Page 101 of Emperor of Wrath

Eventually, the next afternoon, it’s hunger that has me coming out of my fortress. When I do, though, I’m met with a surprise.

Kenzo isn’t waiting for me so that he can grab me and yell at me for locking him out. In fact, he’s nowhere to be seen.

I looked, and yes, the house is huge, but no matter how many rooms I poke my head into, I’m finally forced to acknowledge that my husband is not here.

I don’t take as much glee in that as I should.

I end up finding Hana doing some work sitting outside in one of the many gorgeous gardens. When she explains what it is she does for Kenzo and Sota, I laugh, because it turns out we have similar roles, albeit different styles. She’s not so much the scary bitch that walks into negotiations and sets the place on fire, like me, but her cool, laser-focused precision makes her a force to be reckoned with as the head of business acquisitions for the Mori and Akiyama families.

Other than her, though, the house really does appear to be empty. No Mal. No Takeshi. No Kenzo.

And no staff. Hana explains that there’s a housekeeper and a cleaner who come twice a week. Other than that, there’s just Jiro, the chef from the plane—who works for Kenzo, not Sota, as I would have guessed.

I make myself some coffee and a snack in the huge modern kitchen. Then I find a tranquil spot next to a koi pond outside and get to work. Hours later, there still seems to be nobody around.

I close my laptop and take a walk around the grounds. A few guards spot me, but they seem to know who I am and barely look at me, giving me only quick, perfunctory nods before continuing on their patrols.

High, wire-topped fences surround Kenzo’s property. I make my way to the imposing front torii gate that we drove through when we first arrived. Then I follow the main drive back up to the house, and keep going, past it.

Evening is starting to fall when I stumble across the massive garage. I gawk as I step inside and take in the rows and rows of gorgeous vintage cars and motorcycles. The sound of what might be a power drill draws me past the Corvettes, Mustangs, Porches, and a beautiful old Ferrari, and I walk through another doorway into a mechanic’s bay.

Takeshi is crouched over a bike frame, welding some bits together. When he sees me approach in his peripheral vision, he kills the power and lifts the welder’s mask, painted to resemble a ferocious hannya mask.

“Looking for your boyfriend?”

“Not particularly, no.”

“He and Mal are out on a business thing.”

I shrug. “Okay.”

“Heard you made him sleep on the couch.”

I turn to Takeshi. “I didn’t make him sleep anywhere. It didn’t have to be the couch. I just pressed my advantage and locked him out of the bedroom so I could have it to myself.”

Takeshi smirks. “So is this the newlywed honeymoon phase I hear so much about?”

I roll my eyes. “Beats me.”

I’m just starting to stroll around the workshop, eyeing a few other serious looking sports bikes, when Hana walks in through the open bay door.

“I was wondering if I’d find you here.” Her mouth twists. “Kenzo just called me. He wants you to be ready to go to some cocktail party thing tonight. He wants to be leaving here by ten-thirty.”

“How lovely,” I deadpan.

Hana smirks. “He’s just….”

“Kenzo,” Takeshi sighs. “He’s just Kenzo. Though I doubt he’d be pissed if we just started calling him Dad.”

Hana snorts a laugh as I grin at them both. “What’s that about?”

Takeshi shrugs. “He’s been playing dad to all of us since we were kids. I mean with Hideo not around and Mom…” He frowns and shakes his head, like this is something he doesn’t really want to discuss.

I get it. I’m not a fan of talking about my parents, either. It’s too painful, even now.

He eyes the Kawasaki Ninja bike that I’m standing next to, then drags his gaze to me.

“Do you really ride?”

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