The Dragon 6 (Tokyo Empire #12)

Prologue

Buried Alive

Kenji

Grief was a burial that came with no ceremony nor folded hands.

No earth disturbed once and left to settle.

While the dead rest in peace, the survivors were buried alive.

Lying flat on their backs in the darkness of sorrow. Dirt shoveling over their faces. Pressure pressing the air from their lungs and the light from their eyes.

Standing became a performance and existing became the bravest and most exhausting thing a man could do.

Tonight, I was buried alive under Yoshiwara.

Lying right next to Hiroko and every name Hiro had spoken aloud at that table in his toast to the dead.

I was buried under the weight of what I'd ordered, what I'd permitted, and what I could undo by no act of will regardless of how necessary it had been.

I should have been incapable of standing.

Incapable of eating.

Incapable of laughing at Reo's story or pressing sake to my lips or feeling anything other than the particular suffocation of a man swallowing his dead.

But the Dragon refused to grieve where anyone could see it. I was the very skeleton of this massive body called the Yakuza. The beast who hovered over Japan—jaw set, eyes calm, spine straight.

My stillness was the only thing standing between my men and their own fracturing.

They ate because I ate. They laughed because I laughed. They believed the war was survivable because I looked like a man who was already victorious.

This was the silent burden I held close to my chest.

The Dragon's strength lived inside the pain—managed, compressed, driven down through the body and stored below the sternum where it could never reach my face, voice, or hands.

Where it could burn quietly and privately.

Anxiety lived alongside the grief.

Was Yoshiwara only the first shovelful of dirt over my face?

Was more death coming?

Heavier ones.

Suffocatingly sorrowful ones that would strip away my breath and everything I thought I understood about the man I was?

I had no way of knowing.

All I could do was keep walking forward into the dark and trust that my feet knew the floor.

But I had my Tora, my sweet loving Tiger who had thought enough through her grief to welcome our return with food and comfort. She gave us space to eat together.

She had fed us all and asked for nothing back.

My Tiger.

My queen.

My love.

The only anchor stable enough to hold on in this raging storm.

The meal wound down.

Absolutely well fed, my men pushed back from the table and stretched in satisfaction of the full meal.

All the sake bottles were emptied and the chopsticks had been set to rest.

“We must do this after every battle.” Daisuke stood and rolled his neck until it cracked twice. Even after all the fighting in Yoshiwara that black mohawk was still perfect. He blinked his bruised eyes, now darkening from purple to gray and yawned. “Thank you, Tora.”

I stiffened at his using my nickname for Nyomi.

I’ll have to tell them that only I call her that.

I decided on a later time, since I knew she would protest.

Nyomi smiled. “You’re welcome, Daisuke.”

Then Kaede rose, straightened his jacket, and yawned. “I agree. In fact, we should have a meal from the Tiger before we go into battle too.”

I sneered. “Not going to happen.”

Chuckles left Toma’s split and swollen lips. He left his seat too, giving me a good view of those long gashes stretching across his neck.

Akiro’s men beat us up bad.

Everyone else followed suit, the twins were last to stand.

"I killed at least twenty." Aki held up his bandaged hand.

Yuki didn't even look at him. "It was only eleven."

"You miscounted."

"You overcounted."

Nyomi shifted on my lap.

My arm tightened.

She shifted again with more intention. "Kenji."

“Yes?” I pressed my palm flat against her hip, anchoring her there without looking at her.

"Let me up."

Shocked, I looked at her. "You're comfortable."

"You're comfortable. I want to get up and say goodbye to my Claws and Fangs."

"Your Claws and Fangs?"

She tapped my arm. "Kenji."

I exhaled through my nose and removed my arm.

That’s okay, Tora. I’ll punish you once we get to bed.

She pressed a kiss to my jaw before she stood.

Frowning, I tracked her across the room, unable to look away.

They filed toward her.

Toma reached her first and wrapped both arms around her with zero restraint, lifting her entirely off the ground.

She yelped.

The line of my jaw twitched.

"This was better than my leftover pizza in the fridge. You're an absolute legend, Tora."

"Toma, my ribs—"

"Sorry. Sorry." He set her down and smirked. "Same time next battle?"

Right when I was about to protest, she bobbed her head in agreement. “Of course. There will be food after the next battle so make sure you come back.”

Annoyed, I pursed my lips.

Toma nodded. “I will. Don’t worry about that, Tora.”

Kaede stepped forward and bowed his head to her. A few strands of his platinum blond hair hung in front of him. He shifted into his best British impression. “Milady, due to this royal feast, I am your loyal knight from this day forth and henceforth and thereafter.”

She laughed and to my surprise had her own British accent. “Rise, my brave knight. You have my gratitude and more royal feasts in your future.”

Kaede remained in that dramatic bow. “I cannot rise. To do so would cause dishonor. And I fear that Milady will—”

“Speed this up.” My frown deepened.

Nyomi turned my way and scowled.

I quirked my brows.

What?

She rolled her eyes and returned her gaze to him. When Kaede straightened, she pulled him into a hug, and they remained that way for far too long. Kaede even closed his eyes, sinking deep into my Tiger’s comforting warmth.

I tensed.

Reo cleared his throat.

Kaede caught the signal and ended the hug.

When he spoke next, he did so in that ridiculous British accent, yet.

. .emotion laced each word too. “Milady, this is the finest evening I’ve had whilst bleeding internally.

I shall write songs of this feast. Bad ones.

Loud ones. Some banned in several regions. ”

Nyomi laughed and covered her mouth.

Then, he did the most absurd thing that he could. With that big muscular body of his, Kaede somehow did an outrageously elegant spin and departed the dining room.

What the hell?

Stunned, I widened my eyes.

If this is how the Claws act with this meal. . .after the cocktail party, I’d have to peel them off of her.

Daisuke stepped in front of her next. "Thank you for this night. I felt. . .absolutely loved and uh. . .while I wasn’t sure of your place with us. . .well, now I know that you are undeniably ours."

I began to speak.

Hiro placed his hand on my shoulder and whispered, “Shut up, brother. They need this tonight. Let them have it.”

I looked back at him. “They’re spoiled.”

“A dragon’s claws don’t spoil. They only get stronger and sharper.”

I looked back at her.

Nyomi's eyes went wet at the edges. She pulled Daisuke into a hug. “Thank you for saying that. It means a lot.”

When Daisuke let her go and headed off, the twins arrived simultaneously, wrapping around her from both sides until she disappeared between them entirely, laughing despite her wet eyes.

One of them whispered, “We forgive you.”

"We'll protect you. Always," the other added.

I blinked.

Forgive her for what?

The other twin let her go. "My knives will be waiting for your blood and—"

“Goodnight.” I sneered.

The twins rolled their eyes at the same time and in exactly the same way and then headed off.

The Claws and I will need to talk. They are getting too comfortable with what belongs to me.

Just when I was about to rise, Yoichi and Kaoru came over.

Yoichi reached her next. Thankfully, he wasn’t outrageous like the Claws. He simply stepped forward and held her with both arms. When he pulled back, he winked at her. "Very reminiscent of a samurai’s night after battle. Thank you for that.”

“I couldn’t have done it without your support.”

Samurai? What sort of conversations have they been having today?

Yoichi left her.

Kaoru hugged her next. "I will be demanding to be in your security detail full time."

"Good. I would feel safer."

I watched them go.

Full time. Absolutely not.

She called back to them. “Get some rest tonight, guys.”

Reo was the last one still seated. He'd watched the whole procession from his chair with his hands rested flat on the table.

Once they left, Reo began to rise. The process was slow enough that I had to look away.

I knew what it cost him and I knew he didn't want witnesses to the cost. So, I reached for my empty sake cup and gave him the dignity of my disinterest while he found his feet.

However, Nyomi crossed to him before he'd fully straightened.

Tora. . .don’t. . .

She stepped into him and her arms gently went around his waist. Her left hand settled at the middle of his back. Her right stopped at his shoulder blade.

She went no lower on his left side.

How does she know where the damage is?

Reo pursed his lips, but let her help him.

I scanned the space and thank God that only Hiro and I were in the room to witness this. Perhaps, that was why she did it.

And my Roar must have known that this was his time to seek her love too because. . .he closed his eyes, dropped his chin toward the top of her head, and brought his arms around her with a care that matched hers exactly.

And there they stood in a hug as two people who understood each other's broken places.

I swallowed.

Next, Nyomi rose onto her toes, placed her lips next to his ear, and whispered something that I couldn't hear.

What is she saying?

Reo opened his eyes and stilled completely. Whatever she said, landed deep within his chest.

His jaw shifted.

She kept whispering, and I watched my Roar—a man who had walked through Yoshiwara and battled with cracked ribs—come absolutely apart from my Tiger’s words.

Not loudly.

Not visibly.

But I knew his face.

When she finished, she pulled back and looked up at him.

He stared down at her for a long moment and said nothing.

Whatever you told him, Tora.

My chest pulled tight.

I wish I knew.

Her voice grew soft. "Goodnight, Reo."

He straightened and cleared his throat. "Goodnight, Tora."

And this time, I didn’t mind the use of her nickname on another’s lips.

When Reo left, I stood.

Hiro remained at the table, leaning back in his chair with his arms folded and watching us.

I gripped the back of his neck hard, the way we'd been doing since we were boys. “Get some rest.”

He reached up and gripped my forearm in return. “Soon, but not yet.”

“Soon.”

“I have things to do. Important things.”

“Make them quick.”

“Not too quick.”

I let out a sigh and let him go.

Nyomi went over to Hiro. “Get up so I can give you a hug.”

"No need." He unfolded his arms. "We're not saying goodbye anytime soon."

What the hell does that mean?

“He’s drunk. Ignore him.” I turned back to Nyomi and reached for her hand. “Let’s go, Tora.”

“Bye, Hiro. I love you.” Nyomi took my hand, and we headed away.

I glanced back at Hiro.

He sat exactly where I'd left him, with amusement dancing on his face.

Nyomi's hand tightened slightly in mine, delivering peace and warmth deep into my soul.

I don't deserve her.

And yet I held on anyway.

I turned back to the door and walked my Tiger out into the corridor.

My guards followed.

The staff passed us and gave low bows.

I nodded.

The mansion settled into its nighttime breathing—the low murmur of men inside rooms, plates being cleared, and the beep of my security’s walkie talkies.

I pressed the elevator call button.

Nyomi leaned her head against my arm while we waited. Her lush scent of black amber and ripe plum surrounded and further anchored me.

And with that. . .I felt less buried alive. . .more whole and able to breathe.

The elevator doors opened.

We stepped in with a few of my guards.

One pressed three.

The doors began to close.

I watched the gap of the doors narrow and then a big hand shot through.

I widened my eyes.

What?

The elevator doors stuttered back open.

Hiro stepped in like he’d been invited, still bare-chested, and now holding a full bottle of sake. “Thank you.”

The guards made room for Hiro.

I stared at him.

The elevator doors closed.

He didn’t press the number two button for his floor.

I raised my eyebrows. "Where are you going?"

"Our bedroom."

"We don't have a bedroom together."

He tilted his head at me the way he always did when he thought I was being deliberately stupid. "We do. It's where our Tiger sleeps."

"My Tiger."

Hiro exhaled through his nose like he was explaining something to someone who kept missing the point.

"Kenji." He had the audacity to say my name like a full sentence. "We've already decided. We're sharing her."

“You’re going to your bedroom not mine—”

“Our bedroom. Not yours. And of course I won’t be sleeping in the bedroom that we share. That would be ridiculous, but I have earned some cuddle time and I will not deny myself any longer.”

“Did you just fucking say cuddle time?”

Nyomi pressed her lips together, poorly suppressing a laugh. Seconds later, it came anyway, bright, joyful, and loud in the elevator.

Her laugh filled the elevator completely and rewrote the suffocating sadness in my chest.

Tora.

I looked at her.

She had her hand pressed over her mouth, and her shoulders were shaking.

And for one clean, uncomplicated moment the burial of my grief receded. The weight of Yoshiwara, the names Hiro had spoken at the table, Hiroko's face, the shovels of dirt pressing down over my body. . .all of it lifted.

Slightly.

Enough to breathe better.

I want to hear that sound again tonight and again. . .

I needed that more than sex or sake. I yearned to hear my Tiger laugh until the grief had nowhere left to stand.

Hmmm.

I looked at my brother. He stood there shameless and holding his sake bottle. I had a thousand things to say to him, but said none of them.

Because she was still laughing.

“Fine.” I faced the doors. “You can come to my bedroom and spend time with my Tiger and me. . .for a few minutes. And then I’m kicking you out.”

While I thought Hiro would smile or say thank you, he rolled his eyes as if I was the most audacious person on the elevator.

I’m going to kill him before this night is over.