Page 49 of Secrets & Sake

But if he’d rejected me and run from me… I would have been broken. Just the thought twists like a knife. I wouldn’t have been able to let him go. I’m not selfless enough. I’m not a good person. I can never be good enough for him.

Hiro yawns softly beside me. “Are we here?”

“Yeah.” I unlock the doors and step out with him. Hiro’s stumbling to his doorstep like a drunk, worn out from everything we did. Even I’m sore and tired. I’ve never been so satisfied before. I hook my arm with his, and we walk to his door together.

“I’ll see you in the morning,” I say. “We’ll get breakfast before I have to go to work.”

Hiro smiles tiredly. “Sounds great.”

Before he can turn away, I cup his cheek in my hand. He closes his eyes, and I claim his lips with mine. For a moment, everything disappears. All that matters is his body against mine, his sweet scent, how soft his hair is between my fingers.

I’ve never cared for anyone like I care for him. Already, I miss him and can’t wait to see him in the morning.

When we part, I tip my head back to the moon above. “The moon’s beautiful tonight, huh?”

Hiro laughs softly. “Yeah. It is.”

My heart sings.

It’s a confession. It’s not the moon that’s beautiful; it’s him. It’s the way he makes me feel, like the whole damn world is beautiful when I’ve only ever thought it cruel and cold. It’s about as indirect as it gets, but that’s what I’m comfortable with. I don’t know if I love him. If I ever could after all the shit I’ve been through. But… I like him. That’s all I know, and that’s enough for me.

I watch him until he’s safely through the front door. I can’t wipe the smile from my face as I turn away.

The drive home is peaceful. I’m more content than I have been in a long time. Parking in the garage, I lock my car behind me and turn away, eager for bed.

Something slams into my face. My nose snaps as it breaks. Ears ringing, I crash to the ground. Two men tower over me. I recognize their scents. They’re my own pack mates, Namikawa-kai. Before I can stand, a foot collides into my face. The world spins around me as I tumble over, blood blinding my vision.

“Sorry, Noboru. The boss wants to speak with you. You’re in big trouble.”

I blink blood from my eye in time to see the Namikawa-kai’s boot soaring toward my face.

Well, fuck.

Chapter 12

My head throbs as I come to. I’m in the back seat of a car, lying on the floor where no one can see me. My hands are bound with silver cuffs that sap my strength.

Silver doesn’t burn our skin, not unless it penetrates the flesh, so there’s that at least. But I know I won’t be pain-free for long. I should have figured Namikawa would find a way to ruin my night.

This was coming. Bound to happen. Of course Namikawa would find out I’d gone behind his back. The old man knows everything. I try to calm my racing heart.

I know what’s in store for me. It’s happened before, but after the last time, I’d started being more careful and obedient. But there was no way I could let that attack against Hiro go.

When the car stops, my heart starts banging against my chest.

The back door opens. One of Namikawa’s guys grabs my ankles and tugs, dragging me down onto the pavement. Oh, yeah. I recognize immediately where we are. The warehouse where we interrogate and torture enemies of the gang. And tonight, that’s me.

I’m shoved to my feet. I glare at the guy. “Ease up, asshole. I can walk on my own.”

At our approach, the doors open from the inside. Namikawa stands in a dim patch of light, hands clasped in front of him. As I enter, something smashes across my face.

Blinding pain erupts throughout my skull, and in my shock, my knees give out. I crash to the ground, squinting up through one good eye at Saito Takada.

“You son of a bitch!” Takada snarls, and he slams his foot into me.

I curl my knees to my stomach, so his foot bounces off my kneecap, and I raise my chained arms to shield my face. That doesn’t stop him from kicking every part of me he can reach, making my body ache.

“Takahashi and his brother are dead because of you!”

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