Nyomi
We turned one last corner, and I felt the atmosphere change completely. The noise of the staff wing fell away. No more doors, no more carts, no more movement.
I did a quick glance back at the twins, hoping they still weren’t shaken up by what I’d said earlier.
They moved in perfect formation behind me—silent, synchronized, and professional.
But something had shifted.
Yuki's shoulders sat differently. Lower. Looser. The rigid tension from before had melted away.
That’s good at least.
Aki walked with his chin slightly lifted, and for just a heartbeat, his eyes met mine before sliding away.
Not cold.
Not distant.
Just. . .processing.
Neither of them smiled.
Neither offered reassurance.
They just walked.
Steady.
Present.
Still guarding me like they had been from the start.
And somehow, that was enough.
The tightness in my chest eased just a fraction as I turned back around.
They’re going to be okay.
I looked ahead at the long stretch of hallway, ending in a single, heavy door. “Is that the Scales’ suite?”
“Yes.”
“The women are pretty far from Kenji and all of you.”
“He likes to keep them away from all the mafia politics.”
The overhead lights were warm, but shadows pooled near the corners, stretching long along the baseboards.
“Have you ever been in their quarters, Hiro?”
“Back in Tokyo, but not since we’ve been here on the island. However, I imagine the suite is similar to the one in Tokyo.”
“Where do they live in Tokyo?”
“In my brother’s mansion.”
I blinked.
