Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 96404 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 482(@200wpm)___ 386(@250wpm)___ 321(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96404 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 482(@200wpm)___ 386(@250wpm)___ 321(@300wpm)
“How could I do that to my cute little Mio?” I take her chin and shake her by it, causing her to smile before she pulls away.
“You’re doing it again, Nee-chan.”
“Doing what again?”
“Treating me like I’m a little girl.”
“Sorry. I guess you’ll always be my baby sister.”
“I’m grown up.”
“Yes, you are.” And that’s not a good thing. Knowing my father, he’ll eventually find a way to thrust her into a situation that will break her.
But not if I’m there for her.
“Nee-chan?”
“Yeah?”
“I…saw him.”
“Who?”
“The man Papa wants me to marry. His name is Damien Orlov and he’s a leader in the Bratva.”
“How the hell did you see him?”
“I just…did.”
“You don’t even go out, Mio.”
She bites her lower lip. “I do sometimes.”
“And? How did you see this Damien?”
“I happened to run into him.” I don’t miss the hesitation at the end or how her throat bobs with a swallow.
“Mio…did he do something to you?”
“He was big, Onee-chan. Like huge. He was bigger than anyone I’ve seen. He’s even bigger than Kai. I didn’t think anyone could be bigger than Kai.”
“That’s because you don’t know the world.”
“But I want to.” A spark shines in her eyes and she fingers her sword. “I need to, Nee-chan, and if I stay with Papa, I won’t be able to.”
“And you think marrying this Damien would be the magical solution?”
“No, but at least it would be my choice.”
It’s not. It’s Father’s choice, but I don’t get to tell her that as she excuses herself and leaves, her shoulders snapped in a line.
As soon as she disappears from view, I let my smile drop and take the steps two at a time until I reach my father’s office.
Ren stands in front of it wearing a suit without a tie. He touches his black dot earring when I come into view and glares at me.
I let my lips stretch into a taunting smile. “Are you here for Father or your lover?”
“Shut the fuck up,” he hisses, searching his surroundings. “And that psycho isn’t my lover.”
“Looked like it when he was cutting you up while doing…other things.”
“You obviously liked watching. Are you a psycho as well?”
“I could be, especially after what you did seven years ago. How does it feel to be helpless and at the mercy of someone stronger than you, Ren? Does it burn? Does it hurt? Do you feel like your insides will explode from frustration?”
“I’m not helpless. I can kill the bastard anytime I want.”
“And be killed by my father in return?”
“Maybe it’d be worth it to get rid of the vermin.”
“Maybe you’re lying to yourself, because if you wanted to kill Akira, you would’ve done so already.”
“Or maybe I’m biding my time.”
I place a hand on his shoulder and lean close enough to make his eyes widen and his mind probably question what I’m doing.
“I pity you for gaining Akira’s interest, Ren. I really do. But if you get in my way or threaten me and Sebastian again, whether solo or under your bosses’ orders, I’ll destroy you like you did me seven years ago. I fucking promise you that.”
“Am I included in that threat?” Kai’s suave voice cuts through the tension between me and Ren. I step back, but only after I know he’s gotten the message loud and clear.
Ren stiffens, probably wondering how much Kai has heard. I can tell he’s ashamed of his unorthodox liaisons with Akira. And on top of that, he’s aware that if my father’s second-in-command learns about it, he’ll definitely cut him to pieces.
“I don’t know.” I face Kai and cross my arms over my chest. “You saved my life, but you stole it away from me later, so it’s always a gray area with you. But if you get Sebastian involved again, I won’t hesitate to bury you, just as I will Ren.”
“You’re wise, Ojou-sama, but you might want to save that talk for the one who matters.” He motions at the door of the office.
With a deep breath, I knock, then go inside without waiting for approval.
The office is done in shades of green and brown. There are bookshelves stuffed with more antiques than actual books, and countless paintings and calligraphies decorate the walls. Kai once told me that my father got those priceless paintings from the black market and sometimes uses them as transaction money instead of actual cash.
Some of them have values that go into the hundreds of thousands. As a wedding gift, my father gave us calligraphy that cost millions of dollars.
I don’t know where Akira put it or if he even kept it. I’ve sure as hell never asked about it.
My father and my husband sit around the coffee table, drinking tea and talking animatedly in Japanese.
When they notice me, their conversation comes to halt. A bright spark shines in my future ex-husband’s eyes. He probably thinks I came here for him and to honor the deal we made seven years ago.