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“Are they in his office?” I asked and she hesitated, knowing why I was asking.

“Yes, Miss Nirah.”

“Don’t leave her side, please,” I pleaded and Rosalia smiled.

“Of course,” she assured me and I pulled back but Sally grabbed my arm.

“No, Nirah— don’t— don’t leave me.” Her bottom lip quivered.

“I’ll be right back.” I offered my most convincing smile. “You’re home now, you’re safe.” I cupped the side of her pale cheek. “Rosalia will look after you for a little while, okay? I promise I’ll be right back.”

Reluctantly she let me go and I slipped out, hurrying up the stairs.

When I entered Antonio’s office it was occupied by his men with him behind his desk.

“You know who did it, don’t you?” I asked Antonio, approaching him and he turned his laptop to show me his screen.

“Fujimura?” I asked, brows scrunched together as my eyes trailed over the screen. “Are you sure?”

He folded his arms over his chest. “I recognized the gunman in the first car. We had an alternation not too long ago, and I know he’s under Fujimura’s hand.” Shit.

The men in here were already suited up, each checking their weapons and securing it.

I rounded his desk, stopping at his side as my pulse drummed in my neck.

“Going after the yakuza is a death sentence, Antonio.”

“No. A death sentence is trying to kill me with you in the car.” He grabbed his bulletproof vest, pulling it over his head. “We leave in an hour.”

His attention was back on his men, and I stepped back, looking down at the screen with a fleeting pulse. I couldn’t help but tune out the sound of his voice as all the possibilities of this going wrong rushed through my mind.

All I could think about was how ruthless the yakuza was. Nereus and I hadn’t been involved with them for long, but even in that short period of time we saw a lot.

The idea of anything happening to them made my stomach churn. Cesar… Kiryl… Koren… and maybe even… no. No. I don’t care what happens to Antonio… right? Right, Nirah?

I glanced around but every single man in this room didn’t seem phased by the lion’s den they were walking into. All they knew was that Fujimura tried to kill their leader and his wife. And now, they were out for his blood.

* * *

I was pacing up and down in the living room when it sounded like a group of military men in the foyer, filing out the front door.

I hurried out to catch Antonio in the doorway and grabbed his arm. His shoulders dropped with an exhale, and I forced him to turn and look at me.

“Just think about it.” I insisted. “You’re partners with Fujimura. Why would he deliberately try to take you out?”

“I don’t know—”

“Exactly.” I cut him off. “Maybe the hit didn’t come from him, maybe… maybe the guy you saw had his own agenda,” I said, trying to reason with him and his fingers curled and uncurled into a fist at his side.

“It doesn’t matter—”

“Yes it does!”

“No, Nirah, it doesn’t. Because even if that were the case, that motherfucker should keep his men on a tighter leash. I don’t give a fuck who the hit came from.” His tone lowered eerily as he stepped closer. “Either way, he’s going to learn the consequences of fucking with what’s mine.” He assured me. “Don’t leave this house. No matter what happens, you stay… here.”

I blinked rapidly as I stared at the determination in his eyes. Nothing, and no one was going to change his mind about this.

“Do I make myself clear?”