Page 13 of Curses & Kitsune

Fuck…

I have a seat and text Raiden, telling him where I am and that I'm looking for him. My phone buzzes. Please, please…

Yes! It’s from Raiden. He’s texted me an address, a license plate number, and added,

Raiden: There’s a car coming to my building. Check the license before getting in!! Meet me at this address. Make sure you aren’t followed!

What the hell is going on?

In seconds, a car pulls up. I double-check the license plate, then hop in. Three beefy, stone-faced Namikawa-kai are in the vehicle.

“What’s going on?” I ask.

“The boss will tell you,” the driver says, stepping on the gas and driving fast, honking at people to get out of the way.

“Is he okay?”

“Yes.”

Blowing out a breath, I slump in my seat. I have more questions, but my guards aren’t the chattiest people in the world. I’d rather hear from my mate himself, anyway.

We arrive in a sleepy neighborhood and pull up outside an older apartment building that looks like it’s seen better days, judging by the graffiti and overgrown vines. Lots of families walk the streets, bringing their kids home from school. The guard buzzes an apartment number three times, and then a voice I recognize as Raiden’s growls, “Who is it?”

The guard says, “The black wolf hunts the fox at dawn.”

We’re buzzed in, and the guard leads me to an elevator. The elevator ascends, and I try to get my breathing under control. Fear and anger leave me shaking from head to toe, and I have to gnash my teeth to keep it all inside.

This fucking way of life is going to be the death of Raiden, and I can’t lose him. I can’t be without him. We arrive on the fifth floor, and the guard leads me to an apartment door. He knocks four times. Several locks click, and the door opens.

I squeeze through the door before it’s fully open and collide with a hard chest that smells of sweet, citrusy yuzu. “Raiden!” I choke out, and my arms fly around him. Clutching him to me, I suck his scent into my lungs. Finally, I can breathe. He’s here. He’s alive. Thank god.

“Stand guard,” Raiden’s low voice says, and the guards grunt their assent. Raiden locks the door, and then his arms are around me, holding me tight. “Hey, Sunshine.” The beautiful rumble of his voice makes my throat ache with emotion. I hadn’t realized how terrified I was that I’d never hear his voice again until now.

“Jinta,” Raiden begins, but he’s cut off as I surge forward and kiss him, grabbing his face in both my hands to pull him close. My name becomes a gravelly moan that makes my cock kick against my trousers. I thrust my tongue into his mouth, a desperate sound escaping me when he twists his tongue around mine. Sharp teeth nip my lower lip, biting down.

I slide my hands up his back to his broad shoulders, and Raiden suddenly winces. I freeze, panting as I break our kiss. “What was that?” I run my hand over his shoulder again, and he tenses up.

“It’s nothing.” He leans back in, but I tug open the buttons on his shirt and yank it to the side.

My breath hitches when I notice the bandages around his shoulder. “You’re hurt,” I whisper, horrified.

Raiden scowls, averting his gaze. “It’s a scratch.”

Fury heats my blood. “Just a—” I shove him away from me and cross the room. I want to destroy this dingy little apartment room. A furious snarl escapes me.

“Hey.” The floorboards creak as he approaches me. He grabs my shoulder.

I smack his hand away. “You could have been killed!” Anguish mixes with my fury, bringing scorching tears to my eyes.

Raiden’s lips thin, and he folds his arms. “But I wasn’t.”

How can he be so cavalier about this? “Why didn’t you tell me you’d been attacked? I had to find out there’d been a shooting from my boss! Your car was completely wrecked. I couldn’t reach you!” My lips shake, and I blink fast to try and fight back my tears. Fear for him makes my throat ache.

Sighing, Raiden scrubs a hand over his jaw. “I contacted you as soon as I could. We had to make arrangements. Ren’s in hiding. I needed to make sure it was safe before I could see you.”

“What happened?” I snap. “Nobody would tell me anything!”

Sighing, Raiden rakes a hand through his hair. “One of my men was caught meeting with Takada. I had to set an example.”

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