Page 56 of Cowboy's Sinful Bargain

The three of us headed for the house, climbing the back steps to get to the porch and then walking around to the front of the house. We reached the front steps just about the time the two cars stopped and doors opened.

Miko inhaled sharply and edged closer to me when three men climbed out of the two vehicles. One I recognized as the lawyer that had delivered Miko to us. One was older, with shorter gray hair. One looked younger, buffer, and he had a definite bulge under his suit jacket.

I glanced down at the shivering man beside me. "Miko?"

"That's First Uncle," Miko whispered, "my grandfather's brother and the head of the Kaneko family."

That would explain the fear wafting off of Miko.

"I'm not giving you back."

The loose strands of Miko's dark hair fell back from his face as he tilted it up to mine. "I'm not going back."

Good, just as long as that was understood.

"Can I help you?" I asked when three men approached.

"I am Nitori Kaneko," the older man stated. "I'm here to speak to my brother's grandson."

I clenched my jaw at how easily he dismissed Miko. "He has a name."

Miko tugged on my sleeve, but when I looked down, his gaze was on the two cars. It wasn't even on the three men standing in front of us.

That told me all I needed to know.

I tilted my head to the side, turning it slightly. "Wade, call the others," I said in a low voice. "I want them armed and ready for anything."

"Trouble, Boss?" Wade asked.

"I'm not sure yet." I returned my attention to the three men standing at the bottom of the steps. Granted, I had never fully looked away from them, but still. I wanted to keep them where I could see them. "What business do you have with Miko?"

The old man rested both hands on a silver tipped cane. "That is between Mitsuaki and myself."

At least he used Miko's name this time, even if it wasn't the one he preferred.

"If you want to speak to Miko," I said as clearly as I could, "you'd best be telling me what you want here or you can forget about it."

"It's family business."

"Well, I'm his husband," I corrected him. "That makes me his family."

The man's distain was clear to see as he looked me up and down. I knew that he was dismissing me as if I was the help. Technically, I kind of was. I might currently own fifty-one percent of the ranch, but I was still the foreman.

He might also have a problem with me being gay.

Fuck him.

"What do you need to talk to Miko about?"

If he didn't answer this time, I was kicking him off the ranch.

Chapter Sixteen

~ Miko ~

To say I was scared was an understatement of epic proportions. I was terrified. First Uncle never spoke to me unless he wanted something and it usually involved some manner of pain and humiliation on my part.

I was pretty sure he'd have to go through Jos to get to me this time. I was more concerned with who else might be in those two cars. Only First Uncle, the lawyer, and one bodyguard had climbed out. I knew there were more and they were probably just waiting for orders.

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