I thought of how sexy Nyomi looked in that skirt and heels. “She’ll be busy today. I’ll talk to her and let you know later.”
Daisuke folded his arms over his chest. “Thank you, Dragon. We appreciate your fully lifting the food rule for the Claws.”
“Not fully lifting.Onedinner. That’s it.”
The twins tilted their heads in unison and spoke like a two–man choir.
“Macaroni,” said one.
“And cheese,” said the other.
Hiro grinned. “Definitely. And due to the disrespect we should get a breakfast or a brunch also. Whatever your Tiger feels up to—”
“Absolutely not.” I held up my finger. “Ifshe agrees, it’s one fucking dinner. You all will eat what you’re given, and you will fucking say thank you. Are we clear?”
The Claws nodded like I’d handed them weapons.
Hiro, for once, didn’t argue. “Clear.”
“Now leave me alone and get some rest.” I stormed off, done with the matter.
Tora. . .where did you go? And do you understand what we will be doing when I find you?
Chapter twenty-nine
Pressure
Kenji
The war room had thinned to a handful of men bent over the glowing 3D model of Tokyo, sliding labels into place with exhausted fingers. Most had already left for their villas, where warm light, laughter, and the arms of lovers waited to erase the cold stink of today’s plotting.
This space had been all heat and noise hours ago; now it was mostly shadows, broken by the glow of the model’s city lights.
I knew by morning all the Scales’ wives, girlfriends, and lovers would have heard about my Tiger and how the Dragon had taken an ear for her.
Some would call it devotion, others weakness; all of them would agree it was the kind of love that no one was prepared to witness.
The younger ones would probably exaggerate until it sounded like my Tiger had ordered the execution and I’d been glad to obey. But most of all. . .every retelling would make the ear bigger, the blood redder, the screams louder, my knife more brutal, and my Tiger fiercer.
Wives would pass it like tea—the Dragon bled the floor for his Heart. Even the quiet, older men would talk because fear loosened tongues faster than whiskey.
Word would travel fast on this island; by tomorrow, every porch would know the Dragon took an ear for his Heart. Respect would meet her at every doorway—eyes down, voices soft, no one daring to pry. Wives and mothers would bow lower, aunties would pour the first cup for her, and cousins would swallow their questions before they reached their teeth.
And when many spoke to her, they would have to struggle with not guarding their ears.
I grinned at the thought of my Tiger walking around this island tomorrow with every doorway bowing to her.
But then the smile faded as my mind shifted to the war ahead.
Are we ready?
My father, the Fox was good at war. He had stacked victories the way other men stacked coins, careful and cold. And he never cared about the price of winning, just that he did.
This would be my first true war. It would mean everything—my country, my brother, my future with my Tiger.
I could not lose.
I thought of the same men that would be gossiping this evening and fear began to creep under my ribs.
