Page 122 of The Dragon 1
I turned and followed Reo toward the other side of the garden.
The cello music and the scent of truffle smoke faded behind us.
Once we were alone, I snarled under my breath, “Why the fuck would you think you could interrupt this?”
Reo didn’t flinch. “Your father wants to talk—”
“I know. He’s been calling me all fucking day. I’ll talk to him—afterthis date.”
Reo’s expression twisted. “You have to go to the hospital now.”
“Why?”
His silence lasted a second too long.
Then he said it, “he has Hiro.”
My entire world stopped.
I felt it in my ribs first.
Then my spine.
Then in the space behind my eyes—sharp, blinding, a pressure that cracked my breath in two.
“What?” I asked.
“He’s keeping Hiro until you show up.”
I staggered back a step, rage and disbelief tearing through me like fire.
No. Not Hiro.
While he was my father’s son, my father didn’t give a damn about him. But, he definitely loved to use Hiro against me.
He knew how much I loved my brother.
If I didn’t go, my father’s men would torture Hiro. Period. There was no other option in my father’s mind. Either I was to listen when he tugged my leash. . .or things that I loved would be broken.
My vision blurred with fury.
Just like that—everything changed.
The garden no longer felt like a sanctuary.
It was a fucking trap.
My heart pounded behind my ribs, I kept my voice calm for one more breath. “Where does he have Hiro now?”
“In his hospital room.”
Behind me, I could still feel Nyomi’s gaze.
Warm.
Curious.
Laced with all the beginnings of trust.
