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)
"That's for the Fangs to figure out now. And Reo." Hiro's expression softened slightly. "You did your part. You cracked open an entire spy network just from looking in some bedrooms. Thank you. What you’ve done tonight changes everything. But, now it's time to let the killers handle the rest."
I let out a long breath. “I don’t know. I can check more things in a safe way.”
“I’m not taking you in there.”
“What if it isn’t up to you?” I pulled out my phone. "I can ask Kenji."
Hiro's eyebrows rose. "You think my brother will say yes?"
"He might."
A slow smirk spread across his face—the kind that said he knew something I didn't. "Go ahead then. Ask my brother."
“I will.” I typed out a long message to Kenji, hoping to God he would be more logical than Hiro.
My thumbs moved fast.
We think the Eyes are involved but no certain proof. We found the spy phone in Mami's room. Password was Dragon. Photos of me inside. Yuki is innocent. Hina too. BUT, Hina's diary says Sako has been visiting Mami's room late at night. She also saw Mami with the spy phone. I think Sako is the real spy and Mami is just holding evidence for him. I want to check the servant passageways to see if there's anything in there that could give me a bigger picture. I’m hoping I can get your permission. I believe I will be safe with Hiro and the twins. Or even extra men.
Sighing, I hit send.
Hiro watched me with that infuriating smirk still on his face.
I frowned. "What?"
"Nothing." He leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "Just waiting."
“I know Kenji is protective, but with what we’ve uncovered tonight the logical thing would be to—”
My phone rang.
I looked at it.
Kenji's name lit up the screen.
Hiro chuckled.
I answered. "Hey—"
"Tora." His voice was silk wrapped around steel, and there was an edge beneath it that made my spine straighten. "You're done."
"I know we found the phone, but—"
"I will meet you in the bedroom later. Thank you for solving this. What you’ve just said in that text. . .” Pain hit those words. Real heartbreak. “Thank you for all you’ve done. We will meet in the bedroom."
"But I'm still not sure it's just the people we found. If Sako's been using the passageways—"
"Now it's time for the Fangs and my Roar to handle the rest." His tone allowed no argument. "You've done enough."
"I think the secret passageways will give me answers that—"
"Tora." Just my name. But the way he said it—low, commanding, absolute—stopped me mid-sentence.
Silence stretched between us.
I could hear him breathing on the other end. I could practically feel the rise of his authority pressing through the phone, demanding my obedience. I could even feel that damned dragon-shadow trying to push itself through the line.
Heat prickled up my neck.
And not the good kind.
"Fine," I said tightly.
"Thank you, Tora. I'll see you soon."
So pissed, I hung up without saying goodbye.
When I looked at Hiro, he was grinning like a cat who'd just watched a mouse walk into a trap.
"He said no, didn't he?"
I rolled my eyes.
He laughed—actually laughed—a low, rich sound that bounced off Hina's cream-colored walls. "I told you."
"You're enjoying this way too much."
"Watching someone else get shut down by my brother for once?" He pushed off the wall, still grinning. "Yeah. I am."
I shoved my phone back in my pocket, irritation burning in my chest. "The passageways could have evidence. Real evidence. Not just a phone and some diary entries."
"Maybe. But you’re too important to us, to just let you go in there." He gestured toward the door. "Come on, Velma. You’ve done more than enough. Thank you."
We left Hina's room, and I took one last look at the scale models on her shelves. Tiny buildings meant to help people. Dreams of a better world, crafted by hands that had never held a weapon.
When Kenji lets go of her, she’ll be the one to truly enjoy her life.
I left the room.
Hiro got to my side. “You’re amazing.”
I glanced at him and smiled. “Oh really?”
“Really. Fucking amazing.” He bobbed his head. “Now I truly see why Kenji is biting you.”
I blushed.
“You may need your own guards just to protect you from his teeth. Especially tonight.”
“My own guards to stop Kenji from biting me.” I chuckled. “What would we call them?”
“The Tiger’s Skin of course.”
“Of course.”
He stopped walking, and I stopped with him.
When I turned to face him, his expression had shifted. The teasing smirk was gone. In its place was something genuine—something that looked almost like admiration.
"You did good tonight." His voice was serious now. "Really good."
"Thanks."
"No. You don't understand." He held my gaze. "You caught four snakes. The Eyes. Mami. Sako. People we would never have looked at. People we trusted."
My throat tightened.
"My father has clearly put a spy network in place for years and in one night, you ripped it open. You saw what none of us could see."