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 swallowed.
He let out a long breath. “Because of that. . .I’ll spend the rest of my life showing you my appreciation.”
“Then I guess I’m obligated to keep making you breakfast while we’re here.”
“You are,” His voice went lighter. “That’s our deal.”
A chuckle slipped out of me, shaky but real. “Fine. I’ll keep feeding you until you’re emotionally stable. Might take a few years.”
“It may.”
The elevator chimed, and the doors slid open into a different world.
For whatever reason, the twins changed position on my side. This time, Yuki was a step ahead, and Aki was slightly behind.
I looked forward.
Okay. Back to the hunt.
My senses dialed up to uncomfortable levels—scents sharper, footsteps louder, shadows darker. It was the kind of primal alertness that made the hairs on my arms stand straight, as if something were watching from just out of sight.
A nest of snakes.
The first thing I noted on this level was that the air felt lighter and touched with the faint scent of floral soap. The corridor beyond was wide and bright, lined with clean white walls and pale wood doors. Warm light pooled from overhead fixtures.
A few staff moved through the space, carrying baskets, clipboards, and cleaning carts.
Sako definitely hadn’t shown me this part.
As we stepped out, a woman in a simple blouse and slacks walked past with a tray of tea cups. When she saw us, she smiled and briefly bowed.
Then, she continued down the hall, humming under her breath.
Totally relaxed.
Totally unconcerned.
Totally enjoying her day.
Not spy energy at all.
We walked on.
Doors opened occasionally to reveal glimpses of small lounge spaces, staff bedrooms, and storage.
Laughter drifted from one of them, and the sound was soft and tired, like people letting themselves breathe after a long shift.
I glanced at Hiro. “This wing wasn’t in Sako’s tour.”
“It’s mostly a Scales-level so there would have been no need. Staff housing. Support people. Some lower-level guards. Kitchen workers who stay in the house overnight.”
“That makes sense.”
We passed a woman adjusting a framed print on the wall.
Across from her, an armed guard leaned against a doorframe and went over a list on a clipboard.
He lifted his view.
The twins gave him a look and his back straightened instantly.
He bowed at them and then us.
Hiro kept his voice low. “Some of my Claws’ top men are on this floor.”
“Ah. I see.”
Hiro slowed his pace just a little, giving me a glance from the corner of his eye—more calculating than casual. “Hmm. I suppose I should break down the chain of command for you. It will help you tonight.”
My brow lifted. “Okay.”
“In this house, loyalty isn’t always spoken. You watch it. You read it. You measure who bows, who hesitates, who looks away first. If you know the hierarchy, you’ll know when something feels. . .off.”
The twins nodded in agreement.
“I like the idea of you giving me a crash course.”
“Good. Any questions?”
Aki added under his breath, “You’re an ally now.”
“How many men does each Claw have?”
“Thirty to sixty depending on the Claw.”
“What?”
He shrugged.
The number hit me like a body blow. That wasn’t a crew. That wasn’t a squad. That was a private army—disciplined, loyal, and deadly enough to take over small countries if Kenji ever woke up and chose chaos.
“So. . .the Claws are very much top Lieutenants?”
“Yes.”
“And the Fangs? How many men do they have under them?”
“That more so depends on the mission. They don’t run and manage people like the Claws. They more so gather. . .up to a hundred or so men each, when they need something big done. They even grab people from other organizations.”
“How?”
“When the Fangs move, Kenji signs off on every name. Each man is paid triple hazard rates. They’ll fly in from Osaka, Seoul, or even Shanghai if needed.”
My pulse kicked up. Mobilizing that many people wasn’t just about having a lot of money. It was an unbelievable amount of power.
Not a massive criminal organization but an endless kingdom.
“Damn. I didn’t think that their jobs were that huge.”
We continued on, and the whole time I assessed all the people that walked by.
Everyone looked good. Their clothes were clean and well-fitted. Their skin glowed. Their posture was relaxed but engaged—the body language of people who liked their jobs and felt secure in them.
A young woman passed us carrying a stack of books, earbuds in, completely unbothered by our presence. She stopped, bowed at us, and walked on with a smile.
I glanced at Hiro. "They seem really comfortable here."
"They should be." Hiro's tone was matter-of-fact. "Kenji pays triple the market rate for all staff positions. Full medical and dental. If they have dependents—husbands, children, even retired parents—housing is free if they want it, or he subsidizes off-site apartments. Paid leave is generous. Also, there’s education benefits for their children."
I blinked. "Education benefits?"
"Full scholarships to any university in Japan. Some staff send their kids to schools in Europe or America. Reo makes sure the kids get into whatever place they want. Kenji covers it."