Total pages in book: 152
Estimated words: 154368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 772(@200wpm)___ 617(@250wpm)___ 515(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 154368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 772(@200wpm)___ 617(@250wpm)___ 515(@300wpm)
“You don’t even know what they are.”
“I don’t need to. They look delicious and smell divine.” He tried to reach around me.
I blocked him. “I want you to be surprised just like them.”
“I’m surprised.” He feinted left, then right. I matched him move for move, and somewhere in the middle of it, I realized I was laughing.
Actually laughing.
He is so crazy.
This man had the instinctual reflexes of an apex predator and the morals of a toddler near cupcakes.
Oh my God.
The heaviness in my chest lifted and all that sadness and anxiety began to disappear.
I’m glad he came in here.
Hiro's grin widened. He looked positively giddy—this massive, tattooed, dangerous man reduced to a child trying to sneak cookies before dinner.
"Fine." He held up his hands in surrender, still grinning. "I'll wait."
"Good."
"But only because I respect the process." He placed his hand over his heart.
Solemn.
Sincere.
My shoulders relaxed. "Thank you, Hiro."
"Of course."
Then—faster than I could react—his hand shot out and snagged a croquette off the plate.
"HIRO!"
“Sorry.” He popped it into his mouth before I could stop him, and then he groaned. Not the polite appreciation sound from the karaage.
This was deeper.
More guttural.
The sound of a man experiencing religious ecstasy.
"Oh my." His eyes rolled back slightly. "Nyomi. What the fuck is in these?"
“You lied to me.”
“My hand is not under my command.”
“Bullshit. You’re being a menace.”
“I promise to spend the rest of my life making that up to you. Now what is in this?”
"They’re called Crazy Croquettes. Three cheeses, bacon lardons, and a bechamel base with—"
"I don't know what some of that is, but. . ." He was already reaching for another one. "I just need two more."
I slapped his hand away. "No!"
"You’re worried about me. You better not let Reo into this kitchen and see these croquettes." He eyed the plate like a predator stalking prey. "Because there won't be any left. The man has a serious addiction to cheese."
I laughed despite myself. "What?"
"It's a problem." Hiro shook his head gravely. "Back when Kenji first took the throne from our father, Reo convinced everyone that the Claws, Fangs, and him should all live together in one house. Said it would form unity. Build brotherhood. Strengthen the bonds between us."
"That sounds nice."
"What Reo failed to mention was that he would be nibbling on everyone's cheese in the middle of the night."
I covered my mouth. "No way.”
"Anytime any of us would buy cheese, put it in the refrigerator, and go to sleep, the next day we would wake up, go to our cheese. . .and you know what we would see?" Hiro mimed opening a refrigerator door, then staring in horror. "Bite marks.”
“No.”
“Yes. Little Reo-sized bite marks in your cheese."
"He didn't even slice it?"
"No. Just picked it up and nibbled. Like a rodent." Hiro leaned in conspiratorially. "I believe Reo was a mouse in his prior life. A very sneaky mouse who pretends to care about unity but really just wants access to more cheese."
Another laugh burst out of me—louder this time, surprised out of my chest.
"Stop." I held up my hand as he inched toward the plate again.
“I’ll give you a lollipop for another croquette.”
“You would give me a lollipop regardless.”
He grabbed for a croquette.
"No."
Then Hiro did something I never expected.
He put his hands together in a full, dramatic, prayer-hands position—pressing his palms together and holding them up to his chin.
His eyes went wide and pleading.
His bottom lip actually trembled.
I watched a man who could kill everyone in this compound without breaking a sweat look at me like I held the keys to heaven.
Over mac and cheese balls.
It was so adorable I almost choked.
"Please, Nyomi. I'll do anything. I'll be your knight in shining armor for the rest of your life. Let me have one more croquette." He pressed his hands tighter together. "Anything you need from me. This is my oath to you."
A helpless giggle escaped me. "Fine. But if I murder somebody, you gotta help me hide the body."
Hiro's hand shot out and grabbed a croquette so fast I barely saw it move.
"Of course." He grinned, popping it into his mouth. "Actually, I'll kill the person for you and hide the body. You'll never need to do anything."
He was smiling when he said it.
But my stomach turned.
Because beneath the playfulness, beneath the charm, I saw it—the absolute certainty in his eyes. He wasn't joking. Not really. If I asked him to kill someone for me, he would do it without hesitation.
Without question.
Without remorse.
The smile stayed on my face, but something cold slithered through my chest.
This is who they are, and. . .this is who I'm with. It’s my new life.
Hiro groaned again as he chewed, completely oblivious to my momentary horror.
"This is insane. The crispy outside and then the cheese just—" He made an exploding gesture near his head. "Both of these are amazing. The chicken is incredible. The croquettes are incredible. How are you this good?"