Both Donny and the American Mountain burst out laughing when a wet stain appeared across the front of Yoshi's basketball shorts, and a stream of piss sluiced down his leg.
However, if Yoshi’s losing control of his bladder amused Victor, there was no outward indication. His face remained a cold blank as he signed something to the petrified boy.
The American Mountain provided the translation. “Not so fun being on this side of an unfair fight, huh?”
“Not my fault!” Yoshi blubbered. “It Jake's idea. Jake! Jake, tell them—”
Yoshi cut off when Victor punched him straight in the face. So hard his head snapped back, creating another loud, ricocheting bang against the lockers.
The guards let Yoshi go at the precise right moment, and Jake’s friend crumpled under the punch, falling to the floor.
“That's for Byron’s sister,” the American Mountain informed Yoshi as he writhed in a puddle of his piss. Then he looked at Jake and Tim. “Victor also owes someone a stomach punch on behalf of his friend Byron. Any volunteers?”
“It wasn't me who hit him!” Tim immediately answered, raising his hands in the air. “I just held him back so he couldn't get away. Jake was the one who punched him.”
“Shut up!” Jake growled at Tim in English between clenched teeth.
Meanwhile, Victor signed something else to Jake.
The American Mountain translated, “It’s easy to see why you value your friendship with these two guys more than you did your relationship with Byron. Why you would lie to them and betray Byron to keep them. Your crew is real loyal.”
The sarcasm in his tone was thick and cruel. But Jake wasn’t nearly as easy to intimidate as his friends.
“You can't hurt me,” Jake said directly to Victor, his voice petulant. “You know who my grandfather is.”
A tense couple of seconds passed.
Then Victor cranked his head to both sides—before socking Tim in the gut.
Tears sprang into Tim's eyes after Victor punched him. But I wouldn't call the sound that came out of his mouth crying. It was more like several choked gurgles as his lungs tried and failed to fill with air. Then, he, too, keeled over on the floor.
Victor stepped over the fallen boy’s body to sign further to Jake.
The American Mountain once again provided the translation: “Yes, we know who your grandfather is. So this time your friends will take your punishment. But there is no honor in this for you. Your face is broken. In exchange for us not breaking anything else or reporting this matter to your grandfather, you will stay away from Byron and his sister, apologize, and never speak their names again.”
As confident as Jake had sounded the last time he was in a locker room with Byron before winter break, he appeared the very picture of impotence now. He was both smaller and weaker than “the Chinese Boy.” And instead of two men flanking each of his sides, all Jake had was his former friends laid out on the floor.
There came another tense silence.
Then, Jake turned to Byron….and solemnly apologized to him in Japanese with a stiff bow. My mouth fell open as I watched from the shadows of the lockers.
“Yeah, and we’re going to need you to apologize to Dawn too,” the American Mountain informed Jake after he stood up straight from his bow.
Suddenly Victor, who I hadn’t thought had registered my presence, was looking straight at me.
I stood there, frozen in place, unable to do anything but stare back at him.
The four teenage boys in the locker room were all within a couple of years of Victor's age. But he looked so much older.
No, older wasn't the right word.
Powerful.
He looked so much more powerful than any other boy his age could ever be.
And the most powerful boy in the room raised his hand and motioned for me to come forward.
A monster inviting me to stand before him.
No, not inviting. Again, I’d chosen the wrong word.
Commanding.
He was commanding me to come out of the shadows and into his powerful light.
The urge to run traveled up my back like a shiver.
But I didn't.
He beckoned me, and I stepped out of my hiding place, like something enthralled.
9
VICTOR
Victor held himself perfectly still as he watched Jake apologize to Dawn.
The Nakamura boy chose stiff and formal English this time. And perhaps knowing the issue would be forced if he did not show her the utmost respect, he bowed even lower to Dawn than he had her brother.
Victor considered making the two other boys do the same. By the time the shamed Nakamura scion was done, they had struggled back to their feet. But upon further thought, he decided against it.
His blood was merely simmering as opposed to boiling now. And a strange possessiveness took hold of him. He didn’t want these boys to talk to Dawn. He didn’t even want them to look at her.
