Another snort from behind me—louder this time, definitely Yuki based on the pitch.
Then a quieter exhale that had to be Aki.
"And now she's pregnant with twins and. . ." My voice dropped. "She's going to do whatever it takes to make sure that paternity test says Kenji is the father."
Hiro's eyes glinted. "Exactly."
"Because if it's Kenji, she wins."
"She becomes untouchable."
A chill rolled through me. "What's Reo doing to prevent her from. . .I don't know. . .tampering with the test?"
"Everything." Hiro's tone sharpened. "Guards around the medical staff 24/7. Guards around the doctors. A whole team protecting the DNA samples. Reo is treating this like a military operation."
"Good." I exhaled slowly. "But. . .why wait? Why not just take the test now while she's still pregnant?"
Hiro shook his head. "Our tradition wouldn't allow it. We don't risk harming the babies. The test happens after they're born."
"So we just. . .wait."
"We wait."
The weight of it pressed down on me—months of uncertainty, months of Kiko walking around this island thinking she held all the cards.
Behind me, fabric rustled again. I could feel the twins' attention sharpening, their focus locked on this conversation like predators scenting blood.
I looked at Hiro, really looked at him. "What if the babies end up being yours? What will you do?"
His expression didn't change, but something dark flickered behind his eyes. "If they're mine, she will not love them. She may even hurt them. I have seen this path before with others who have tried to trap the Dragon. Women killing newborns that didn’t pass the test."
My breath caught.
"If they are mine," Hiro continued. "I may kill her, but regardless. . .I will give those twins what I never truly had. . .I will love them."
Aki spoke, “And the Claws will love them like they’re our sons.”
Yuki nodded.
Still, I watched Hiro with shock. He wasn't joking. There was no hint of exaggeration, no dramatic flair. Just cold, absolute certainty. "You would. . .kill her?"
"If she harms my children? Without hesitation."
The twins didn't make a sound, but I felt their stillness shift.
I swallowed hard. "What if. . .what if they're your father's kids?"
Hiro's expression softened just slightly. "Then, after we kill the Fox, Kenji and I will raise our brothers with love."
Behind me, one of the twins exhaled, long and slow. The other made a soft sound of approval.
The simplicity of it—the absolute conviction—hit me harder than anything else he'd said.
These men didn't just play power games.
They lived them.
Breathed them.
