Page 57 of Cowboy's Sinful Bargain

"I am no longer a member of the Kaneko family," I stated as bravely as I could, but my voice still trembled. "What is there to talk about?"

When First Uncle's eyes snapped to me, I cringed.

I should have kept my mouth shut.

First Uncle stared at me for a moment, his gaze intent, bringing back painful memories of when he had looked at me like this before.

It never ended well for me.

I almost caved, but then I heard the rapid footsteps and realized the ranch hands had joined us. For some reason, that gave me the courage to look my uncle straight in the face.

"I have nothing to say to you." My courage was bolstered when I felt Jos's arm tighten around my waist. "You never liked me and wished me dead on more than one occasion. Now that I am out of your life, I don't understand why you are here."

Unless it was to kill me, and the glare he was giving me told me he was thinking about it. Luckily for me, he had a whole lot of people to go through before he could get to me.

"Is there somewhere more...private we can talk, Mitsuaki?"

Was he really not going to leave?

"There's nothing to—"

"You can use my study, son," Monty said as he stepped up next to me and Jos. I hadn't even realized he had come out of the house.

Pure loathing flared from First Uncle's eyes as he stared at my father. I almost wanted to step between the two men to protect my father. Not that it would do me any good. He was much taller than I was. I could stand sandwiched between them and they would still be eye to eye.

I glanced up at Jos. "What do you think?" I whispered.

"If you don't want to talk to him, you don't have to. He can't force you, Miko. He might have been able to do that back in Japan, but this isn't Japan. It's Montana. We could get away with shooting his ass."

As much as I was amused by that thought, I didn't think it would solve my problem. "I don't think he'll go away until we listen to what he has to say."

Jos sighed heavily. "If that's what you want."

"What I want is your promise not to leave me alone with him or his men." I didn't trust a damn one of them.

"You have it."

"Thank you."

"Doitashimashite," Jos replied, much to my surprise. He chuckled when my eyebrows went up. "I've been listening and learning."

That was kind of cool.

I turned back to my uncle. "I'll give you ten minutes, but then I want you gone, and I don't want you to come back."

If I never saw the man again, I'd be happy.

"I'm going to go ask Mrs. Gibbons to make some tea and coffee. Can you escort First Uncle to the living room? I don't think we need to use my father's study."

Not only was the room smaller than the living room, but it was my father's sanctuary. I didn't want First Uncle tainting it with his presence.

"If that's what you want," Jos replied.

I saw him turn towards Wade as I darted inside the house. I hope he was giving out orders for people to keep an eye on the two cars and everyone that had come in them. I didn't trust First Uncle one damn bit.

"Mrs. Gibbons," I said when I walked into the kitchen. "We have guests. Can you make some tea and coffee for everyone?"

"Of course," she replied as she turned to me. "What kind of tea would you like?"

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