Page 16 of Shifting Gears

I glanced down at it. His number. I glanced up at him as he slid his hand under my chin and gripped it gently. His lips covered mine once more. I kissed him back, wrapping my fingers in his hair one final time, my body heating up from the passion I felt for this man. Then I pushed myself back. I had to leave.

“Thank you. Try not to fight any more yakuza in the future, all right?” I turned and twisted the knob, opening the door.

“No promises,” he replied with a smirk.

“Sayonara,” I said as I stepped out and closed the door behind me. Leaving behind the first person to make me feel something besides fear or duty in my life.

I walked down the stairs. The shop was no longer full of only cars. There were a few men in the bays across the way. They seemed surprised when they saw me walk down the stairs, and I rushed to leave the building before they had a chance to geta good look at me; Kaito could have connections in a place like this.

I made my way off the docks and back up to the bus stop we’d gotten off at the night before, but I was disappointed to see I’d recently missed the stop and another wouldn’t be arriving for over an hour. I knew I could call my sister, and she would come, same as if I asked for Kaito to send a car. But I didn’t want either of them to wonder why I was in an area like this.

I called a cab and had it drive me to my family estate in the city before I opened my phone and sent a text to him.

Raven

I’m sorry I haven’t responded. My phone died, and I fell asleep. I need you to send a car to pick me up from my family’s home.

His response was almost immediate.

Kaito

We have much to discuss. A car will be there within the hour. Be ready to leave immediately.

I swallowed, my mouth feeling dry. I knew he would be furious, but what he would do as punishment would remain to be seen until I was at his home.

I quickly walked up the steps into the grounds of my family home. It was one of the few traditional-met-modern estates in this particular area. We had modernized the home to a good extent, but the training facility remained the two-hundred-year-old dojo that it always was.

I made my way into the house and was greeted by the surprised faces of my two sisters, who were sitting down for breakfast. I met Sydney’s stare first.

Sydney was the middle child, and once I was married to Kaito, she would be in charge of the estate and the rest of our youngest sister’s upbringing.

“Raven? What are you doing here?” Sydney asked as our youngest sister, Regan, jumped up from the table and ran over to me, throwing her hands around my waist and giving me a tight hug.

“I missed you!” she said joyfully.

I laughed as I hugged her back, and we walked over to the table.

“I had some business in the city, and it ran late, but I’ll be leaving soon. I need to take a warm shower first, but I couldn’t pass up saying hello to you both.”

“Aww, do you really have to go?” Regan asked as she sat back down at the table.

“Yes. I shouldn’t have come here in the first place. Make sure you help Sydney with the chores and don’t get into any trouble.”

Not that Regan had ever gotten into trouble in her life, but lately, my absence had been making her and Sydney argue more and more. I couldn’t help but feel guilty about it. She wasn’t in on the full extent of my agreement with Kaito.

I went to my room and showered, using my strongest-scented soap to remove any lingering smells of the man I had spent the night with. Then I changed into something more reserved than I had worn last night before making my way back down. I said a quick goodbye to my sisters, then waited at the gate.

I saw the car roll down the road. When it came to a stop, Royce—the bigger man that AJ had beaten down last night—stepped out of the passenger door. He looked worse for wear, sporting a black eye and a bandage over his nose.

“You got some other guy who’s gonna jump me today, or are you going to behave?” His tone was firm.

I shook my head. “No. I’m ready,” I said.

He opened the back passenger door, and I slid inside. The car ride was filled with silence, which only added to my anxiety that was bubbling inside as we got closer to the Yamazaki estate.

We paused at the back gates, and the driver rolled his window down to look at the camera. The gates opened, and he continued to drive inside.

Please don’t be furious with me. It’s not my fault your men got so rough that a stranger decided to play hero.

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