“Hideo has killed more men like you than he can count. I once saw him end a man with nothing more than a chopstick. He’s the reason the Yakuza is feared the world over. He’s the reason no one fucks with us–not the Russians, not the Italians, not even the Triad. But you think you’re going to kill him like this? With this sort of dishonor?” I might actually laugh at Rai’s foolishness, if not for the gun he’s pointing at my soon-to-be father-in-law.
“Rai, please. We … we made a mistake. All of this–” Isamu waves a hand. “Pride. Pride before the fall.” He looks up at his son. “You’ve led this family to ruin.”
“Me?” Rai shakes his head. “I’ve started a new era for the Itos! Once I kill these two, we’ll be able to–”
“I brought cookies!” Mei’s voice cuts through Rai’s nonsense, and she even pushes through the hardened men at my back. “They’re leftover from this morning, but I promise they’re so good. Sesame seed!”
I grit my teeth. I’m going to kill her personal guard when I get out of here.
Rai’s mouth drops open, his gun wobbling. “What the fuck is a woma–”
My knife is in his throat before he can finish his question. Then I spin and yank Mei into my arms, shielding her from what I know is coming.
Rai drops to his knees as Hideo calmly relieves him of his gun, presses it to Isamu’s head, and pulls the trigger.
Hideo stands, brushes himself off, and says, “I’ll take a cookie, daughter. I didn’t know you could bake. Your new husband will appreciate that skill, I’m certain.”
Epilogue
Mei
“Sakura!” My husband's voice bellows throughout the house. A giggle comes from under the sink, making me smile.
I open the cabinet to see Kuzi’s yellow eyes peering through the darkness as he hides with Sakura. I slip a cookie inside. A tiny hand with purple painted nails slips out a few inches to take it. I quickly close the cabinet back as Kazuo comes waltzing into the kitchen.
“This is your fault,” he grumbles and reaches for me. His fingers sink into my hair, tiling my head back to lay a deep, possessive kiss on me. His other hand rubs my baby bump that popped out a few days ago. With Sakura, it took forever to show, but this time I’m only four months along and already showing. This baby boy is going to be as big as his daddy. “You’ve taught her your rebellious ways.”
“You’re welcome.” I smirk. “No one will ever keep our baby girl locked away.”
“This is true.” A smile pulls at his lips. He’s full of it. He loves that Sakura is crafty. The girl can pop out of nowhere and get out of anything. Her crib was a joke. She mastered getting out of that thing in no time. The timer for my next batch of cookies starts to go off, distracting me from my thoughts.
Kazuo grabs one of the mitts and opens the oven for me as I finish setting up my tea tray. “Boo!” Sakura screeches before jumping out with Kuzi in her arms. Her little face is covered in cookie crumbles. I’m pretty sure I see a few little crumbs on Kuzi’s face as well.
“That’s it.” Kazuo drops the tray of cookies onto the counter. Sakura lets out a squeal and takes off running. Kazuo chases after her. A few of the guards have to jump out of their way. The sounds of Sakura’s laughter ring through the house, making my heart happy.
My Kazuo is a wonderful husband, but he’s something else altogether when it comes to our baby girl. He is the absolute best dad. As much as I love my father, I didn’t always love how he raised me. Kazuo is more hands-on. He’s willing to show our daughter affection and love. He truly lets her be herself. I didn’t think I could love him any more, but seeing him with our daughter proved me wrong.
I use the spatula to place some of the fresh cookies onto my tray before I add the kettle of hot water and carry the tray out to the back patio where my father is sitting in the warm sun.
“I’ve got fresh sesame cookies,” I say, setting the tray on the table.
While I might not love some of the ways my father raised me, things have changed over the years. I’m not sure if it’s because he’s older or if Sakura has had some effect on him. All I know is that he’s different with her than he was with me. I’m so thankful for that. I love how close they are.
“I get all the carbs while I’m here.” He snags one of the sesame cookies off the tray while I make his tea.
“You know you can have carbs at home too if you wish.” I’ll never understand the control my stepmother has over that house.