Earlier, when I got home, I was surprised to find her in the kitchen. I got to watch her for a few minutes before she noticed me.
Now that Yuki’s picking up weight, she looks much better. Her skin has a healthy glow, and her eyes aren’t drowning in fear anymore.
And her smile. Jesus, it almost knocked me on my ass.
Clearing my throat, I say, “There are six guards stationed around the property.”
Surprise flickers over her face. “I haven’t seen them.”
“I told them to stay out of your way. I wanted to give you space so you could adjust to your new surroundings.” Tilting my head, I admit, “I don’t want our home to feel like a prison to you.”
She glances at the sliding doors, and it looks like she wants to say something before deciding against it.
“What did you want to say?”
Her gaze swings back to me. “Can I go outside?”
“Of course. Like I said, I want you to feel at home here. As long as you let me know whenever you go out, you can come and go as you please.” I take a sip of whiskey, then add, “For your protection, guards will always accompany you.”
Digging my phone out of my pocket, I send Lorenzo a text, telling him to assign a team of guards to Yuki.
“Do you plan to go anywhere tomorrow?” I ask as I watch the message go through.
“No.”
I push the device back into my pocket and gesture at the sliding doors. “Let me introduce you to the guards.”
I finish the last of my drink, and setting the tumbler down on the small table beside the couch, I climb to my feet.
Yuki gets up as well, and when we walk the short distance to the sliding doors, she doesn’t look as jumpy around me.
I notice a fan perched on the shelf near the doorway to the foyer, and ask, “Did you unpack all the boxes?”
Yuki nods, and when her gaze meets mine, I can see she means the words when she says, “Thank you for everything. Especially the paintings.”
“If you want anything else, just order it and pay with the credit card I gave you.” I keep forgetting to order a card for Yuki, and digging my phone out of my pocket again, I make a note on my calendar. “I’ll get you your own card soon.”
“Thank you.”
When I pull the sliding doors open, there’s a curious light in Yuki’s eyes.
Stepping out onto the veranda, I place my hand on her back, and when she doesn’t jerk away from me, I take it as another win.
“I had a landscape architect redo the garden for you so it will have a Zen feel. I hope he got it right. If you want to change anything, just say so.”
“You did this for me?” she gasps as we follow a cobbled stone path through green shrubs.
When we reach a grassy area between trees that’s been cut in bonsai shapes and a koi pond, Yuki covers her mouth with her hand as surprise ripples over her face.
“It’s the least I could do.” Taking the opportunity, I once again say, “I want to make up in some way for hurting you. Inever would’ve laid a finger on you if I’d known you were a woman.”
Her eyes lift to my face, and when I see the emotions flashing through them, I rub my palm up and down her back.
“I didn’t marry you just to keep the peace between the Yakuza and the Cosa Nostra.” I move my hand and tuck some of her hair behind her ear, relieved when she doesn’t flinch. “I married you to give you a safe space where you won’t be abused and degraded. It’s my way of repenting.”
Yuki’s eyes begin to shimmer, and even though she’s still apprehensive, I can see she’s starting to believe me.
Resting my palm against her cheek, I tilt my head as I look deep into her expressive brown irises. “I will never hit you again. I swear on my life and everything I hold dear, you are safe with me.”
