“I’ve been expecting your call.”
“I want eyes on Igor. I will kill him when I get a chance. I also need you to pull a more extensive file on Callum. I’m not sure I trust him. He seems to have Cleo’s best interest at heart, but I want to know why. Does he plan to try and take her for himself? Is there another reason? I want no stone left unturned,” I say, cutting to the chase.
“Understood.”
“Good. Are you still watching her?”
“I am. It looks like she left her room, but Callum was at her bedroom door. I’ll update you.”
“Good.”
Then I hang up the phone. After several minutes of fidgeting, I curse.
Then I dial another number.
“What is it?” My father’s voice filters through the line.
“Checking in. Anything I need to know?”
My father is a weak leader. I called to make it known I was not disappearing, but I know he doesn’t know what goes on in his own clubs. That’s why he has me and other soldiers. I doubt he has even stepped foot in any of them in years.
“No. Did you break it off with the Irish girl?”
“No.”
“You’re a fucking fool, Haruaki. You’re going to end up dead.”
“Don’t act like you can’t wait,” I say, emotionless.
“It’s only a matter of time, son. I always knew your reckless actions would take you out. Now don’t call again unless you have something of importance to say.”
He hangs up before I can respond. My blood is heated in my veins.
I want to kill him now.
I can’t though.
Instead, I text Akito.
Me: Training in the gym in twenty.
If I can’t kill my father today, I sure as fuck am going to beat the fuck out of somebody.
It’s beenseveral days since my last date. While I want to see Kai, Callum advised me that my next date was to be with Georgio, so I’ve put it off.
It helps that Kai texts me throughout the day and calls me every night.
He tells me anything I want to know. I haven’t broached the subject of his family business, but I think if I asked, he would even tell me about it.
It’s refreshing.
At first, I was shy. I didn’t want to anger him like I anger my father, but the more I talk to him, the more I realize he is nothing like my father.
He’s funny, warm, and caring. He lets me be myself.
When I bitch at him, he laughs. When he says something that upsets me, he apologizes. He’s slowly breaking me out of this shell my father has constructed around me.
“Hey, Cleo?” Callum knocks on my door.
