Shibuya’s crossing had been frozen mid-step with tiny figures suspended in their tiny lives.
It was all around us—the 109 building, the Hachiko statue near the station.
Then Roppongi, the cluster of towers, the observation deck of Roppongi Hills detailed down to its miniature railing.
Tokyo Tower glowed amber to our left, lit from within like a small private sun.
And the markers were everywhere. Dragon heads with curved horns and gold-tipped teeth sat on rooftops. Fox heads clustered near Ginza and Shinjuku. Lion heads too were here and there near the ports.
A small army of my men moved between the buildings, setting up screens, laying out maps on side tables, and doing the quiet work that came before a briefing.
They saw us coming and made room.
I cleared my throat as we continued. "Reo."
"Yes."
"I want a paternity test done on Kiko."
Hiro blinked. "What called for that?"
"My Tiger feels uneasy."
He studied my face. "Due to the babies possibly being yours?"
"Yes."
He held my gaze for a long second and then nodded. "Then get the testing."
"That's why I'm telling Reo.” I looked at my Roar. "I want it done before she gives birth. Can we get the results in our hands by tomorrow?"
Reo nodded. "It's already in motion."
I stopped walking. "What?"
Reo paused and looked at me. "I spoke with the doctor this morning."
Of course he did. Always several steps ahead.
Still, I had to ask. "You spoke to him before I agreed?"
"I spoke to him because I anticipated this. Kiko has been making trouble with your Tiger so—"
“What trouble?” Hiro and I asked in unison.
Reo placed his hands in his pockets. “Kiko apparently was trying to bulldoze her way into the party last night, but your Tiger handled it.”
I sneered.
Hiro crossed his arms over his chest. “How disrespectful. I want permission to kill her cousin Tet.”
I held my hand up. “How did my Tiger handle it?”
“She had her guards blocking the entrances in anticipation of Kiko attempting this.”
I wasn’t a fan of that. Nyomi’s guards were supposed to be with her. And I hadn’t even known they weren’t around at the party. Granted, she was with me and my men by then. We would have never let anything happen to her.
Reo continued, “I talked to her security team and they let me know that Tet approached her earlier that day about their coming to the party and Nyomi told them no.”
