Page 108 of Emperor of Havoc

Father and son might be rotting in hell, but the Vorobev Bratva still lives.

Tomorrow, that changes. Tomorrow, it all burns to the ground, reduced to ash and rubble like Carthage. Nothing will remain.

Her soft murmur pulls me from my thoughts. I glance down, watching her shift slightly in her sleep, her face press closer to my chest. I exhale away some of the tension in my shoulders.

How did I get here? Holding her like this, considering her safety like it’s the most important thing in the world?

Probably because to meit is, now.

A light rips my attention away for a second, pulling my head to the side table. My phone lights up with Hana’s name. I silence it before turning back to Kat.

I dip my head, brushing my lips against hers. The faint scent of her shampoo lingers, mixed with something uniquely hers that I can’t describe but also can’t get enough of. My hand moves to her hair, stroking it gently.

“I love you,” I whisper, the words slipping out before I can stop them.

For a second, I freeze.

What the fuck, self?

I shake my head, scowling. I’m supposed to be a cold-blooded bastard with a plan. Not some sappy dipshit whispering sweet nothings to a sleeping woman.

And yet—yep, here I go again, leaning down to kiss her temple softly.

I grab my phone and carefully extricate myself from the bed, standing and pulling on loose pants and a t-shirt. The cool air bites at my skin, but I ignore it as I step into the hall.

The living room is dark when I reach it, the city’s neon glow spilling through the tall windows. I walk to them, staring out at Tokyo’s sprawling lights. The skyline glitters, vibrant and alive, so different from the shadows swirling in my mind.

I tap on Hana’s name and lift the phone to my ear, calling her back.

“Hey,” my twin’s voice comes through, light and teasing.

“What do you want?” I ask gruffly.

She snorts a laugh. “Oh my God, you and that charming personality, Tak. Never change.”

I grin. “Been a weird day, sorry.”

“So I heard,” she says quietly, her tone changing. “Kenzo told me. Are you okay? Is Kat?”

I nod, exhaling slowly. “We’re both fine. Ryu took a bullet.”

Her breath hitches sharply. “Is he?—”

“Alive,” I interrupt. “Probably still a pain in the ass and kind of a dick, too.”

Hana exhales. “Hey now. He’s a good man.”

I smirk. My sister has a weird soft spot for that fucker. I say "weird" because he actually shot Damian a few months ago. But maybe she feels bad since Damian shotRyu, too. And his aim was a lot better.

“Yeah, well, I’ll see if the hospital can double up his Jell-O or something.”

She chuckles. “How about you? How’re you doing?”

I exhale slowly, leaning my forehead against the glass. “It’s all gone to shit, Hana.”

There’s a pause, then her voice softens. “What, exactly?”

“I had a plan,” I say heavily. “I was committed to it. I worked on it formonths.”

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