I stare.
She shivers.
I finally find my voice. “Who the hell are you?”
“Mei?” She says her name, but it’s more of a question. Then she tilts her chin up and tries again. “Mei Nakamura.”
“You’re … you’re Hideo’s daughter?” What in the fuck is she doing here of all places?
“I was.” She crosses her arms over her chest. “But I disown him. He’s mean.” A faint meow comes from the luggage by her feet. She gasps and bends down to unzip a small carrying case. “I’m sorry, Kuzi. I just got distracted.”
She pulls a fluffy kitten from her bag, then stands there, kitten in hand. “So where’s my room?”
Fuck. Me.
2
Mei
I do my best to keep my face neutral. Kazuo caught me completely off guard and not because he’s covered in blood. Sure, I’m not used to seeing people covered in it. My father tried to shield me from that part of his life to a degree.
He didn’t exactly hide it, but he also didn’t put it right in my face either. I knew what went on in the giant outbuilding in the back of our property, but Father never had blood on him when he came back inside. But if I had to guess, I highly doubt my father ever got his hands dirty.
I was more caught off guard by how damn hot Kazuo was when he came into view. I thought he was going to be my father’s age, with graying hair and maybe a belly on him that he tried to hide with his expensive suit jackets. That’s how a lot of the high-ranking men of other families my father deals with look. That was my experience. The soldiers were usually younger and in good shape. That’s what Kazuo reminds me of. But yet he exudes power and confidence you don’t usually see in someone his age.
The man is a giant, even by American standards. I bet I barely come to the center of his chest. A chest that is covered in thick muscles. I can’t take my eyes off him. They continue to roam over every inch of him, stopping when I get to his large hands. Why can’t I stop staring at his blood-covered hands? They’re massive. They are also without a wedding ring.
I bet he could snap someone's neck with one of them. I guarantee it would be as easy as snapping a twig for him. My mind begins to drift like it usually does, wondering why my father never offered Kazuo to me as an option for marriage when he did it with a few of the other men in power. Maybe he did, and Kazuo said no. That thought sours my mood a bit.
“So?” I lick my lips when he doesn’t respond. “I have a room, right? Maybe in the pool house?” That would be so cool. To get my own place. Somewhere that I don’t have to worry that my every move is being watched.
“Shouldn’t you be away at school or something?” Kazuo asks. Kuzi wiggles in my hands. I think he’s scared of the big guy.
“I didn’t want to go to university, and I got kicked out of my last boarding school.” I roll my eyes. “I finished my classes online.”
“Kicked out?”
“Yep.” I smile proudly at myself. It takes a lot to be given the boot when you’re the daughter of Hideo Nakamura.
The school was horrible. It was impossible to make friends. Everyone ignored me. I was finally able to get the reason why no one liked me out of my roommate one night when she found me in tears. She took pity on me. She explained that it wasn’t that they didn’t like me. Their parents told them to stay away from me. I couldn’t blame them. Not with my last name. My father can be a scary man.
“Why?” he asks, taking a step forward, looking intrigued.
“Show me to the pool house, and I’ll tell you.” I swear his eyes widen in surprise, but he quickly hides it.
“You think you can barter with me, little girl?” Whoa. A thrill runs through my body at his stern tone.
I shrug my shoulders and try to play it cool.
“You’re not staying in the pool house.”
“Why not?” I huff. His eyes drop to my mouth. I thought they had before when I licked them. I think back to my stepmother and how she acts when she wants something from my father. “What if I’m a good little girl?” I jut my bottom lip out. “Then can I stay in the pool house?”
“No.” He growls the one word.
“You sound like a shifter.” I laugh, but Kuzi shivers in my hand. “And don’t scare my baby, you big brute.” I tuck him under my chin. “You’re okay. He’s a giant teddy bear. He’s not going to hurt you,” I try to reassure him.