Page 14 of Curses & Kitsune

“You killed him.”

Raiden doesn’t look at me. “I had to. But his brother wasn’t quite so understanding. Ren recognized his tattoo on one of the bikers who attacked the car.”

That makes no sense. Pacing, I fold my arms close to my chest. “What does that mean?”

“He joined up with the Blades and carried out a hit on us to get back at me.”

My stomach churns, and I hug myself tighter. “So, what now?”

Raiden’s eyes are steely with determination. “We hit them back.”

I lurch to a stop. “You can’t! You’ll just set off a cycle of retaliation!”

“What do you want me to do?” Raiden slams his fist down on the kitchen counter, making me jump. “They killed two of my men! They almost killed me and Ren! If I let them get away with this, the whole city will think the Namikawa-kai is weak.”

“Let them!” My voice matches his in volume as my desperation swells. “Let the whole fucking organization burn down. Let Takada, the hunters, and Namikawa’s people kill each other. Isn’t that what you wanted? A way out?”

Raiden shakes his head vehemently. “I can’t do that. Those are my people. I’m the boss now. They need me!”

I want to shake this man. I want to fall on my knees and beg him, beg him, to walk away from this life before he gets himself killed. “And I’m your boyfriend! I need you. I need you more than anyone else ever will. Don’t do this to me. Don’t make me watch you be killed. I can’t. I won’t stick around for that.”

Raiden’s eyes are wide. “You’ll leave?” There’s a dangerous undercurrent beneath the fear in his voice.

I glare at him, blinking away the tears misting my vision. “If that’s what it takes to make you walk away from this life, then yeah. I will.”

His fingers curl at his sides. “You’d make me choose?”

I cross my arms and stare him down. “I would.”

Shaking his head, Raiden grinds his teeth together. “Don’t.”

A laugh escapes me at the absurdity of it all. Our lives are completely fucked.

“What?” Concern dimples Raiden’s brow.

“Maybe you just don’t want to leave. Maybe you like it. The violence. Maybe you wouldn’t be satisfied with a normal life.” With me, but I can’t bring myself to say that part aloud. The anger in my voice softens, betraying my insecurities. “Is that it?”

Icy silence is my only answer. I don’t know how to interpret it. Is he quiet because he’s shocked I’d think that way about him? Or, and my stomach twists at the thought, is it because he agrees with me? Maybe he’s realized that he would never be happy with a normal life. Maybe he enjoys the power and control that comes with being the boss. But I would hate him for it if he broke my heart like that.

My stomach knots with anxiety. Our worlds are so different. How is it possible that he’ll be happy with me? I couldn’t make my last boyfriend happy enough to stay loyal, or my parents. Why would Raiden be any different?

Turning away with a shaky sigh, I make for the door.

“Where’re you going?” Raiden’s voice is wary.

“Back to my old apartment.”

“You won’t be safe there.”

“I don’t care.” I throw off the chain on the top lock.

Raiden slams his hand against the door. “Well, I do,” he growls in my ear. His body is so close to mine the heat of him seeps into my back. Grabbing my wrist, he spins me around. My back hits the door, and Raiden looms over me, fangs sharp, eyes dark.

“Let go,” I say without any venom. All my fury evaporates and instead, I’m just tired.

Lifting a hand, he drags his thumb over the wetness on my cheek. “Like hell I’m letting you walk out of here pissed at me.” When I try to look away, he grips my chin tight and forces me to meet his heated gaze. “I’m not giving you the chance to disappear on me, Sunshine.” He leans in, breath hot on my ear, nose rubbing against my cheek. He growls into my ear, “Wolves don’t like it when their prey runs away. You try and run from me, and I’ll burn the world down to get you back.”

The threat in his voice is very real, but so is the meaning in his words. He’s choosing me. Maybe he can’t leave the yakuza, but even so, he’s telling me in his own way that I come first. Somehow, it’s exactly what I needed to hear. I lunge forward, capturing his mouth with mine. A moan tears from me when Raiden slaps his hands against my ass and squeezes.

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