. If you don't want to pay, remember to deduct it from the debt," I responded shrugging. He took a sip, and I half-expected him to make some comment about how I was trying to poison him.

"Not bad. You might actually be good at this. I would believe it if you paid back your debt through this."

"Thanks, so how about that tip?"

"Pushy, aren't you?" he scoffed, with a glint of amusement in his eyes as he slid a bill to me.

I made a show of gasping dramatically, snatching the bill with wide eyes.

"Oh wow! A whole twenty? Gosh, Baba, I didn't know you were so generous," I responded, fluttering my lashes.

"Careful, I might take it back," he teased. I quickly shoved it in my pocket.

"No take-backs!"

I saw the smirk he had softened a bit, and some of the tension in my shoulders eased. I shook my head, I shouldn't be trauma bonding with the guy that basically bought me, especially when those Italian guys are still flickering their gazes towards me. I think Baba had noticed it too, because once I turned back around, he leaned in a little.

"Are they bothering you? Did they say something earlier?"

I forced a giggle. "What? You jealous that someone might be interested in me? I know I'm a catch."

"I didn't know you were into older men like that," he responded, right back to teasing.

"Oh please, like I would go for grandpas with control issues."

Baba scoffed again, but his eyes flickered to their corner.

"Seriously, sunshine, if you're causing trouble, you tell me."

I leaned in and whispered, "And what is an art thief going to do about that?"

"Oh dang, look at you. You are a real detective," he whispered right back.

This time, I laughed for real. I wasn't sure why his flirty attitude was making me more at ease. Maybe it was something that was actually harmless for once. Something that I could joke around that doesn't have any real meaning, like I knew he wasn't really into me, and his flirty attitude didn't feel slimy or dangerous. Baba's teasing had almost made me forget about the Italian guys still watching. Almost. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed one of them standing, adjusting his suit jacket with a smirk.

He lead the rest of the men out, but right as he walked across me, he slid a few bills on the bar, too many bills. It was much more than what he owed, and then he smirked at me. "Pleasure chattin', sweetheart," he said.

"We'll be seein' you," he said leaving out the bar.

My fingers tightened around the towel that was in my hands. I forced another smile, and waved. "Thanks for the tip! Have a great night!"

The rest of the men also gave me a few glances as they left, which only served to make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. As soon as I watched them leave the building, I let out a breath that I didn't realize that I was holding, and I noticed that my hands were shaking again. I hope I never had to see them again, because I was so over my nerves going into hyperdrive. I needed to get Hanh out of Japan at least, maybe that would help my nerves better as I figured out what was going on with this Kieran guy.

Baba's smirk had faded, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Well, that's not ominous," he muttered, swirling his drink. "Making friends already, sunshine?"

"Don't be ridiculous. I don't make friends with mafia people like you do with Soryu."

"Oh, and how did you know that they were mafia?"

I paused. I didn't mean to let that slip. My thinking was wrong when I had assumed Soryu was the most dangerous out of the batch. Baba was making me slip, and this was starting to be too dangerous. I would say that the silver lining of picking Baba, would be the rumors that he really cared for ladies, despite being such a flirt, so I decided to test that theory.

"Baba, can you do me a tiny favor?" I asked, leaning against the bar.

"Oh, how I can reject the very first favor that this beautiful American detective is asking?"

"Can you get me a plane ticket back to the US without the others knowing?"