Page 40 of Her Fearless Ronin

“Here’s my number,” I stated mockingly, pushing the paper slightly closer to him. “Give it to a grown-up with actual power so I can tell them what I need to. Maybe then, someone who can actually make decisions will get in touch.”

The tense silence hung in the air, his eyes locked onto the paper, a mixture of anger and uncertainty dancing in his gaze. I didn’t wait for his response; instead, I stood up smoothly, leaving him with my parting shot, and turned to walk away.

Once I was back on the other side of the road, Oda’s expectant gaze met mine, waiting for an explanation. “Jiro, what was that all about? Are you sure this was a wise move?”

I couldn’t help but grin as I looked at the door of the bar. “Oda, sometimes a bruised ego is the best motivator. Pedro won’t be able to resist. Mocking him and his gang, daring him to have Valdez ‘call the actual adult,’ that’s the best way to goad him into action.”

“What now?” Oda asked as we walked away from the bar and toward the waterfront where my bike was parked.

I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the situationsettling on my shoulders. “Now I need to call Hoka,” I replied, my jaw tensing. It was frustrating. Pedro’s taunts had struck a nerve. He was right in one sense; I wasn’t the yakuza I once was, the untouchable figure I used to be. I had lost the legitimacy my position had given me.

I could feel the simmering frustration within me, filled with anger and regret. I hated how much I needed Hoka’s protection now, how circumstances had changed my role from the fierce protector to the one needing protection. It was a bitter pill to swallow.

Oda appeared uneasy, his discomfort palpable. “We may need to wait a few days. Hoka is currently traveling to Japan with Sandro.”

My steps faltered, and I halted in the middle of the sidewalk. “Why would Alessandro be going to Japan?” I inquired, my voice sounding confused and suspicious.

Oda shrugged nonchalantly, but his eyes betrayed a flicker of unease. Hoka hadn’t mentioned anything about this when we spoke less than three days ago. This lack of trust nestled within me grew stronger, more insistent.

You’re no longer part of the clan, Jiro. Yakuza business is none of your concern, the insidious voice whispered in my mind, urging me to let it go.

I shook my head—it didn’t matter what Hoka and Alessandro were doing in Japan—all that mattered was that I ensured Hope’s safety even once I was gone.

Chapter 13

Hope

Istood in front of my closet, my heart pounding with excitement and nerves. My hands fumbled through the hangers, pulling out one dress after another and holding them up to the mirror. Each time, I studied my reflection, assessing how each dress made me look. How itmade me feel.

“Hope dear, you look stunning in everything,” my elderly neighbor, Mrs. Jenkins, gushed from the chair near my bed. She had insisted on joining me for my pre-date dress decision, her eyes lighting up with delight each time I twirled in front of her.

I smiled at her, grateful for her presence and her unwavering support. “Thank you, Mrs. Jenkins. I just want to make sure I look nice tonight.”

She chuckled, her gray hair bouncing slightly as she nodded. “Oh, my dear, you’ll look more than nice. You’ll look radiant.”

After trying on what felt like half my wardrobe, I finally settled on a beautiful white-and-lavender dress that clung to my curves in all the right places. It made me feel confident and feminine. I also knew how Jiro’s eyes darkened when he could see my form, and I wanted more of that.

As I admired myself in the mirror, Mrs. Jenkins got up from her chair and approached me with a small smile. “It’s good to see you so excited, sweet girl. You deserve to be happy after all…” Her voice trailed off, her face taking the faint hint of pity most people had when they knew my history of the past few years.

I fought back the sting of tears, giving her a grateful smile and a small nod. This wasn’t the moment to let memories of pain cloud the excitement of what might be my first genuine adult date.

Mrs. Jenkins sighed softly, her hand finding its way to my shoulder in a reassuring squeeze. “You go have fun, dear! I’ll be here with your mama, and if you don’t comehome… Well, that’s okay, too.” Her wink held a touch of conspiratorial humor.

I couldn’t help but chuckle, though my cheeks flushed at the idea of spending another night with Jiro. That man had awakened desires in me that I hadn’t known existed, igniting passion and a hunger that I had never imagined.

I cleared my throat, quickly shaking my head to dispel the lingering sensual thoughts that had no place in my mind right now. “Thank you, Mrs. Jenkins. Your support means the world to me.”

Mrs. Jenkins patted my cheek with a grandmotherly tenderness. “Now, you go out there and knock him off his feet, dear. You deserve all the happiness in the world.”

Just as her words settled into my heart, the buzzer signaling Jiro’s arrival rang through the apartment. My excitement surged, and I hurried out of the room, passing through the living area. I cast a quick glance at my mother, seated in her usual chair with a knitted blanket on her lap. Her vacant gaze was fixed on the TV, her world confined to her own realm of thoughts.

I hesitated for a moment, my heart aching to have a real conversation with her, but Mrs. Jenkins’s comforting words echoed in my mind.You go, sweetheart. Go and be the young woman you deserve to be.

With a soft sigh, I made my way to the buzzer panel and pressed the button, connecting with Jiro’s waiting form downstairs. “I’ll be right down,” I informed him, then swiftly slipped into my comfortable Converse sneakers before rushing out of the apartment.

As I descended the steps, each heartbeat seemed toincrease my excitement. I swung open the door, and there he was, my dark hero.

The sight of him dressed all in black, looking dangerously handsome, made my heart skip a beat. His presence exuded a sense of power and confidence that was both intimidating and incredibly attractive.

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