Page 18 of Owned

Her brow lifts. “Mysterious and vague. Great.”

I press a kiss to her lips. “Be back soon.”

Then, before she can argue, I tilt her chin up, kiss her slow and deep, and make damn sure she knows she’s not off the hook.

“I’ll be here in time to pick you up for dinner,” I murmur against her lips. She glares. I chuckle.

Then I walk out, already thinking about how good it’s going to feel sitting next to her at her mother’s table.

Chapter 11

RIKU

By the time I pull up to the estate, our men have already handled the hard part. The fucking thief is on his knees in the middle of the warehouse, arms behind his back, wrists bound, his face already split in places. Good.

I straighten my cuffs, exhaling slowly. The room falls silent. The guys are alert. Waiting. Watching.

The piece of shit lifts his head—one swollen eye, split lip, desperation thick in the air. Fucking pathetic.

I take my time approaching, rolling my sleeves up my elbows, staring down at him like he’s already dead. Because he is. And he knows it.

One of my men steps forward. “He was trying to sell it in Chinatown. We caught him before he got too far.”

I nod, reaching into my pocket. “Where is it?”

The man holding him down produces a small black velvet pouch, placing it in my outstretched hand. I open it, let the jade pendant slide into my palm. I roll it between my fingers.

Then, without warning, I strike. A sharp backhand to themotherfucker’s face, sending him to the concrete floor. He lets out a wet cough, blood spraying from his mouth.

I kneel, grabbing his face, forcing him to look at me. “You stole from us.”

His breath shudders. “It wasn’t—I didn’t know—”

I tighten my grip, digging my fingers into his jaw. “You knew exactly who this belongs to.” I hold up the jade pendant.

His eyes dart around the room, searching for mercy. But there is none.

I let go of his face, stand, and nod to the man behind him. The sound of a blade sliding from its sheath fills the air. The piece of trash starts begging. No one listens.

I walk away as the end is carried out, my grip tightening around the pendant, my mind already on my girl. I check my watch and exhale slowly. I’ve got somewhere to be.

By the time I walk out of the warehouse, the man behind me is screaming.

* * *

MARYAM

How did my life spiral into this? I stare at my reflection, barely registering the dress I put on. Because no matter what I wear, it won’t change the fact that I am bringing Riku Watanabe to my family’s house. For dinner. Like he’s a normal boyfriend and nota possessive, brooding, borderline unhinged man who decided I was his, then never looked back.

I let out a sharp breath, smoothing my hands down my hips. I need to calm down. It’s fine. It’s just dinner. Just introducing the most dangerous man I’ve ever met to my extremely nosy family. Oh God. I’m in trouble.

Before I can spiral further, my phone buzzes.

Riku: I’m outside.

I close my eyes, whispering a quick prayer for patience, strength, and for my family to not immediately also fall under his spell.

Then I grab my purse and head out.

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