“She is the Dragon’s Heart.”
That made my chest warm.
I cleared my throat. “I will ask her.”
“Nicely?”
“Yes. As nice as I can be.”
“Thank you.” At that, Reo smirked and tilted his chin. “Satoshi, go get that box and give it to Kenji.”
What box?
Seconds later, Satoshi emerged from the shadows, holding something behind his back. He stepped forward and revealed a long, slender box covered in thick black wrapping paper with a pink bow on top.
My chest clenched.
I never gave Nyomi her present.
Blood roared behind my ears.
Reo caught the change in my expression. “Don’t worry. The box is clean.”
“I don’t want to get blood on it,” I muttered. “Keep it until I am done torturing—”
“Youwill not be torturing anyone this evening.”
I glared at him. “What did you say?”
Reo pointed at the ceiling. “A helicopter is on the roof. Waiting for you and your Tiger.”
“I should be here—”
“Time bends for many things, but never for the woman who makes your blood burn and your soul still.”
I gave him a look, but he just smiled faintly and folded his arms behind his back like the ever-loyal soldier he was.
I stepped toward him with my fists clenched. “I should be the one here, slicing them apart. This threat. This betrayal. It’s mine to end.”
Reo wore the expression of a professor tolerating a stubborn pupil. “I am the Dragon’s Roar.”
“I am aware of that.”
“They are the Eyes and Fangs,” Reo gestured toward the men around us—Kaoru standing like a statue, Yoichi calm and coiled, Satoshi still holding the gift. “We were built to execute. To protect.”
“Get on with it,” I snapped.
Reo pointed at me. “And you? Well. . .you are the Dragon. The only reason why we are here. The only reason any of this exists.”
My jaw tensed. “This attack is war. Do you agree?”
“I agree, and if you fall, they win. Do you agree?”
I groaned. “Yes. I agree.”
Reo stepped closer, and kept his voice even lower to barely a whisper. “If you fall, we become nothing but ashes with sharp teeth. Teeth that snap until they break and without you. . .wewillbreak.”
“Reo, they fucking came in here to kill me—”
