Page 7 of Ruin

Yep, they were filthy rich.

“Have you been with them a while?”

“Ten years.”

“That’s a while.”

“Taro-sama hired me. I am honoured to serve him.” Taro, that was Wolf’s real name. I’d heard Mimi use it.

Loyal. Got it. He wouldn’t dish out any juicy details on his boss.

Still, I could find out a few things that weren’t going to give too much away, and he wouldn’t feel guilty for it. “Is it only Wolf who lives here? And what’s with that thing you say after using his name?”

“The whole Takahashi family does. Taro-sama’s father and mother. Taro-sama’s two uncles and their families. As well as trusted guards and workers, but they’re situated in their own wing. Sama means leader or master. When Taro-sama took over, he offered the choice to call him Wolf or Taro-sama. I prefer the formal title.”

Huh.Hoped Wolf wouldn’t get his panties in a twist when I didn’t call him master. “What types of businesses?”

His lips thinned. He pulled a device out of his pocket and pointed it at the garage. The doors slid open.

“They have many.”

I had a feeling he wasn’t pleased by some of them. I walked my ride into the garage and whistled at the large number of kickarse cars.

“Colour me impressed,” I told Katon, who just smiled in return. We made our way back out, and Katon closed the door after us.

At the front door, Katon turned to me. “Please remove your shoes, and I will lay them in the cabinet near the door.”

“What?”

“Your shoes, please remove them. We do not wear them in the house.”

I slid my boots off, and Katon picked them up before he opened the front door just as an intense voice hit me from the large entryway. “You bringing her here shames the family. She left, became a whore—”

“Whoa,” I called out when I saw Mimi flinch. “Watch what you’re fuckin’ saying.” I stopped beside an older guy standing in Wolf’s face. Katon had made himself scarce. Shit, I probably should have done the same, but I didn’t like the situation and wasn’t running from it if I could stay and help.

“Who is this?” the man demanded as his judgemental gaze ran over me.

“Jiro Oji-san, this is Ruin, a friend of Mimi’s and a guest of mine.” Jiro, whoever the fuck he was to Wolf and Mimi, screwed up his face, and I knew a rant was about to come, but Wolf got in first. “You need to remember who is in charge of this family, Uncle. I will not have Mimi and my guest disrespected.”

Jiro, their damn uncle, snarled, “It was the worst choice your father has ever made, leaving everything in your name. You will dishonour this family, and I won’t stand by to watch it.”

Wolf’s hands clenched at his sides. “What are you saying, Uncle? Because the next thing out of your mouth had better be that you’re leaving and taking your family with you. If you mean war between us, because Iwillfight, I will not back down and fold to your ways, then prepare to lose everything you love.”

Holy fuck. Wolf wasn’t messing around, and shit, the way he talked and stood up for Mimi had me wanting to have his back through it all. For Mimi’s sake, I’d fight at his side.

The uncle ground his teeth together, glaring at Wolf. “We will see what the outcome is in the end.”

Wolf’s upper lip lifted when he growled out, “Yes, we will.”

Jiro turned and stalked off, heading down a hall, and I had a feeling he wasn’t going to back down anytime soon. What would be his next move though? I didn’t trust Wolf, but my damn warning bells were ringing loudly when it came to the uncle.

“Taro, you shouldn’t have done that,” Mimi uttered.

“Bullshit,” I commented.

They ignored me, and Wolf glanced down to his sister. “They have dominated our family for too long. Controlled in ways I would never. It’s time to stop, and the sooner they realise I won’t fold to their barbaric ways, the better.”

“But, Taro, they’re… lethal.”

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