Page 84 of Emperor of Havoc

He picks up the blister pack, turning it over lazily as if it’s nothing. “Looks like birth control pills, maybe?”

“Don’t play dumb,” I motion. “You tampered with them.”

He sits up slowly, his smirk never fading. “Yes. I did.”

The admission is so casual and brazen that I almost can’t believe it. My hands tremble as I sign furiously. “What the fuck was your plan? Knock me up and take over via an heir? What is this, ancient Rome?!”

He laughs, the sound dark and low, and it grates on my already frayed nerves. “You’re overreacting.”

“Overreacting.” My movements are sharp enough to cut. “You’re insane.”

“Andyou’rescared,” he counters, suddenly serious. “Scared of what it means to have someone like me in your life. You’re as scared of motherhood, it would appear, as you are of trusting me.”

The accusation hits too close to home: I falter for a moment before recovering. “And I wonder what the common thread there is,” I throw at him bitterly.

His expression hardens. For a moment, neither of us speaks.

“You think I’m plotting against you?” he finally mutters, low and dangerous.

“Aren’t you?” I challenge. “You’re always scheming, always manipulating. Why should this be any different?”

He stands abruptly, the pack of pills still in his hand as he strides to me, looming.

“I’m not your enemy,” he says, his voice a rough whisper. “You just can’t see that yet.”

I laugh bitterly. “Sure have a funny way of showing it.”

His hand reaches out, cupping my jaw roughly but not painfully. “You don’t trust me? Fine—but don’t think for a second that I’ll let you push me away.”

I slap at his hand, my chest heaving with the effort to contain my rage. “Get out,” I sign, my movements slow and deliberate. “Now.”

His eyes hold mine, dark and unyielding. For a moment, I think he’ll argue and push back. But then he steps away, tossing the pack of pills onto the bed.

“This isn’t over,” he murmurs before turning and walking out of the room.

The door clicks shut behind him, leaving me with just the sound of my ragged breathing and the memory of his words. My hands tremble as I pick up the package of pills, staring at it like it's a bomb before I suddenly drop it to the floor.

He’s right. This isn’t over.

And that scares the hell out me.

25

TAKESHI

Katarinathinksshe has me figured out—knows every move I’ll make before I make it, every angle I’ll try.

That’s the problem with someone who’s used to being the smartest person in the room—even though, in her case, Katarina usually trulyis. The smartest, I mean.

That kind of person always thinks they’ve accounted for everything. But they never account forme.

I sit in the darkened corner of the study I’ve claimed as mine since moving into the Ishida compound, idly spinning a glass of whiskey. The amber liquid catches the faint light, swirling like smoke against the cut crystal. My thoughts are less elegant.

I exhale slowly through my lips and turn to glance at my newfound ally here in the Ishida house. Currently, that new ally is happily ignoring me while he devours yet another obscenely expensive cut of Matsusaka wagyu steak.

Why, yes, Ihavebeen buying Katarina’s questionable choice in pet’s love with billionaire-level luxury meat. Not to be an asshole or to try and steal away something she loves.

…Because it’s a fuckingtiger, and yes, I’d like it to think of me as aproviderof yummy food when it looks at me, not a fucking source of it.

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