Carrie Asai - Samurai Girl 05 by The Book of the Flame

Author:The Book of the Flame
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2012-02-10T23:34:49+00:00

9

We cruised into the underground parking lot in Cheryl’s building, tires squealing as she veered into a parking space marked Reserved. Cheryl drove like she did just about everything else—fast and with very little thought. Hiro let out his breath and relaxed his death grip on the arm of the car door. Attacks by ninjas? No problem. But put someone else at the wheel and it drove Hiro crazy.

The elevator from the parking garage opened directly into Cheryl’s sublet.

“Wow,” I breathed as I stepped into a space that looked like it had been ripped directly from the pages of Architectural Digest. “This is amazing.”

Directly in front of us, a brushed metal circular staircase wound its way up to the second level. One wall of the apartment was all glass, and we could see outside to where a balcony looked out at the lights of the city. Dotted around the room was a series of abstract sculptures, all forged out of a dark, heavy metal—at first they looked like human figures, but when I got up close, I could see they were more like birds or animals. A few modernist leather sofas and chairs sat in the larger room in front of a huge fireplace. The effect was cold but stunning.

“Beautiful,” Hiro said appreciatively.

“Isn’t it awesome?” Cheryl threw her keys on a glass coffee table that wound around itself in a spiral shape. Very avant-garde. “This is one of four or five properties the Reeses—that’s their name—have. A house in the south of France, something in London, I think, and New York City.” Cheryl walked into the kitchen, a study in modern decor, and opened the SubZero fridge.

“Whiskey? Or how about a beer?”

“No, thanks,” I said. “I’m feeling a little tired.”

“Hiro?” Cheryl asked, dumping ice cubes into a glass and walking over to the bar that lined the other side of the room, which was stocked with top-shelf liquor.

“No, thank you.”

“Guess I’m drinking alone, then, ha ha.” Cheryl poured whiskey over the ice cubes. She toasted us, then took a gulp.

“I’m sorry,” I said. “It’s just that it’s been a really long day.” It was as if Cheryl hadn’t even heard any of the stuff we’d told her earlier, like she just wanted to forget it all and party down.

“Sorry? Don’t be sorry,” Cheryl said, leaning against the bar. “You guys probably just want to crash, huh? I mean, I would certainly want to hit the hay if I were you. But I can show you around if you want.”

“Cool,” I said, not wanting Cheryl to think we were just using her for a crash pad. I was still feeling pretty sensitive about that.

Cheryl knelt down by the fireplace and lit a match, and in just one second a fire was burning in the grate. “Gas fire,” she explained. “Totally idiotproof.” Cheryl lit a cigarette and threw herself onto the leather sofa. “Go grab yourself a soda or something and we can relax.”

“I’ll get us some water,” Hiro said, stepping back into the kitchen.

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