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)
I shivered.
"Tomorrow, we set the trap. Movie theater. My Tiger sits for ten hours getting her hair done while her friends keep her company. You all watch movies and pretend everything is normal. And when the spies show themselves—" He paused, letting the silence build. "—because they WILL show themselves—we take them."
He looked at each person individually. Making sure they understood. "And then we make sure they're dead. By tomorrow night. Lots of screams. Lots of blood."
Another pause.
"Are we clear?"
Everyone nodded.
Kenji sat back down, and I felt his hand find mine under the table again. His grip was tight, possessive, and protective. "After they're dead, my Tiger will cook in any way she likes, providing whatever to whomever and you will all shut the fuck up and be grateful or I will put you in my Bamboo Room, where you will spend time thinking about your disrespect to my Tiger. Painfully. Screaming. And drowning in blood.”
I widened my eyes.
What the hell is the Bamboo Room?
Kenji sneered. “Does everyone understand?”
Everyone, even I, nodded.
“Good.”
Just then, a knock sounded at the door.
I jumped.
Everyone turned that way.
Sako slipped inside carrying an empty tray.
My nerves calmed.
Quickly, he gathered empty tea cups. Once he was done, he bowed and slipped out.
The door shut.
Reo closed his tablet with a soft snap. "We're done. Everyone knows their assignment tonight? Everyone knows what will happen tomorrow?"
Heads nodded all around the table.
Reo pursed his lips. "Then, let's begin."
The words hung in the air for a moment.
Then, they all moved at once.
Chairs scraped against marble. Bodies rose. The Fangs' postures shifted—no more playful bickering, just deadly focus. The Claws went silent, their casual smirks replaced with cold violence.
This was it.
No more planning.
No more arguing about cocktails and hierarchy.
We were hunting spies tonight and setting a trap tomorrow.
And by tomorrow night, people would be dead.
My stomach dropped as the reality crashed over me.
Tonight, I'd be searching the rooms of women who might have ordered my death.
Tomorrow, I'd sit for ten hours waiting to see if someone tried to kill me.
The air in the room had changed completely. The temperature felt even colder. Every movement more deliberate. These weren't men going to work—these were predators preparing for a hunt.
Voices dropped into low, focused murmurs.
Hiro glanced my way, eyes steady. “Looks like we’re teamed up tonight.”
“Yeah,” I breathed. “We are.”
“I’ll see you outside.”
“Alright.” I rose.
The room emptied.
Kenji stood too, but his gaze stayed glued to me—nervous, conflicted, pulled taut like a violin string.
For a moment, he just stood there. The Dragon who'd just dominated an entire room of deadly men now looked almost. . .lost.
His hands flexed at his sides.
Once.
Twice.
Then his expression cracked.
Just for a heartbeat, I saw past the fury and authority to the man underneath. The one who was terrified of losing me. The one who had to send me into danger tomorrow while he watched from three minutes away.
"Tora. . ." My name came out rough, almost broken.
Before I could say anything, he reached for my hands, tugging me to him. His arms locked around me next, and he kissed me hard enough that the entire space faded away.
One of those kisses meant to brand memory into my skin.
When we pulled away. . .I saw it again. . .behind him. . .the dragon shadow curling over his shoulder, watching me.
“Are you okay?” Kenji whispered, even as that shadow loomed behind him like a warning.
“I’m fine.”
“This could be dangerous.”
“I’m going with Hiro and the twins. I’ll be fine. You’re the one stuck in a theater with Hina and the other two. They’re women, but that doesn’t mean they’re not dangerous.”
“I’m more than prepared to deal with them if they try anything.” His hands cupped my face. “You keep your phone on you. Call me the second something feels off. Hiro will protect you with every breath in his body—but I still need to hear from you.”
His eyes searched mine, terrified despite the hardness in his jaw. “Promise me.”
“I promise.”
We kissed again slowly this time, desperate, aching, as if both of us knew we were walking into separate storms.
Then he guided us away.
Together we headed off.
Fuck. I’m really doing this.
At the threshold, he let go of my hand. “I’ll see you later, Tora.”
“Okay, baby.”
He split off to the right with Reo and the Fangs. Their footsteps echoed down the marble hall.
Sighing, I turned left, finding Hiro and the twins waiting for me.
The rest of the Claws had already disappeared.
A shiver climbed my spine.
Alright. Time to go snooping.
Hiro watched me. “Are you ready?”
I looked down the dimly lit corridor ahead of us. “I’m ready. Let’s go hunt.”
The twins stepped beside us in perfect sync.
And together, we walked into the darkness.
Chapter thirty-one
Scooby-Doo Adventures
Nyomi
One of Kenji’s Personal Scales could be a spy—Hina, Mami, Yuki.
Maybe two.
Maybe all three.
And I was supposed to figure out which.
Tonight.
On top of that, there was a good chance that Kenji’s Personal Scales were working with others. Kenji described it as a snake’s nest.