"Where're you going dressed like that?"
Milette looks over at Haruki's reflection in the mirror as she puts some mascara on her lashes.
"I'm going out to dinner."
"With?"
"With none of-
"It better not be that little rat boy." Haruki interrupts, walking closer. "What did I tell you I'd do to you if I-
Opening her dresser drawer, Milette quickly draws a gun to her cousin's head.
"It's not nice to call others rats, Haruki. It isn't Kazimir, but I'll let you know right here and now that I'm not scared of you or Merderae. As a matter of fact, I don't want to help with this plan of yours any longer."
The young man bursts out into laughter and nods.
"Okay."
DING! DONG!
"Oh! That must be him."
"I wanna meet this "him" before you two leave. I don't want my little cousin just leaving with anyone."
Haruki heads downstairs, leaving Milette to trail behind. Opening the door, he was greeted with a bouquet of flowers.
"Hello there. Does a Milette Feliano live here?"
"Hi Kenneth! Oh my goodness, are these for me?!"
"A pretty bouquet for a pretty lady."
Haruki watches as his cousin happily takes the flowers from Kenneth and loudly clears his throat.
"Well, I see we don't like doing introductions anymore!"
Turning around, Milette places a hand over her mouth.
"Oh! I'm sorry. Kenneth, this is Haruki. He's my older cousin. Haruki, this is Kenneth. He's a coworker of mine."
"And what are your intentions with my cousin?"
"Your cousin is like a little sister of mine. If I had a younger sister, this is how I'd expect her to be treated; with respect and kindness."
Haruki laughs and shakes his head.
"Milette sure doesn't seem to think of you as an older brother."
"Oh, Haruki!"
"See? If you like her, then say it. Lots of men like her; both older and younger."
"Don't listen to him, Kenneth! Let's go."
Milette pulls him out of the doorway and to the car.
"You better treat my cousin with respect, old man!" Haruki yells before slamming the door shut.
Running upstairs, he enters his room and opens his closet. Reaching for a large cardboard box behind some coats, he drags it into view and opens it.
Staring down at the multitude of weapons, the young man laughs and picks one up.
"My newest baby; I can't wait to use you!"
———
"But Princess Sparkle! I can't-
"Oof!"
Khristina laughs at the kids' television show on her iPad before hearing a knock on the hospital door.
Quickly turning it off, she slides it under the covers and pretends to be bored.
"Khristina?" a nurse says, letting Kazimir and Nia in. "You have guests here. Kazimir will also be checking you out today."
The little girl looks over and smiles as the two made their way over.
"Ms. Nia! Kazimir!"
"How're you feeling, Khristina?" Nia asks, sitting down on the bedside.
"Good now that you and Mr. Kazimir are here! I get to go home!"
"And do a lot of resting, young lady. Just because you're going home doesn't mean you're automatically better."
"But Mr. Kazimir!"
"Anyway, Nia and I made you a gift basket."
Handing the basket over to Khristina, Kazimir watches as her face brightens up. It warmed his heart to see her happy.
"Thank you!"
"You're very welcome." Nia says, chuckling.
As the little girl shuffles through the gift basket, Kazimir stands up and taps Nia's shoulder.
"I'll be right back, I'm going to give Naydine her basket."
Walking out of the room, Kazimir makes his way down the hall. Stopping in front of a room, he knocks, hearing a faint "come in".
Opening the door, he watches as Naydine turns to him and gives him a drowsy smile.
"Damn, you gotta lay off the percs, Nay."
"Shut up, Kazimir."
"Did the doctor tell you when you'll be getting out?"
"He said in about 2 days. But I don't wanna wait that long. Whoever is cooking this hospital food needs to be fired."
Kazimir takes a chicken nugget from the plate and places it in his mouth, before spitting it out.
"What the hell? Tastes like rubber. What do you want, Nay? Pizza? A burger?"
"Yeah, I want a bacon cheeseburger with those curly fries. And a cheesecake milkshake."
"Okay, I'll be right back. This is for you, by the way."
Handing Naydine the gift basket, Kazimir walks out of the room and back to Khristina's room.
"I'll be right back, Nia. And make sure Khristina's iPad doesn't get overheated under the covers, too."
Walking out of the hospital, Kazimir goes to his car, pulling out of the parking lot to go to a nearby burger restaurant.
"Welcome to Double My Burger. What can I get for you today?" the employee asks.
"Yeah, I'll get the number 3, make it a combo. And replace the drink with a large cheesecake milkshake, please."
"Okay, a number 3 with a large cheesecake milkshake. Will that be all?"
"Yeah, that's all." Kazimir replies.
"Alright, your total is $20.47 at the first window."
Pulling up to the first window, Kazimir hands the cashier his card before taking it back, along with his food.
"Thanks."
"Have a nice day." the cashier says, before closing the window.
After checking the food, the young detective pulls off and back into the hospital. Entering, he checks back in and heads back up to Naydine's room.
"Alright Nay, here's your food."
"Thank you, Kazimir."
"Can I get a fry? Please?"
She chuckles and hands the box to Kazimir.
"Thank you for the gift basket, too."
"Yeah, no problem. Nia made it but I helped in picking it out. I did make Khristina's, though."
"How's she doing? Is she okay?"
"Yeah, she's fine. She's getting checked out today, but she'll be resting more at home. Speaking of home, I did it, Nay. I bought my first house."
Naydine's eyes widen.
"No way!"
"Yes way. Look, this is it."
Taking Kazimir's phone, she looks through the photos.
"It's so beautiful, Kazimir! Looka the little lake!"
"I know, Khristina loves it. I still need help furnishing it, but luckily I have you, Nia, and Khristina for all of that."
"Now don't get mad at us when your house starts to look like a girl's house."
Kazimir laughs and shakes his head.
"I'll have y'all know that I'm not letting any girl colors touch the main rooms. Anyway, the house comes with five main bedrooms, 2 bathrooms that're separate and then there's a bathroom in my room, Khristina's room, and the guest room. There's also the living room, kitchen, dining room, a den, and a basement. Oh, and there's the backyard with a screened in porch. A big driveway out in front with a four car garage."
Naydine smiles as Kazimir continued to chat about the house and his career.
"So I managed to get a $70,000 bonus. My base salary was about $90,000 but then after Pierre put me onto the professional part, that's when I got the bonus so I do have to thank him for doing something right."
"So you're making-
"I'm making $150,000." Kazimir interrupts. "Apparently, each group is also getting a raise-
"Kazimir!"
Turning around, Kazimir watches as Khristina and Nia make their way in.
"Oh good, I can tell you all about how I'm fairing so far."
Pulling up a chair for Nia and Khristina, Kazimir begins to re-tell his career life.
"Are you gonna be rich someday?" Khristina asks, swinging her feet in the chair.
"I want to be wealthy."
"I'm sure we all do." Nia says with a smile. "Are you planning on adding anymore cars to your garage?"
"Hmm, I don't know. I might get a Supra or a big SUV. I don't like big cars like that, but the bigger SUVs are some beauts, you can't deny that. You know, the dark, tinted out ones. I might get it wrapped in matte, too."
"My mom wanted one of those." Naydine says, taking a sip of her milkshake.
"Mine did too." Khristina replies. "But she got a pink one when I was in her tummy 'cause she could see out of it better."
"My cousin has one." Nia says. "It has a nice interior."
"Yeah, that's another thing. I don't know if I want the interior to be all black, red, or crème."
"Red!" Nia, Naydine, and Khristina yell in unison.
"Okay, red it is then." Kazimir replies, chuckling.
The four continue to chat until visiting time was over.
"We'll be back tomorrow, Nay. What do you want for lunch?"
"Hmm, I don't know."
"Okay, just text me whenever you do."
"Bye, Naydine. Take care." Nia says, giving her a hug.
"Bye bye, Naydine! Tomorrow, I'm gonna bring my Hello Kitty stuffies that Mr. Kazimir bought me!"
Walking out of the room, the three head out to Kazimir's car.
"Okay, I think we should have Italian for dinner. How does that sound?"
"That's fine." Nia replies.
"Can I please get scampi?" Khristina asks.
"Yes, Khrissy."
As Kazimir begins to pull out from the hospital's parking lot, a car suddenly blocks him in.
Through the windows, Kazimir sighs as he notices whoever it was pick up a large gun.
"You two get down."
"But-
"Just get down."
Putting the car in reverse, Kazimir quickly backs up through the parking lot and watches as the car follows him.
Grabbing his gun from the driver's door pocket, he places it on his lap as he heads onto the main road.
"Well, looks like we're going to make a couple of stops before we can get our dinner. Don't worry, I'll make it quick."