“Don Parelli, Signora Parelli, this is my wife, Sora,” I introduce, placing a hand on the small of her back as he firmly grasps her shoulders and leans in to kiss beside her cheeks.
I can feel her tense against my palm, leaning into my touch as if seeking reassurance, but she manages to get through the very Italian gesture without backing away and offending the don. And when his wife does the same, tittering in a thick Italian accent about how beautiful my wife is, Sora starts to relax.
As thankful as I am that she’s good at maintaining her composure, I’m also selfishly satisfied by the fact that she would seek me out for comfort, and as she engages Signora Parelli in conversation while I converse with the don, I keep my hand at the base of her spine, relishing in the connection.
It doesn’t take long before my father arrives, the Tanaka family in tow, for introductions all around, and the group shuffles, Don Parelli and his wife breaking off to have an engaged conversation with my father and Sora’s parents when Don Augusta mentions the new potential business we’ve been negotiating.
“Nice party,” Kenji observes with a smirk as he looks around the room. “It would seem my sister’s managed to bring some class into your family after all.”
“Kenji,” Sora scolds softly, drawing his attention, and his gaze wanders slowly down to the flattering neckline of her dress.
“Well, it would seem you’ve had some influence on her as well,” he sneers.
Color tinges Sora’s face, but before either of us can respond, one of the staff members steps up to whisper in her ear.
Casting me a nervous glance, she quickly excuses herself to follow the server from the room. My eyes track her movement, half enraptured by her beauty and mildly concerned by her inscrutable glance. I imagine she would have said something if she wanted my help. But a twinge of guilt twists my stomach asI wonder if I’ve been so unavailable that she would be too scared to ask for it.
Beside me, Miko’s eyes track her as well, his frown saying he picked up on her odd look.
“Follow her,” I command under my breath.
If I were to disappear as well, our guests might pick up on something being the matter, but Miko slips from the room so silently, despite his considerable size, that no one will notice his absence.
To my displeasure, Kenji lingers beside me, looking over the room of gathered guests as if he’s sizing them up. The guestlist is largely made up of the prominent members of the Family, many who pay tribute to us directly or run branches out of other cities across the US, all who pay homage to thecapo dei capihimself.
“Looks like tonight’s your big night, eh?” Kenji asks, that subtle sneer lingering in his tone.
“What makes you think that?” I let just enough sarcasm slip through that he’s sure to notice, then take a sip of my drink.
“Dons flying in from Sicily, New York, and Seattle. I’d have to be an idiot not to notice,” he says, and I let the silence stretch between us so he knows that’s exactly what I would consider him. “All I’m saying is I feel so touched that you would invite me to the party to celebrate your finally becoming a man so you can take over the family business.”
I know I shouldn’t let the comment get under my skin. That’s exactly what he’s trying to do, and playing into his taunt will only make me look immature—which is exactly what he’s playing at. But I can’t let him get away with it, especially if we’re going tomake use of the Tanaka-kai in any sort of business arrangement. Kenji needs to know he can’t walk all over us, and he’s desperately trying to test the boundaries to see how much he can get away with.
It’sbecauseI married Sora. He thinks I won’t do anything for fear of offending her. But my father’s words echo in the back of my mind.“The Tanaka girl is supposed to be a tool so we can manipulate the Tanaka-kai, not some woman for you to develop feelings for.”She can’t be my weakness. And the longer I let Kenji think otherwise, the less control I’ll have over the situation.
Turning to face my arrogant brother-in-law, I lean closer so only he will hear me. “Just because I have your sister to warm my bed at night does not mean I’m any less capable of humiliating your family, Tanaka,” I warn. “Don’t tempt me to prove it.”
Kenji scoffs, his eyes glinting as he sips his Yamazaki. “Do your worst,” he challenges softly, his smirk indicating that he’s ready to call my bluff.
Before I can respond, the sound of glass clinking draws everyone’s attention to my father, and Sora’s right beside him. She looks perfectly poised once again, not a hair out of place.
“Dinner is served,” my father announces, and Sora gestures politely as she offers to escort the Parellis to the dining room.
Miko makes his way back through the crowd toward me, his brows pressing together when he sees the look on my face, then his eyes flick toward Kenji, who saunters toward his parents as they follow the flow of traffic.
“Everything okay?” I mutter when he reaches me.
“Your wife had the fire put out by the time I caught up to her,” he says with a healthy dose of respect. “Everything good with you?”
“Not even a little,” I growl. “I’m going to rub her smug brother’s nose in the crap he’s been handing out.”
19
SORA
I could sense the tension between Leo and Kenji as soon as my brother came over, and if the chef hadn’t had a last-minute panic over someone dropping the lemon custard for tonight’s dessert, I wouldn’t have dared to leave the two alone together.
I realize that they need to interact when I’m not present—now more than ever, since our families are negotiating a trade deal that will hopefully make our alliance stronger. But after what I witnessed between my brother and husband, I would say we’re no closer to a long-lasting peace than we were before the wedding.
