Chapter 11

Nina paced back and forth at the botanical garden where he was placed in isolation. His year was up. What if assassins came by? What if he starved to death? What if the ki deviation was too much?

Yao stepped out and shielded his eyes from the sun, he watched with a slight chuckle as she paced frantically. He was thin, only eating preserved rations for the year. His pants were clean but worn and silver ki deviation lines were spread across his chest. "I knew you would be here." he said and hugged her tightly, the beard he had grown over the year scratching against her neck. Not only was his body denser, but his ki had become denser as result of his constant cultivation.

"Gem!" She hugged him tightly and kissed him happily. Her hand ran down his right arm and stopped where his hand used to be. The pound of flesh that had been demanded from him. "Gem, I'm sorry...."

He kissed the top of her head "Don't be, it's better than the alternative." She smiled and pulled him towards the road "So, I didn't bring the Hellcat, because neither one of us wants me driving it, but" as they reached the parking area Nina revealed the Lotus Evija "She's fast, sleek and" she touched the marks on his chest from ki deviation "Expensive." He ran his left hand on the frame then looked at her parking "Four spaces?"

"You're an ass." she crossed her arms "I even planned a whole day of nothing but luxury planned to heal you ki deviation"

"What do you have planned?" He chuckled and wrapped his arm around her waist.

"Well first you need a shower. Then a bath with luxury salts and oils to relax." she leaned back into him. "After I'll do some acupuncture to make sure your ki hasn't been blocked because of the injury." She closed her eyes for a moment thinking of their itinerary "I have dinner planned at La Esperanza."

"Does the Don know?"

"Of course he does, then I have a night of pleasure planned for you. "

"Oh?" he smirked "that's good because I've been dying see you on my couch again" he hugged her close " A year is too long" His hand started wandering up to her breast.

"Yao." she said sternly and he let out a small laugh "Okay, Okay" He gave another playful squeeze before he let go.

He went to the driver's seat "The doors come up, so be careful" she said as she stepped into the passenger seat.

He sat down in the seat, immediately having to adjust it .He noticed the gold band wrapped around the shift and smiled. She thought of everything.

She slipped into the car and smiled as he had stepped in. "This is European right?" he asked curious about the steering situation. She had managed to do some aftermarket adjustments to get the steering wheel on the left hand instead of the right hand.

"Yeah" she smiled and put on her seatbelt.

"We could always break it in" he smirked at her

Nina rolled her eyes "Did you not learn your lesson last time you almost killed us?"

"Yeah..." he rubbed the scar on his shoulder from when they tried having sex while he drove the Hellcat.

He started to put his own seatbelt on, but his brows furrowed with frustration. It was one thing to adapt to having one hand in the cave with limited use, but this was a bit different.

Nina watched for a moment before taking a small box out of her purse. "Why don't you use one of your rings and attach it to your buckle?"

"For now" he said as one of the gold rings started changing shape. He put it through the loop and set his seatbelt. "But it won't always be an option, I need to learn how to do this without a crutch."

"Alright" she said as he started to pull out of the parking lot. The shifter moved with the gold band and Nina leaned over. She tapped his arm twice and started talking. She suspected the car was bugged. "Are you excited for dinner tonight?" she asked speaking in code.

"Yeah, I've never visited La Esperanza, how formal do I need to dress?" he asked trying to guage how dangerous the situation was. "It's black-tie optional." She replied. So it was moderate enough to take notice but not severe enough to take immediate action.

"Is there a coat check in?" he asked trying to figure out their home situation. "Yes, but I think it's only going to be cold enough for me to bring a coat. You should be fine "

Her home was compromised. He nodded, acknowledging the code. "Alright then." He said as he sped through the streets. The car was visually not his usual fare, but it was fast. "This is an electric car?"

"Yeah, it's nice right?" Nina smiled and ran her hand over the dash. "Only a hundred and thirty ever made."

"If it were anyone else I would think you bought this for you." He smirked.

"Oh please, we both know I just like Lotus as a brand. My Eletre is all I need for now. I got this for you for the exclusivity, and that it's fast" She rested her chin on her fist.

He laughed "I know, I know. I don't know why you think European cars are better than American cars but I'll take good care of this."

"Because they're not only fast they've got sleek designs. American cars are just boxes on wheels. No elegance at all"

"European cars are over engineered garbage, you need to have raw power under your feet to get anywhere." he argued back. This was a hill both of them were willing to die on.

"Well, this is your over engineered garbage now." She huffed.

"You could have just driven the Hellcat"

"You know for a fact, that if anything happened to the Hellcat while I was driving we would have just fought"

"We already are!" He threw his hand in the air

"Jesus, Yao. Can't you just be grateful for once in your life? I picked it because of its rarity not because of your awful taste in cars."

"Your awful taste. If you're going to gift me something, at least make sure it's something I'll like." He shot back.

She rolled her eyes, some welcome back. "You're an ungrateful ass"

"ITS ELECTRIC, NINA!" he said electric like it was the plague.

"It's good for the environment"

"I don't give a shit about the environment."

"Fine, whatever. I'll return it after today." she sighed and stared out the window

"That's not...Don't do that. " he looked over and took a deep breath. "Gold, it's just a car, let's not have it ruin today. I missed you."

Nina let out a sigh "You're right. I missed you too. I love you"

He smiled "I know."