“I should just kill you and put us both out of our misery.” The grumpy vampire rubbed his temples.
“Maybe you should.” I didn’t wanna die, but at least I wouldn’t have to worry about his fangs sinking into my neck all hours of the day. Stress was bad for the body, and my chances of a heart attack increased by the minute in his presence. I was honest about my family. I truly didn’t know how to feel about them.
“Little Flower, I vow to not kill you as long as you serve a purpose.”
I breathed deeply to stop my anxiety from drowning me. A tiny bit of relief sagged my shoulders an inch. As long as I made myself useful to the vampire, I’d live. I’d taken him shopping, that was pretty useful. Maybe if I kept being his puppet, I’d find an out in this whole deal.
“Why do you call me Little Flower? You’ve done it twice. Kitten I get. It’s like an insult when you say it. But Little Flower, I don’t understand.”
“No,” he answered, and I don’t think I’ve ever hated the word more. Every time he didn’t want to reply, he uttered a “no” without any further explanation.
“I’m gonna choose a humiliating nickname for you if you don’t tell me.” Again, why did I flirt with danger?
“I cannot be humiliated.”
“Oh, you sweet summer vampire. Challenge accepted,” I sang, and he winced at the loudness in my voice. He ignored me and continued to stare out the window. Things had changed a lot since he was here. I wondered if he resented the change. I snapped myself out of the thought. I would not start pitying the man.
I turned on some music and lightly drummed my fingers against the steering wheel. The whole drive was oddly pleasant, as long we didn’t speak to each other. Once we neared the property, Tatsou jumped out of the SUV so he wouldn’t be seen by any guards. I assumed he would arrive at the studio before me. I parked in the garage and hung Romi’s keys in their proper spot by the door. I still wanted to talk to her about everything, but my body grew weary. I’d been through too much for one day and just wanted to go home.
“Kat! Are you okay? I heard about your van, then you just took my car.” Romi heard me walking despite my quiet steps.
“Yep. Just needed to go grab some stuff.” I lifted the shopping bags full of men’s clothes and toiletries. Thankfully, she couldn’t see inside to know I was hiding something.
“I was worried about you.” She walked over to me, then wrapped her arms around my shoulders. I truly loved my sister, more than anyone else in the family. I didn’t want to have this conversation now, but I couldn’t keep my thoughts in.
“I need to ask you a question.” I glanced around to see if anyone stood nearby that might hear me. Romi noticed my scanning and pulled me in the direction of her room. Once inside, I set the bags by the door and plopped onto the tatami mat.
“What’s up?”
“I know about the family. Do you know? If so, why was it kept from me?” I looked her in the eye and watched for any change in her expression.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she answered. Her voice stayed very natural, however, I sensed the utter bullshit in her words.
“The Akuras or family. I know. I saw father slice a man’s head off with a samurai sword that I think he keeps hung in his office.” I blurted the truth and watched her face as a strangled sob escaped her lungs.
“You aren’t supposed to know. How did you see this?” She breathed heavily and her voice cracked. I couldn’t exactly tell her a vampire transported me through shadows to show me, but I had to say something.
“I kinda wish I didn’t but now I do. I’d gone to the garage to grab the manual for my van since Father keeps all the manuals in there when they dragged the guy in there. I hid behind the Jaguar, scared out of my mind, then left when it was over. Why? Why keep this from me?” Disappointment skimmed my heart with the knowledge that even my beloved sister hid this life from me.
“At first, Father wanted to initiate you into it, but I fought him. I kept his businesses safe from virtual threats, did work for him, and in exchange, he kept you out of it.”
My heart broke and I reached for my sister’s hand. I believed she would shield me. Romi had always been fiercely protective of me. Of course she would make a deal with the devil to save my innocence.
“I’m not mad at you. I just don’t know how to feel,” I admitted, and part of me wished I could tell her about Tatsou. But like she protected me, now it was my turn to do so for her.
“You can’t let anyone know, you know. Father will try to bring you in the moment he suspects it. I don’t know what job he has saved for you, and I don’t want you to ever find out.” Her dire tone had me nodding, but I feared I would be doing the opposite of her wishes. Tatsou would have me leap into the den of pit vipers. I don’t think I had much of a choice in the matter.
“I saw Takeo, too. Are you okay with this?”
She nodded and wiped the few tears that had fallen off her cheeks.
“Takeo is a good man. He grew up in a bad family situation, then found his way to Father. He actually could have left after a few years but stayed for me. It’s kind of romantic, if you think about it. He’s tried to be the best and earn Father’s respect so I can be his forever. I don’t judge him for his crimes. I know the goodness in his heart. If I asked him to run away with me, he would leave it all behind for love.” She smiled and then I started crying. I loved a good romance story.
“Maybe you should, and take me with you.” I chuckled, offering to be their third wheel for life.
“We just might, who knows. For now, we’re trying to do this the right way.” Romi squeezed my hand, and I felt at ease. My world might have changed in drastic ways, but the roots of my life still held strong.
After yawning twenty times in Romi’s face, she told me to go home and sleep. I was escorted by some guard dressed in a suit to the studio and set Tatsou’s bags down once inside. I didn’t know where the vamp was, and my body didn’t care. I walked to my bedroom, took off my clothes, and changed into a sleep shirt, then fell into bed.
