Page 73 of Whiskey's Redemption

Raising the gun, he swings it toward me. “Be careful what you ask for,Niece. You may not like the results.”

“True. I don’t like abuse on puppies, children, or picnics without coleslaw, but I’ll repeat, I didn’t ask for this.”

With another ring of the doorbell, I’m hoping to fuck it’s not one of the Crown’s. The staff he’ll ignore, acting like this is just a family meeting, but one of the Crown’s, he’ll use them as hostage and bait against what he intends to inflict.

When no one rises to get the door, I look at the statuesque pair of bodyguards slash muscle. “Are you going to get that, or should I?” I ask.

Looking at my uncle, then each other with vacant stares, I rise off the bed and walk over to the sentry. Looking through the peephole, it’s not staff with my breakfast.

“I’m a little tied up right now. Can we talk later?” I ask through the door.

“Look, I was an ass last night. A total fucking dick, and I need to explain it to you. Just let me in, Katana.”

“I’m sorry. No speaka Spanish.”

“Carli, open the door. I promise I’ll sit on my side of the room…you know, where you tossed my clothes? And you can sit on yours.”

Boy, does he have that wrong right now. “Yeah, right now is not a good time. Come back with your Girl Scout cookies—”

“Don’t be rude,” my uncle says. Turning to look at him, I see mirth, devious planning, and further damage in his gaze. “Open the door, Kaori. Let the man apologize.”

“That’s a hard pass. I’d rather not add to your body count, Jiji.”

Lifting the gun, flicking it toward my sisters, he shoots Kano. Hitting her in the leg, she screams out. Turning to her, Miori moves to help, but my uncle waves the gun. Looking at my little sister in pain, I want to rush to her side, but my uncle stops me. “Don’t move. Neither of you. Kano will be fine. It’s a flesh wound.” He looks back at me with sinister determination. “Now, Kaori I believe your guest shouldn’t be left waiting.”

The sounds of Jamieson pounding on the door, shouting questions is unmistakable. On one hand, I’m glad the doors are thick or he’d have had it open and been shot in the process. On the other, I’m saddened that I’m dealing with this alone and he couldn’t be a hero. I always wanted a hero.

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