"Tomorrow, we set the trap. Movie theater. My Tiger sits for ten hours getting her hair done while her friends keep her company. You all watch movies and pretend everything is normal. And when the spies show themselves—" He paused, letting the silence build. "—because they WILL show themselves—we take them."
He looked at each person individually. Making sure they understood. "And then we make sure they're dead. By tomorrow night. Lots of screams. Lots of blood."
Another pause.
"Are we clear?"
Everyone nodded.
Kenji sat back down, and I felt his hand find mine under the table again. His grip was tight, possessive, and protective. "After they're dead, my Tiger will cook in any way she likes, providing whatever to whomever and you will all shut the fuck up and be grateful or I will put you in my Bamboo Room, whereyou will spend time thinking about your disrespect to my Tiger. Painfully. Screaming. And drowning in blood.”
I widened my eyes.
What the hell is the Bamboo Room?
Kenji sneered. “Does everyone understand?”
Everyone, even I, nodded.
“Good.”
Just then, a knock sounded at the door.
I jumped.
Everyone turned that way.
Sako slipped inside carrying an empty tray.
My nerves calmed.
Quickly, he gathered empty tea cups. Once he was done, he bowed and slipped out.
The door shut.
Reo closed his tablet with a soft snap. "We're done. Everyone knows their assignment tonight? Everyone knows what will happen tomorrow?"
Heads nodded all around the table.
Reo pursed his lips. "Then, let's begin."
The words hung in the air for a moment.
Then, they all moved at once.
Chairs scraped against marble. Bodies rose. The Fangs' postures shifted—no more playful bickering, just deadly focus. The Claws went silent, their casual smirks replaced with cold violence.
This was it.
No more planning.
No more arguing about cocktails and hierarchy.
We were hunting spies tonight and setting a trap tomorrow.
And by tomorrow night, people would be dead.
My stomach dropped as the reality crashed over me.
