Page 48 of Her Fearless Ronin

“I wanted to show you a glimpse of what your future could be like,” Hoka whispered, leaning toward me with a smirk that made my blood boil with want.

I sighed, frustration tugging at my composure. “Why are you even here, and why with the kid?” I directed my words at Hoka, though my gaze remained locked on Hope and Yuko.

“Violet wanted to come to Seattle with me, and she’s getting a well-deserved spa break. Besides, it is my child, too,” Hoka replied, a hint of defensiveness lacing his words. “We were two to make him, Jiro. Sharing the responsibilities equally is only fair.”

I snorted, unable to fully conceal my skepticism. “Is that you talking or Violet? Because it sounds an awful lot like your wife.”

Hoka’s glare was swift and potent. “It doesn’t make it any less true.”

Shaking my head, I pushed my irritation aside. “You’re wasting our time here. Valdez hasn’t even reached out to me yet.”

“No, but he calledme.”

My eyes narrowed; Valdez was a crafty bastard. “And what did he say?” I asked through gritted teeth.

Hoka shrugged,taking a sip of his coffee. “You know, the usual. He painted it as a friendly reminder of our shared past, and then he proceeded topolitelyask that you stay away from business that supposedly has nothing to do with the yakuza.” He sighed. “I told him that was not possible because you had a…vestedinterest in what could turn into collateral damage,” he added, letting his eyes linger on Hope.

Hope’s inquisitive glance in our direction didn’t go unnoticed, and my frustration deepened.

“What else?”

Hoka looked directly at her, his expression unwavering. “He agreed to meet us on Saturday in a mutually agreeable location. He’ll give me the details tomorrow.” He turned toward Hope, “And you don’t mind spending the day with my wife at the Four Seasons, do you? Violet can’t wait to meet you.”

Hope stopped bouncing Yuko and glanced at me with a questioning look. She was sharp, my woman. She knew that Hoka’s offer wasn’t just about hospitality—it was his way of ensuring her safety. I felt a spark of pride—she was seeking my approval before accepting Hoka’s proposal.

I gave her a nod with a smile, feeling like a winner. She was seeking me out for reassurance, and that meant the world to me.

“How could I say no?” She started to bounce Yuko again. “It’s very kind of you.”

Our conversation continued for a few more minutes, covering trivial topics such as the hotel they were staying at and their plans for the next day, yet I knew that morepressing discussions awaited us.

Once Hoka was done with his coffee, he turned to Hope. “Hope, why don’t you let my driver take you home? Jiro and I will take a walk. I want to show the pier to Yuko.”

Hope pressed a kiss to Yuko’s chubby cheek before handing him back to Hoka. “There’s no need. I can take the bus.”

Hoka’s smile persisted. “No, please humor me. The driver is paid whether we use him or not.”

She nodded and waited until Hoka secured Yuko on his chest once again. She seemed calm, but I knew her tells—the slight worry of her bottom lip and the rhythmic tapping of her foot.

I walked up to her side and lightly brushed my fingers on the back of her arm. “Everything will be fine,” I assured her.

She nodded silently, and we walked out. The driver waiting by the car took a couple of steps toward us.

“Please, could you drive Miss Myers wherever she needs to go and come back to meet us at the end of the pier?”

The driver nodded and opened the back door, inviting Hope in.

As she walked toward the car, I couldn’t help myself. Against all rational thought and my own best advice, I stepped forward, my heart pounding. Just as she was about to get into the car, I gently placed my hand on her arm, turning her to face me.

Her eyes widened in surprise, and before she could say anything, I leaned in and kissed her. It was soft and brief, yet it held all theintensity of my feelings for her. When I pulled away, her lips were slightly parted, and her cheeks were flushed. I saw all her emotions shining in her beautiful eyes—surprise, longing, and maybe a touch of apprehension.

“Be safe,” I whispered.

She nodded, her voice caught in her throat. “You too, please.”

I released her arm, allowing her to get into the car, and as it pulled away, I turned to find Hoka standing beside me, his expression thoughtful.

“I like her,” Hoka said, his gaze fixed on the disappearing car. “She’s strong, good. She reminds me a lot of Violet.”

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