Page 38 of Curses & Kitsune

I was Namikawa’s dog. That isn’t who I am anymore. I’m the boss now, and I will never allow anyone else to own me. Takada’s deal crawls into my mind, and I shake it out. Focus. Behind me, more of my people park and make for the warehouse. I summoned them here during the drive over. They need to learn what happens to anyone who crosses me.

The doors screech when I open them, taunting me with memories I’ve tried to forget. Zip ties cutting into my wrists. Sweat cold on my body. Chest tight with dread. The pain that never seemed to end. With effort, I swallow it all down. No. I will not be broken down by my past. I have risen above it. I’m better, stronger, than I ever was before.

In the center of a room full of shipping crates is a chair. Blood has soaked into the wood. My blood. This time, I’m not the one in the chair. Ishida is, hands bound tight behind his back, skin clammy with sweat, frantic eyes darting around the room as he looks for a way out. But there is none. I would know. My pain in this place was never-ending.

And his will be, too.

Ren glances my way and murmurs, “Are you okay? I know being here isn’t easy, but I wasn’t sure where else to—”

“I’m fine.” My tone makes it clear that’s the end of the conversation. I need it to be. The room is full of my people. I can’t afford even a hint of weakness. I must be the boss. Untouchable and powerful. Later, I can numb my wounds with sake and fall asleep in my mate’s arms.

But now? Now, I make this bastard pay for hurting my sunshine.

Ishida shakes, rattling the chair. “Hey, come on, boss. I didn’t even hurt Jinta! I swear! Ask him yourself!”

“Quiet.” The fury in my voice drains the blood from Ishida’s face. “You keep his name out of your mouth. You don’t even think about him.”

A line of sweat streaks down Ishida’s forehead and drips off his chin. His fear shrouds the air with a sour reek that makes my lip curl. I turn my back and take a few items off a metal table by his chair. A bamboo cutting board. A dagger. Bandage and string. When I face him, Ishida’s lips are quivering. Sweat soaks through his shirt, which strains against his heaving chest.

I set down the board and place the knife, bandage, and string on the surface. I draw the blade and walk around behind him. Ishida whimpers when I slice through the zip ties, immediately rubbing his wrists. I chuck the knife onto the ground at his feet.

“Pick it up.”

Namikawa said those words to me once, and I had to obey. Now, I’m the one giving the orders. I’m in control for fucking once. Adrenaline rushes through me, speeding up my heart. It feels fucking good. When Ishida only stares, eyes bulging, I slap him across the face so hard he stumbles to the side.

“Pick it up,” I snarl.

Panting, Ishida picks up the blade. “Y-yes, boss.”

“Kneel.”

He obeys like a mindless servant, kneeling before me.

“You know what to do.”

Ishida swallows hard, eyes glossy with panic. The knife shakes in his trembling fist. He’s helpless the way I was helpless. Hey. Rather him than me. Bored, I light up a cigarette while I wait for him to grow the balls to do as he’s told.

Ishida presses his trembling lips together. “You’ll just kill me anyway.”

Blowing out smoke, I say, “True. But I’ll make it quick and painless if you apologize first. Think about it, yeah?”

Indignation reddens Ishida’s face. He glares up at me, drool trickling from the corner of his mouth as a callous grin possesses his face. “Oh, I’ll think about it the next time I’m alone with your pretty little human pet, and he’s on his knees choking on my—”

Suddenly, the cutting board is in my hands, and I’m swinging, smashing the board across his disgusting, smiling face. Ishida crumples, eyes rolling back. The blood has only just started flowing before the wounds heal. But it doesn’t matter. I grab the knife and pounce, slamming my knee down on his wrist to pin his hand to the floor.

Nobody threatens my mate.

“Watch closely!” My voice bounces around the room. “All of you!” The wide, startled eyes of my people fall upon me. “And the next time you think about betraying me, I want you to remember this!”

I bring the blade down, slicing through flesh and bone until the blade hits the concrete floor. Ishida screams and screams, but it’s silenced when I cram his own finger in his mouth, making him choke on it. The coppery tang of blood saturates the air, so pungent I can taste it. My people let out exclamations of shock, even a few curses.

Ishida gags around my fingers, eyes watering.

I yank my fingers free and squeeze his jaw shut. “Swallow.”

Ishida makes a disgusted noise, tears rolling down his cheeks.

I slap him hard. “Swallow!”

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