Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 78192 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78192 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
“In which direction did they go?”
“Toward Brooklyn.”
Suddenly, the front door opens, and the instant I see Yuki, the air explodes from me. I drop my phone and shoot forward.
“I can explain,” she says right before I grab hold of her, squashing her to my chest.
Just as her soft scent hits my nostrils, my eyes lock on the man coming in behind her.
In one fluent move, I shove my wife behind and pull my gun from the holster.
“Nooooo!” Yuki screams, darting in front of me. I’m stunned out of my fucking mind when she takes hold of my wrists, pushing my arm down. “He’s my brother. Ryo. He thought I needed saving and came to get me.”
It takes a moment for her words to get through the rage that’s still tearing me apart inside.
“He’s my brother,” she repeats. “You can’t kill each other. Please!”
My fingers flex around the gun’s handle as my eyes snap to Ryo Tanaka. “You took my fucking wife and dare to show your face?”
“My sister,” he growls, taking a step closer to Yuki.
“NoNoNoNo,” Yuki presses her hand to my chest while holding her other up toward Ryo. “Please. Calm down so we can talk. Don’t get violent.”
“Augusto,” Dad says from behind me as he takes my gun from me.
That’s fine, I can kill the fucker with my bare hands.
Yuki
The last time I saw the brutal look on Augusto’s face was when he killed Masaki and Kentaro and had me in the hangar.
I give Mr. Vitale a thankful look for taking Augusto’s gun, and when I look into my husband’s dark eyes, shivers rush down my spine.
“You can’t hurt each other without hurting me. You both want what’s best for me. Please, let’s talk,” I beg, standing between the two men I love most in the world.
Finally, my words seem to get through to Augusto, and when his eyes lower to my face, I see the hell he’s been put through, thinking I’ve been kidnapped.
He grabs hold of my arm and yanks me back against his chest, his arms forming steel bands of safety around me. The armored vest he’s wearing feels hard, and I wish I could feel his body’s warmth.
“Christ.” His breaths turn ragged, and his body shudders. “You’re back.” He pulls a few inches away and frames my face, his eyes burning over every inch of me. “I have you back.” Then I’m hauled back into a tight hug.
I brush my hand over his hair, giving him time to calm down. “I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.”
“Mine,” he growls, his tone unforgiving and possessive.
When I look up, his eyes are fixed on Ryo with cold, lethal focus. I glance over my shoulder, and seeing the fury carving sharp lines into my brother’s features sends my mind racing for a way to defuse the volatile situation.
Ryo steps closer, and it has Augusto’s arm tightening even more around me.
“You almost killed my sister and forced her to marry you,” Ryo says, his tone deceptively calm.
“Stop!” I snap, turning in Augusto’s arms so I can face my brother. “I told you I was disguised as a man.”
Ignoring me, Ryo keeps his eyes locked with Augusto’s. “Yuki’s told me you’ve been good to her, but I want to hear from you why I should leave my sister with you.”
“Because you don’t have a fucking choice,” Augusto growls, his voice carrying so much danger that the tiny hairs on the back of my neck rise.
Suddenly, they both move at the same time. Augusto pushes me behind him in a protective move, and lunging forward, his fist slams into Ryo’s jaw.
I let out a shriek as Augusto and Ryo go into full-blown fighting mode, and desperate to make them stop, I dart forward.
“Yuki!” I hear Mr. Vitale shout, and as he grabs hold of my arm, Ryo’s fist slams into the side of my head while Augusto’s elbow connects with my throat.
I’m lifted from my feet and swung away from danger, while Mr. Vitale snaps, “That’s enough! You’re hurting Yuki with this pissing contest.”
I press my fingers to my temple, where a throbbing starts, while gagging from the blow to my throat.
When both men rush toward me, Mr. Vitale barks, “Look what you’ve done!”
My father-in-law ushers me into the kitchen, and grabbing a pack of frozen corn from the freezer, he gently holds it to the side of my head and leans down to look into my eyes.
“Are you okay?”
I nod, and glancing at Augusto and Ryo, it upsets the crap out of me when I see the bruises on their faces.
I shake my head, my breaths bursting over my lips. “Yesterday, I got to go on my first date, and I had an amazing night.” I gasp to get air into my lungs. “And today my brother returns after eleven long years. This is supposed to be the happiest time of my life, and all you two want to do is fight.” When it looks like Augusto is going to say something, I silence him with a glare. “My whole life, I’ve had to do what others want. Today, that changes. You will make peace because it’s what I want. I don’t care how. Suck it up and deal with your anger.”