“We’ll make it quick,” he promises, making me smile.
There was nothing quick about it.
By the time we make it downstairs, two guests have joined Miko’s younger brothers at the table for lunch.
“So nice of you to finally join us,” the unfamiliar man quips as he rises from his seat. “Your brother gives up his inheritance, and within a month everyone’s forgotten what it means to respect him, it would seem.”
“Leo,” Miko chuckles, striding across the room to pull his brother into a hug.
I’m surprised to find the second oldest Chiaroscuro is just a few inches shorter than Miko himself. His frame isn’t nearly asmuscular, but he still looks impressive in his casual jeans and polo shirt, and there’s no mistaking his similarity to his younger brothers.
He has the same proud nose and wolfish smile, though his eyes are a rich brown and twinkle with a playfulness that the others don’t have.
Maybe it’s because they’ve been here, handling the aftermath of their family’s destruction while he’s been in hiding.
But I have the sneaking suspicion that it has more to do with the woman sitting next to him.
I’ve heard about Sora Tanaka’s unparalleled beauty. I’ve even caught glimpses of her at some of the high-society events that Pyotr and I used to attend. But seeing her up close and personal is something else entirely.
She’s clearly of Japanese descent, with lush, straight black hair that she’s left to fall down her back in a thick, dark curtain.
Her skin is like the finest porcelain, her delicate features perfectly placed in the most symmetrical face I’ve ever seen.
And her big, almond-shaped eyes are a deep onyx that almost looks silver when they catch the light.
She smiles warmly at me, rising from her chair as well to reveal a stomach that’s just starting to show signs of the baby she’s carrying.
“Leo, Sora, let me introduce you to my wife, Anika,” Miko says, turning to look at me. “Anika, this is my brother Leo and his wife.”
“It’s a pleasure to finally meet you,” I say, and I mean it.
It’s been over a month since Miko and I got married, and I had yet to meet the brother Miko claims to be closest to until today.
But then, until recently, things have been too volatile with the Yakuza for them to come out of hiding.
Not when Sora’s family has disowned her and Leo has a target on his back.
With a baby on the way, Leo hasn’t wanted to take any chances, especially when it comes to his wife.
At least, that’s what Miko told me.
“The pleasure’s ours,” Leo says, his smile charming.
“Well, sit down so we can hear about what our big brother’s been up to,” Gio chides, giving me a wink so I know his prodding is meant exclusively for Miko.
Then he gestures for one of the kitchen staff to bring us each a plate.
Lunch is an experience like I haven’t had before. It feels like Leo is a puzzle piece I hadn’t even realized was missing until all five brothers are back together.
He brings a sense of chaos to the room, but also a sense of levity, an wordless energy that the other four thrive off of.
I can see why he was the chosen heir—even if he’s three years younger than Miko. Miko might have the most commanding presence.
He certainly makes a fearsome leader that the men respect. But Leo effortlessly brings the brothers together, uniting them against the world.
“So, where have you two been holed up lately,” Miko asks, his voice rich with a warmth that makes my stomach quiver.
“We’ve found a little cottage along the water on the southern tip of Maine,” Leo says as Miko, Gio, and the twins listen with rapt attention. “It’s a safe spot.”
