Ainsley's POV

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

Baba let out a low whistle and leaned in.

"Ooh, running off without a goodbye kiss? You're breaking my heart, sunshine," he teased, his eyes glinting.

"At least tell me you'll write," he finished.

"It's not for me. I want Hanh out. She's been dragged through enough. Can you do it or not?"

"Oh, playing the hero now? I didn't see you being the selfless type. Can I say that you're finally opening up to me?"

"They say you're not one to harm women. This is just to help Hanh out of here."

His eyes finally narrowed, like he was stripping his gentleman facade and getting serious. Now, I was going to find out if he was really one to put ladies in harm's way.

"I can get a plane ticket, but the problem with your request is Soryu. I'm not sure how he would take it."

"Doesn't he hate women? Wouldn't he love the idea of Hanh getting out of his hair? And I am technically sold to you, so I'm your problem. That would be the best case scenario for him."

"You don't know Soryu like I do. He's not the type to just let someone go now. Especially if he thinks you're up to something. No offense, but I think it was clear that you two are very suspicious in his eyes."

My hands were gripping the counter now to the point where my knuckles were turning white.

"Hanh has nothing to do with this mess. She didn't ask to be dragged into it."

"And you think that would fix everything? That's enough?"

I glared at him. He was right. In no logical sense would someone in the mafia let some suspicious girl go. And we did look suspicious after all.

Baba's eyes softened, the smirk fading into something dangerously close to concern. "Look, I get it," he said, voice gentler. "I don't like seeing pretty girls get hurt either. I'll see what I can do—but no promises."

"Baba—"

He pressed a finger to my lips, eyes glinting with that damn teasing light again. "Ah-ah, no begging, sunshine. I like it better when you're bossy," he drawled.

"You're insufferable."

"You're cute when you're not faking. Although, I do enjoy your antics, like dumping that bully into the trash."

I scoffed, rolling my eyes even as my cheeks warmed. "Oh, please. That chick deserved it."

Baba chuckled, low and warm. "I agree. I gotta admit, it was… exciting to watch."

"If you're trying to flatter me into forgetting about the plane ticket, it's not working," I muttered, but my voice came out less sharp than I intended.

"Who, me? I'd never," he said, pressing a hand to his chest with a mock-wounded look. "I'm just stating facts, sunshine. But I'll see what I can do about your request. No guarantees, though. You're not making this easy for me."

"I didn't think it would be easy," I admitted, my shoulders slumping a little. "I just need her out of here. Away from this mess."

Baba's eyes softened for a moment, something almost genuine slipping past his usual smirk. "You're really willing to risk your own neck for her, huh?"

"She's my best friend," I said quietly. "She'd do the same for me."

He let out a low hum, eyes never leaving mine. "You really are something, sunshine," he murmured, more to himself than to me. "All right. I'll see what strings I can pull. No promises, but… I'll try."

The relief that washed over me was almost enough to make my knees buckle. I released a breath I hadn't realized I was holding. "Thank you," I said softly, meaning it.

"Don't thank me yet," Baba replied, the smirk making its way back to his lips. "If Soryu finds out, I'll be the one in the line of fire. You might have to patch me up after."

I rolled my eyes, but a small smile tugged at my lips. "Oh, sure. I'll even make it worse so you can't bother me anymore."

He laughed, rich and warm, and for a second, the tension in my shoulders eased. "Careful, sunshine. Keep talking sweet like that, and I might start thinking you care," he teased.

"Only in your dreams, Baba," I shot back, turning away before he could see the smile that betrayed me.

"Every night," he called after me, voice filled with amusement.

I shook my head, but I couldn't help the warmth that lingered at the edges of my nerves. Maybe trusting him was a mistake, but right now, he was the only shot I had at getting Hanh out of this mess. Baba eventually left when my shift ended and wished me good night in our separate bedrooms. I took the time to gather my thoughts, at least Hanh was one problem that was currently out of my control. For some reason, I trusted Baba, but there was a feeling in the pit of my stomach that Hanh would be the bigger hurdle that I had to convince. But that would a future Ainsley's problem, because right now, my focus was shifting to this Kieran guy.

I pulled out the laptop and went into the Japanese police database.

Kieran O'Malley.

Nothing.

I tried the American database, using someone else's login.

Nothing.

How was this possible? How was some bigshot new Irish mafia leader not have anything in these databases? How recent did this guy enter the mafia world stage? Maybe I had to try European databases, but those Italian guys said that he had control in the States so the US database should have had something. I ran my hand through my hair, annoyed at the whole thing. I looked at the window of the room, noting the slowly raising sun. I had decided to take the night shifts due to the higher pay and the most information would come at night.

I closed the curtains, and then the laptop. Maybe today was a lot, and I couldn't rush anything. I needed sleep if I wanted to achieve anything.

The next few days was uneventful. There was no more useful information. To my relief, I didn't see of those Italian old men either, and today was the day that Soryu said that he was coming back with Hanh. Baba had also given me an update, about speaking to Soryu about the plane ticket. He said no, but that wasn't going to stop me. Deep down, I knew that Baba would try, but who was going to go against the crazy guy with the gun. It wasn't Baba. It was going to be me. And unfortunately for everyone involved, while everyone was gone for one of the days, I snuck into Soryu's room. And unfortunately for him, my nerves were basically gone after that night, so I was in prime time for snooping.

So, I grabbed one of his guns that he hid around his room. Under the sofa was a basic place, but I would give him credit since it was an easy place to grab if he needed a gun right away. I hid it on my person, until I saw Hanh and Soryu came back to the penthouse. I had requested the day off, and Baba had given it to me. I think he had felt guilty about it, and I was going to take full advantage of that.