Page 43 of Spider Demon's Kiss

“I, ahh, should go,” Lorenzo volunteered.

“No, please, stay. Pretend I’m not here.”

Lorenzo looked at me for what to do. I wasn’t sure. He was my husband but he was also Sato’s son. At the same time, I didn’t get the sense that Sato gave him much of a reason for loyalty. Still, fathers have a way of getting into your head.

“Let’s just pretend he’s not there. I’m sure he’ll sit there quietly,” I said looking at him.

“Like a mouse,” Kuroi said pleased.

Lorenzo looked at me questioning if I was sure.

“Anyway, as I was saying. We can’t jump to any conclusions about who is trying to kill me,” I said for Kuroi’s benefit.

“Someone’s trying to kill you?” Kuroi said suddenly sitting up. “Who?”

Lorenzo looked at me and laughed.

“We’re trying to eliminate the suspects,” I explained.

“Who’s on the list?”

Lorenzo jumped in. “Well, the first person on the list is you.”

“Doesn’t make sense. If I wanted to kill him, he would be dead by now. Who else?”

Lorenzo looked at me questioningly. I took over.

“Sato is another.”

“Possible. But the most likely person he would send to do it would be me and again, you’re not already dead. Next.”

“How do we know you’re not playing the long game?” Lorenzo questioned.

“Dante, Honey,” he said playfully, “have you not told him how impatient I am?”

“No, Honey, I haven’t mentioned anything about you because I keep my business and private life separate,” I said through my clenched jaw.

“Oh, that’s how you treat hookups. I’m your husband til death do us part,” he said with a smile that would made me pee my pants if I still thought he was sent to kill me. “So, who else?” he said impatiently.

I looked at Lorenzo for a last minute reason for why I shouldn’t tell him. My brother didn’t provide it.

“One person who might have a reason to get rid of me is…” I took a breath before admitting it, “our father.”

Kuroi thought about it. “I could see that.”

“You can? Why?” I asked surprised.

“You’re younger, you’re stronger, you’re smarter. You’re a threat.”

“A threat to what? I’m running the family business. His pack.”

“Exactly. His pack and you’re running it. That could make a person feel a certain way.”

“A way to make a wolf put a hit out on his son instead of fighting him for it?” I asked both offended and shocked.

“You’re younger, stronger, and smarter. If I were him and wanted my pack back, ordering a hit would be how I would do it,” Kuroi volunteered.

“You would have your son killed for taking over the family business?”

---