Page 75 of Emperor of Havoc

That terrifies me even more.

21

TAKESHI

Hana’s laughterfollows me as I stalk into the private lounge.

I have no idea what the fuck this room was supposed to be before we bought the Tokyo mansion. But it looks exactly like a VIP room in some gaudy club.

It's all sleek leather and steel, with floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook Tokyo’s glimmering skyline. It’s a room designed to make anyone sitting in it feel powerful, but right now, it feels stifling. Too bright and exposed.

Hana, of course, is unfazed. She’s sprawled across one of the couches, barefoot and smug, her long blonde hair tumbling over her shoulders as she takes another sip of tea.

“So,” she begins, her tone girlish and teasing. “How’s the happy couple?”

My glare only makes her smirk widen. “Don’t start.”

“Start what? I’m just making conversation.” She sits up, her eyes gleaming with mischief. “But since you’re being so grouchy,I’m going to guess things with your little princess are…complicated?”

“Hana…” I warn darkly.

She holds up her hands in mock surrender. “Fine, fine. No more teasing. But seriously, Takeshi, you’ve got…a look.”

“Alook?” I echo, folding my arms across my chest.

“Yeah, like you’re...I don’t know…smitten or something.”

I straighten, my body going rigid as I fix her with a frigid stare. “I am not, never have been, nor will Ieverbesmittenwith anything.”

She starts to open her mouth, but I stop her with a raised finger.

“All right, maybe a Kawasaki H2R.” I whistle low. “Yeah, I’ddefinitelybe smitten with one of those sexy motherfuckers.”

Hana rolls her eyes. “So what are we calling it, then? Obsession? Lust? Or is it something deeper?”

“We still talking about the Kawasaki?”

“Ass. You know who I’m talking about.”

I don’t answer. It's all the confirmation she needs. She leans back, crossing her legs and studying me like I’m a puzzle she’s determined to solve.

“You’re quiet,” she observes. “That’s not like you.”

“But the cavalier, emotionally walled-off charm interwoven with sarcasm ispainfullyon-brand,” I throw back. “So, we can go ahead and drop it.”

She doesn’t. Hana never drops anything. She’s relentless, a trait we share, although she wields it with much more finesse. “Why her?” she asks softly, the teasing edge in her voice gone.

I grit my teeth, my mind racing with a thousand answers, none of which I’m willing to say out loud. The truth is, I don’tknowwhy. Not in a way that makes sense, not really.

I turn back to her, my expression carefully neutral. “It’s not about her. It’s about strategy.”

“You keep saying that, and it sounds lamer and lamer every time. Why aren't you telling me the truth?”

“Believe what you like,” I say sharply. “This is about our family and empire, and securing our position in Tokyo. Nothing more.”

“Yeah, there it is,” she sighs, shaking her head. “Somehow, it managed to soundeven lamerthat last time.”

I hate that she’s right. Because as much as I want to believe this is merely about strategy…about power and revenge and everything else that drives me…there’s a dark, twisted part of me that knows it’s more than that. Katarina isn’t just a chess piece. She’s a storm that’s threatening to overturn the entire goddamn board.

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