One that I’ve grown up with and have known most of my life.
Still, I don’t trust him.
“I didn’t know it was you. I heard shots. I was trying to get to safety.”
He looks appeased, but I don’t miss the flicker of suspicion.
“You weren’t out here looking for Haruaki? You’re not running off with the enemy? I’ve heard about the dates you’ve been on with him. Your father has had guards watching you from afar,” he asks with disdain.
My throat burns as I push the next lies from my lips. “I went out with him because I was told to. I have no feelings for any of the men I’ve been forced to date.”
He chuckles. “I always told your father he should’ve given you to me. I would have protected you, but he was determined to marry you off for his own personal gain. That will be taken care of tonight. Then your virgin cunt will be mine.”
His arm tightens on my arm.
Fuck. He must be one of the ones attacking the house.
Taking a deep breath, I pull my knee up until it connects with his groin. He groans but loosens enough for me to tear myself from his grip and run toward the river.
He’s not down long. I don’t know if I missed him or didn’t hit hard enough, but he’s hot on my trail.
Before I can make it halfway across, I hear him behind me.
Then there’s a pop. I glance over my shoulder, expecting to see his gun aimed at me. Expecting the burst of pain as the bullet tears through my skin.
Instead, I see him fall back onto the bank. Then I’m grabbed and pulled through the water.
Glancing forward, I see Kenji pulling me across and up the bank.
“Kenji,” I breathe out as soon as we reach the other side.
“We need to go. Are you okay? I couldn’t shoot until you made your move.”
“I’m good. What about Kai?”
“Kai will be fine. My sole mission is to protect you. Let’s go.”
“I can’t leave him, Kenji. He needs our help,” I say filled with panic.
He shakes his head. “If we go back now, you will distract him. He will be too focused on you to fight the way he needs to. Trust him. Let’s go.”
This time, he doesn’t wait for me to move with him. He picks me up in a fireman's hold before taking off at a jog.
Glancing toward the river, I see Robby moving.
“He’s not dead,” I whisper to Kenji.
“I’m well aware. Fucker had a bulletproof vest on. I’d have loved to end him, but your safety is more important.”
I don’t speak again, letting him lead me to a road where a car waits. Kai’s bike sits beside it.
Then Kenji loads me into the car, taking off into the dark.
It’s not until he pulls up to a house, I realize I was zoned out. My mind was still in those woods with Kai.
Please let him be okay.
Getting the call from Kenji that Cleo’s home was under attack flipped a switch in me.
