Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 104141 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 521(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 347(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104141 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 521(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 347(@300wpm)
I yearned for her to feel held before I needed her to bleed.
A breeze moved through the trees behind me. I could hear the soft hush of leaves. Somewhere down the path, a bird called once and went quiet.
The sky kept bleeding.
I lifted my eyes to the east.
The moon was not there yet. However, the blue was deepening and there were now faint pinpricks of stars beginning to assert themselves through the dying gold.
Soon.
The wheels of a cart sounded on the gravel path behind me.
I glanced over my shoulder.
The cart stopped at the edge of the clearing. Reo sat in the front next to the driver. Hiro sat in back.
And now for the other thing. Time to get this DNA test finalized.
I headed that way.
My men followed and began to get in their own carts—one in front and another in the back.
A minute later, I climbed in and sat next to my brother.
Hiro stared at the pit. Then, he looked back at me and confusion twisted on his face. “There’s a hole in the ground next to a romantic table.”
“Really? I hadn’t noticed that.”
Reo snickered in front of us.
“Then, there are robes and flowers.” Hiro shook his head. “What is that about?”
Our cart moved forward.
Hiro continued to watch me. “I just don't get what your kink is.”
The driver took us away from the pit and to the east of the island where the clinic resided.
"Last time, you were sleeping on a table, bound to her with all these tools." He pointed behind us. "And now you're going to wine and dine her and then have sex with her in the dirt?"
I looked forward. “Reo, how are the preparations for tomorrow?”
“On track.” Reo pulled out his notebook. "Two hundred masks are complete. The Scales' set is finished and packed. The Fangs' set has been delivered to their quarters. The Claws picked theirs up an hour ago and fussed about their design."
Hiro rolled his eyes. “We didn’t fuss. We just have standards.”
"The three of us have unique masks." Reo tapped a line in the notebook. "They’re in the war room."
“Back to this evening. . .” Hiro scowled at me. “Do not dirty our Tiger.”
The corner of my mouth twitched. "Weapons."
"Complete." Reo turned a page. "Every Scale assigned to the kitchen unit has been issued suppressed sidearms, backup magazines, and blades poisoned by Rin.”
I nodded. “Interesting.”
“The garden unit has the same, with additional smoke. Stair unit has heavier weaponry—rifles, breaching tools, extra mags. The Claws and Fangs have their own selections." Reo flipped the page. “I assumed you wanted to bring Totoro with you.”
I thought of my prized flame torch and smiled. “I did.”
“It was cleaned and filled.”
Hiro raised an eyebrow. "And have you considered the infections that dirt could cause in our Tiger’s. . .special place?"
I turned to him. “Don’t think about her special place.”
“Someone has to as you recklessly put her through crazy things.”
Ignoring my brother, Reo continued. "The Fangs are set. Yoichi insisted on personally inspecting every magazine for the entire Fang unit. He did so this afternoon. It took him four hours. Daisuke re-checked."
"Of course he did," I murmured.
"The smoke canisters arrived. Heavy industrial grade, as requested. Two hundred units. Distributed by team."
I nodded.
We rolled around a curve. The path opened briefly through the trees and I caught a flash of the sea on my right. It was dark now with the gold mostly drained, and the first deep blue of true evening settling on the water.
Soon. . .very soon.
Reo turned another page. "The hackers are in position. Three of them are already in a safehouse in Tokyo, two streets from the hotel. The other four arrive tonight. The team lead confirmed that internal communications will be jammed within ninety seconds of our entry signal. Camera feeds will be cut at the same moment."
"Good."
"The kitchen disguises have been finalized. Six Scales will enter as a delivery crew at the loading bay tomorrow at three p.m. They have papers and a truck with a catering logo."
I let my head rest back against the seat. It was a good report. In another life, I would have been able to enjoy it.
In this life, I felt only the slow ticking countdown to a bloody battle.
Reo’s phone buzzed. He checked it and then put the device back up. “Oh. I almost forgot. Your Tiger has handed off her slave to her friend who is now on the plane and taking him to New York.”
I grinned.
Good job, Tora.
“I’m just saying there are other ways to be adventurous with our Tiger.” Hiro shook his head. “For example, adding a man to the bed. Now I don’t know who would volunteer. It would need to be someone you truly trust. One who understands the rules.”
“Hmm.” I showed him all the skepticism rising on my face. “And I wonder if you have a recommendation for this trusted man.”