I failed my family, my father most of all. And while our relationship was built on contention and resentment, while he and I couldn’t seem to see eye to eye on almost anything, I hate that my last words to him were ones of spite.
“I fought with him,” I say quietly. “Father. Our last words were a fight. I told him I was walking away. I told him I didn’t want the empire.”
Nobody speaks. The silence is a judgment I deserve.
“I was going to leave with her,” I continue, teeth grinding.
“Leo—” Gio starts, but I shake my head.
“No. Don’t. I was ready to walk out on all of you. I knew from the start not to trust the Tanakas. I tried to make him see reason, and then I fell for the same deception, the same lies. I left us completely vulnerable.”
Miko turns from the window.
He’s bleeding from the shoulder, patched with a torn shirt, but he meets my eyes with steel. “You couldn’t have stopped this. None of us could. You think a few extra minutes would’ve turned the tide? Leo, they came for blood. They had a plan. You didn’t cause this, Leo. We’ve had issues with the Yakuza for decades. I think only the don truly believed a marriage could fix that.”
“He thought we could use them. But all this time, they’ve been manipulating us. The timing,” I say, jaw clenched. “The way they got through… It was coordinated. They knew when to strike.” My hands curl into fists. “Sora left right before the attack.”
Miko straightens, his spine stiffening as his brows press into a deep frown.
“She went to see her family. No warning. No explanation.”
Gio hesitates. “You think she was in on it?”
My heart twists. “Kenji said so. Said she knew. That she was waiting for him to come tell her I was dead.” The pain is raw. I can’t hide it. “I loved her,” I admit quietly. “Somehow… I fell in love with her. And she sold us out.”
Gio looks away. Sandro curses under his breath.
But Miko studies me in silence. Then, finally, he speaks. “I don’t buy it.”
I lift my gaze.
“I saw the way she looked at you. That wasn’t fake. Whatever Kenji said… I don’t think she was part of it. Maybe she ran. Maybe she made a mistake. But I don’t think she meant for this to happen.”
I shake my head. “She left.”
Miko finally breaks the tension. “Or maybe she was trying to stop it. Did you think about that?”
I blink, saying nothing.
Because I want to believe him, and I’m afraid of what it’ll mean if I do. Sora’s words ring in my ears, turning my blood to ice as I consider them with Miko’s point in mind.“They never cared about me, not really. But I care about you. I came back to warn you.”What if Sora wasn’t lying? What if her family tricked her just like they did us?
“Cazzo,” I mutter, combing my fingers through my hair.
“What?” Miko asks.
“She came back,” I state as the bigger picture slams into me like a semi truck. “She told me her family were holding her against her will but she came back, hoping to warn us.”
“Wait, when was this?” Gio asks, frowning.
“Not long before I ran into Miko.” My stomach drops as I consider my final words to her. “I told her I’d kill her if I ever saw her again.” I can’t believe I did that. I can’t believe I just lefther there. Even if she did betray us… I never should have left her vulnerable. I should’ve made sure she was safe.
A knock at the cabin door jerks all our heads up. One of our men—Marco—steps inside, face pale, eyes wide.
“What is it?” Miko asks.
Marco swallows. “The Bratva. They’ve got Sora.”
The room goes still.
