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)
“Yeah?”
I nodded. “Let’s talk while I do. If you have the time. I don’t want to bother you.”
“No. You’re not bothering me at all. What do you want to talk about?”
“Anything.”
“Well then. . .” His eyes perked up immediately. "Has Kenji talked to you about the Claws and my grievances?"
I blinked. "No. What's going on?"
He smiled—actually smiled—and it transformed his exhausted face into a boyish expression. "There's a hierarchy around Kenji when it comes to his inner circle."
"Okay. Can you tell me more about this?" I leaned against the counter, genuinely curious. “I want to learn everything."
He made motions with his hands, gesturing up and down like he was building invisible stairs. "Kenji is the Dragon."
"Of course."
"Wait.” He stopped and dropped his hands. Then, he looked around.
“What?”
“You'll never find anything you need in here. Especially not tea." He gestured around the kitchen. "You have to go to the pantry. Come on. You can get what you want while I explain."
“Al-right. . .”
One of the guards followed.
Hiro walked toward a door and pulled it open.
I nearly choked.
The room wasn't a normal-looking pantry.
It was a massive space with shelves stretching from floor to ceiling, stocked with everything imaginable. It looked like a small, very upscale grocery store that had been transplanted into Kenji’s mansion.
And inside, two armed men stood guard.
"Well damn," I whispered.
This property was insane. Sako had never shown me this part on the tour, probably assuming I would never cook.
Hiro stepped inside like it was the most natural thing in the world to have armed guards protecting food supply. "What do you want to get?"
"Tea."
"Alright." He turned to one of the guards. "Where's the tea?"
One man pointed down an aisle to the left.
Hiro guided me that direction, and I tried not to gape at everything around me. The pantry was even organized like a luxury market—labeled sections, pristine shelves, everything from basics to exotic imports.
"So, my brother is the top of the hierarchy.”
“Yes.”
“Next, you have Reo. Honestly, he's lower than me because Kenji and I are brothers. However, officially, Reo is the Dragon's Roar."
"Understood."
"He's important, of course, but only because I allow him to be."
I couldn't help but smile. "Well, that is nice of you."
"Yeah. I know," he said it, completely seriously.
We reached the tea aisle, and I stopped, overwhelmed by the options. There were teas from every region of Japan, plus imports from China, India, England. Herbal blends. Medicinal teas. Ceremonial grades.
I started pulling things down—chamomile, green tea, ginger, honey from a shelf nearby. Then, I glanced over my shoulder. "What type of tea do you like?"
He looked surprised that I'd asked. "Any tea."
"Okay. I'll make us some tea." I grabbed a few more options. "Are you hungry?"
He blinked. "Maybe."
I turned to look at him. "Maybe? Are you hungry or not?"
"Well. . .that depends.”
“On what?”
“Are you going to make me something?"
"Of course. Do you want to eat?”
He stared at me for a few seconds and then whispered, “Yes.”
“What do you usually eat for breakfast?"
He shrugged. "Whatever's around."
"Okay, but do you have a favorite dish?"
He rattled off a few Japanese breakfast staples—miso soup, grilled fish, tamagoyaki. Then he paused. "But I want you to make something that you like to cook in the morning."
Something warm spread through my chest. "I'm big on Eggs Benedict."
"That sounds delicious."
"Alright. Let's try and figure this place out while you continue to explain to me the hierarchy of Kenji's inner circle."
He smiled back, and I realized this was probably the most relaxed I'd seen him since I arrived.
I wanted to ask him about the sake, about why he'd been sleeping in the kitchen instead of his bedroom. But I wouldn't push. Not yet. He was opening up in his own way, and that was enough.
We started moving through the aisles, gathering ingredients. English muffins that were clearly imported and expensive. Eggs that were labeled organic, from some farm I'd never heard of. Canadian bacon. Butter. Lemons for hollandaise sauce.
One of my guards hurried forward with a large cloth bag. "This may help.”
“Aww. This is perfect. Thank you.”
The guard walked by my side and I realized that he probably brought the bag because he still wasn’t sure if I should be so close to Hiro. Surely, he was still nervous from that altercation.
Meanwhile, Hiro took the bag before I could grab it from the guard and then began placing the items inside. The gesture was so unexpectedly thoughtful that it made me smile wider.
We continued down the aisles.
White vinegar for poaching the eggs.
Paprika.
Cayenne.
Salt.
Hiro led me down another aisle. "Next, we have the Fangs."
"Okay."
"The Fangs are important because the Fangs are in the Dragon's mouth. So once the Roar comes out, the Fangs follow."
“That makes sense.”
"So yes." Hiro shrugged. "It was fine for you to give the Fangs some food during that night of the date."
I froze mid-step.