Total pages in book: 160
Estimated words: 161615 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 808(@200wpm)___ 646(@250wpm)___ 539(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 161615 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 808(@200wpm)___ 646(@250wpm)___ 539(@300wpm)
Aki made a soft sound behind me.
"My father doesn't just want to win this war, he wants to be the only god left standing." Hiro frowned. “And Kiko is not the smartest Ear, but she does know that.”
“Are you sure?”
“From Reo’s monitoring and ours we know that currently Kiko is terrified that Kenji may lose this war and is hoping he is focused on the win. She just thinks you’re distracting him."
“And what do you think?”
“I think you will be the reason why we all win.”
My heartbeats picked up.
The weight of it crashed over me—Kiko trapped in a nightmare of her own making, carrying babies that could either be her salvation or her death sentence, desperate to ensure Kenji won this war because if he didn't. . .the Fox would probably slaughter her children and her.
And meanwhile. . .everyone’s thinking I would be the mystical Dragon’s savior.
"Jesus," I whispered.
Hiro sighed. "Kiko has been trying her best to be part of the family legacy for a long time. If she's the mother of Kenji's children, she'd be set for life. So would her family. There's nothing my brother wouldn't do for her just to make sure his kids' mother is happy."
I stared at him, my mind racing through the implications. "So she. . .what? Pre-war, slept with all three of you hoping one of you would get her pregnant?"
"Essentially."
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.
“Welcome to the Family, Tora.” Hiro turned toward the door, lifted his hand, and with his fingers he made a small precise gesture in the air—two fingers flicking out, then down.
What is he doing?
Both twins took out their guns and headed to the door.
The hair on my arms stood up, and I backed away.
Fast, they opened the door and moved in like a pair of blades—silent, coordinated, cutting through the air.
One scanned the ceiling and corners as they approached, the other checking the floor, the seams along the threshold.
I watched them in awe.
Then the door shut behind them.
I turned to Hiro.
He kept his voice low. “I just want the twins to make sure the suite is safe. No surprises for my brother’s Tiger.”
“I like the sound of that.” I stared at his hands. "Wait. You said all of that with just a flick of your fingers?"
He nodded.
"Is that a thing the Fangs and Claws do?"
"The Claws started it." He lowered his hand. "We developed it when we were kids."