Page 42 of Echoes of Eternity

“Let’s just go,” I reluctantly pleaded. “I’ll go with you. Be happy. Just leave everyone out of this.”

For a moment, there was a flicker of something wicked in my ex’s eyes. He seemed to weigh his options, his anger still palpable but tempered by my agreement to go with him. The Yakuza members remained tense, their hands subtly shifting to their concealed weapons.

Finally, with a wide smile, he bowed and waved his arms to one side dramatically. “Your chariot awaits, Mae. You’ll be sitting shotgun with me, of course. Like old times.”

I curled my lip in distaste at his performance, rolling my eyes, and walking past him toward the exit.

The chaotic scene at the tattoo shop took a sharp turn for the worse when he grabbed me by the arm and yanked me toward his chest. His grip was unyielding and I fought to not make the situation worse. My coworkers’ concerned faces blurred into the background as Kaito leaned toward my ear.

“I knew you’d make the right choice, baby girl,” he whispered before planting a kiss on my cheek, making me flinch.

I yanked my arm out of his grasp and he chuckled, following behind me as I continued to the shop’s exit. As Kaito and his men exited the shop, the bell over the door rang almost ominously, leaving an uneasy silence in their wake.

When my ex’s hand landed on the small of my back, I flinched and he clicked his tongue. “Don’t be like that Mae. You know I’ve always strived to bring you pleasure. There’s no need for that kind of response. I’ve never laid a hand on you.”

No, he hasn’t. But his very being disgusted me to the point where even his words and lack of respect for my boundaries made me feel violated.

As we reached his waiting car, I felt an inexplicable tug in my chest. It was as if something deep inside me was pulling in another direction, a distant call that felt oddly familiar yet unsettling. The sensation was brief but powerful. I had no time to dwell on it as my ex pushed me into the car and slammed the door with a loud thud.

The interior of the car was stifling, not because of the cramped quarters of his import vehicle. Kaito’s face was set in a grim line when he entered the driver's side. With an air of arrogance, he started the engine and pulled away from the shop’s parking lot. The cityscape passed in a blur outside the window, the familiar surroundings now feeling alien and menacing.

“Where are we headed?” I asked, doing my best tokeep my voice steady, even though a knot of worry twisted in my stomach at the thought of Noboru not finding me at home. I didn’t know if he was scheduled to come back, not knowing where he went when he was gone.

Kaito shot me a look. “Wherever I say we’re going, Mae. I’m the one in the driver’s seat,” he chuckled.

Staring out the passenger window, the sounds of Kaito’s labored breathing stole my attention. When I turned to look at him, my eyes widened as I realized he was stroking his cock as he drove. I didn’t even hear him release the thing from his pants.

“Fuck, having you in here is bringing back a lot of memories, baby,” he panted, before hitting the clutch and shifting the car into the next gear.

“What the hell are you doing? Keep your hands on the wheel!” I growled.

He chuckled without a care. “I seem to remember plenty of days racing down the dark streets with your head between my legs. I haven’t lost my edge yet.” He turned his gaze over to me slowly. “Want to kiss it for old times?”

“Fuck you.”

His wicked laugh taunted me as I turned to look out the passenger window once more. He didn’t need to know that his cock was far from anything impressive, despite the piercing. Nothing compared to Noboru, not anymore.

The rest of the drive was a blur of mixed emotions. I tried to focus on the details of the route, hopingto find a chance to escape. The tug in my chest persisted, distracting me from focusing on the task at hand.

We arrived at a secluded area on the outskirts of town, my ex parked the car and turned to me with a grin. The area was desolate, surrounded by tall, looming trees and the distant sound of occasional cars in the distance. It was eerily quiet, a stark contrast to the bustling city we had left behind.

“Come on, I want to show you something.”

I gave him a suspicious look but didn’t respond.

We both got out of his car and he led me to a small, abandoned building, its structure crumbling and overgrown with weeds through the cracks in the concrete. The sight of it only added to the doubt I felt in making this stupid decision. As he ushered me inside, I glanced around, looking for anything that could help me in my predicament—a weapon of opportunity.

“Stop being so paranoid, baby girl,” he cooed. “You don’t need those skills here. It’s just you and me.”

I ignored him, my mind racing through possible escape plans. My ex was unpredictable when he got angry, something I always remembered. It was best to think of all the worst-case scenarios now and their solutions. The streets taught me to always stay ahead of the game.

“We’re here, Kaito. What exactly did you want to show me? Or was it all a lie to get me out of the shop?”

He scoffed, finding entertainment in my attitude. “Do you remember when we were younger? We’d sneak around town, fucking in places like this.”

“I tried my best to forget until you brought it up,” I quipped immediately.

Kaito leaned in closer, his expression a mix of desperation and false charm. “I know we had our issues, but we can fix this. You can still love me, Mae. Just give it another chance.”

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