“Yeah, this one’s fine,” Ace Kane said casually, picking up his chopsticks and nudging the plate slightly toward Lora Hale. “You can try it. Just don’t eat too much.”
He glanced at the slices, his tone turning almost instructional. “This is akami—the lean cut from the back. Deep red, low fat, cheapest part of the fish. Looks like Mr. Larson might’ve gotten taken again by his purchasing guys.”
He paused just long enough to let the words sink in, then smiled as if remembering something amusing. “But it’s fine. Some other day I’ll take you to have properly flash-frozen bluefin. Real Japanese preparation. The real treasure isn’t the belly—it’s the cheek meat. Only the most honored guests ever get served that. Most chefs won’t even put it on the menu.”
Lora Hale blinked, instinctively sensin
