Why do I see this?
I moved my view so I wouldn’t continue to freak out.
Meanwhile, no one else in the room moved.
Kenji pointed at the Fangs. "You want fair treatment?"
They nodded eagerly despite the danger radiating off him.
Kenji violently sneered. “So my Tiger’s four-course dinner isn’t enough for you all?”
A few looked away, full of embarrassment.
Kenji turned to the Claws. "You want exclusive cocktails and hors d’oeuvres? Meanwhile, I haven’t heard a single statement of gratitude directed her way. In fact, you fucking speak like you deserve this from. . .My. Tiger."
Together, they put their gazes on the table, and all the smug expressions disappeared.
He landed a scowl on Hiro. “We talked about this.”
Hiro didn't appear to be backing down. “We did.”
“She made you breakfast.”
“But, the Claws didn’t get it so—”
“You’re lucky I didn’t come down there into that kitchen and shove that fucking Eggs Benedict down your throat after you put a knife at her neck. Sleep in your fucking bedroom before you kill someone!”
For the first time in this meeting, I saw Hiro drown in absolute embarrassment. “I’m sorry.”
Kenji’s gaze swung to me. "And you want to cook for ALL of them?"
I offered weakly. “I like cooking for your men.”
Sighing, he turned to Reo. "And you're just allowing this to happen?"
Reo was clearly fighting a smile. "The food offers a boost in emotions. Morale is important for—"
“You planned on sneaking in the cocktail party. Didn’t you? That’s why you chose not to argue from any side.”
Reo scratched his head. “Surely, the Roar was invited to the cocktail party also. I never heard that Iwasn’tinvited.”
Kenji watched him.
Reo's mouth snapped shut immediately.
Kenji's eyes swept across every person at the table. When he spoke again, his voice had dropped to something even more dangerous than shouting. "Let's focus. On getting. The spies."
Pause.
Then, a menacing growl left him.
I sat up straight like I was in trouble too.
"Fuck cocktails. Fuck dinner parties. Fuck bento boxes, banana bread, and hierarchy and definitely, fuck who got what, when, and why." His hands flattened on the table. "We have spies on this island. Snakes. A nest of them. They moved through our house freely, and photographed my Tiger going about her day thinking she was safe. They’re waiting to hear from the Fox on whether they should kill her."
The temperature dropped even further.
I shivered.
