Page 81 of Emperor of Lust

“Bold move, making threats against people who are literally twice your size,” I chuckle.

“Oh, I wouldn’t fight you,” she says airily. “I’d just hack your bank account, steal your identity, fuck your credit, maybe set you up for a couple of felonies. You know, depending on my mood.”

I roll my eyes, grinning. “Miss you, Frey.”

“You too, dickhead. For real, though. You fuck with Hana, it’s going to end badly for you.”

I smile. “Heard loud and clear.”

I’m still smiling when I hang up. But my grin fades when I turn to glare up at the hospital.

The threats are starting to pile up. Pretty soon, something’s going to have to give.

23

HANA

Takeshi grinsat me as I step out of the hotel lobby. He’s leaning against a neon green Kawasaki racing bike, a hot pink one parked behind it. Kai looks unnerved as he swings his leg off the second bike and yanks off his helmet.

I giggle as I walk over. “You okay?”

Kai shoots Tak a look before glaring at me. “Your brother rides like he has a death wish.”

“Aww, c’mon, Kai,” Takeshi chuckles. “Not my fault you ride like a granny.”

Kai grunts, sticking a cigarette between his lips and lighting it.

I arch a brow. “You know, I feel like you’ve been smoking less lately.”

“It’s his new lady friend,” Tak smirks. “She’s being a good influence.”

Kai’s expression turns dark as he whips around to shoot a withering look at my brother.

I laugh as I pat his arm. “It’s cute how bashful you get. But Kai, you’re not exactly good at hiding it.”

“No shit,” Tak smirks. “Just introduce us to her already, dude. I feel like I’ve met her already, with all those fucking hickeys she keeps leaving on your damn neck.”

Kai’s face turns even darker as he puffs on his cigarette.

“Just teasing, big guy,” I grin as I give him a sideways hug and lean my head affectionately on his arm. “And hey—if you have the optionnotto involve your girlfriend in this insane family, I’d take it.”

“Noted,” he grunts.

My brother glances at me. “Ready to ride?”

“Definitely.”

A still-blushing Kai hands me the helmet he was wearing. Just then, I hear my name called behind me.

I turn, spotting Miyamoto in the back of a sleek black SUV parked at the curb. He gives me a smile through the open window, beckoning for me to come closer. I glance at Takeshi and Kai before I walk over.

“Would you mind joining me for a moment?” Miyamoto asks, his tone friendly but carrying a subtle weight.

I nod. He opens the door and slides over, giving me room to get in. The plush leather interior is warm, comfortable, and smells faintly of cigar smoke and very expensive scotch.

The door closes with a solid but quiet thud, and suddenly, we’re cocooned in the dim glow of the SUV’s soft lighting, separated from the bustling city just outside the tinted windows.

Miyamoto leans back, looking at me and folding his hands, the warmth in his eyes mixed with something calculating. “I wanted to talk to you about a potential investment,” he begins, his gaze flicking from my face to the city lights flashing past outside. “I’ve identified a building for sale in a prime location. It would be ideal for Mori Holdings’ Tokyo headquarters. Later, it could also serve…additional purposes for the Mori-kai.”

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