“Back to this evening. . .” Hiro scowled at me. “Do notdirtyour Tiger.”
The corner of my mouth twitched. "Weapons."
"Complete." Reo turned a page. "Every Scale assigned to the kitchen unit has been issued suppressed sidearms, backup magazines, and blades poisoned by Rin.”
I nodded. “Interesting.”
“The garden unit has the same, with additional smoke. Stair unit has heavier weaponry—rifles, breaching tools, extra mags. The Claws and Fangs have their own selections." Reo flipped the page. “I assumed you wanted to bring Totoro with you.”
I thought of my prized flame torch and smiled. “I did.”
“It was cleaned and filled.”
Hiro raised an eyebrow. "And have you considered the infections that dirt could cause in our Tiger’s. . .special place?"
I turned to him. “Don’t think about her special place.”
“Someone has to as you recklessly put her through crazy things.”
Ignoring my brother, Reo continued. "The Fangs are set. Yoichi insisted on personally inspecting every magazine for the entire Fang unit. He did so this afternoon. It took him four hours. Daisuke re-checked."
"Of course he did," I murmured.
"The smoke canisters arrived. Heavy industrial grade, as requested. Two hundred units. Distributed by team."
I nodded.
We rolled around a curve. The path opened briefly through the trees and I caught a flash of the sea on my right. It was dark now with the gold mostly drained, and the first deep blue of true evening settling on the water.
Soon. . .very soon.
Reo turned another page. "The hackers are in position. Three of them are already in a safehouse in Tokyo, two streets from the hotel. The other four arrive tonight. The team lead confirmed that internal communications will be jammed within ninety seconds of our entry signal. Camera feeds will be cut at the same moment."
"Good."
"The kitchen disguises have been finalized. Six Scales will enter as a delivery crew at the loading bay tomorrow at three p.m. They have papers and a truck with a catering logo."
I let my head rest back against the seat. It was a good report. In another life, I would have been able to enjoy it.
In this life, I felt only the slow ticking countdown to a bloody battle.
Reo’s phone buzzed. He checked it and then put the device back up. “Oh. I almost forgot. Your Tiger has handed off her slave to her friend who is now on the plane and taking him to New York.”
I grinned.
Good job, Tora.
“I’m just saying there are other ways to be adventurous with our Tiger.” Hiro shook his head. “For example, adding a man to the bed. Now I don’t know who would volunteer. It would need to be someone you truly trust. One who understands the rules.”
“Hmm.” I showed him all the skepticism rising on my face. “And I wonder if you have a recommendation for this trusted man.”
A wicked smile spread across Hiro’s face. “It shocks me too, but I do have one name to satisfy all the requirements.”
I let out a long breath and turned back to my Roar. “And the men, Reo?”
"All briefed." Reo put the notebook up. "Final inspection is at oh-six-hundred tomorrow. They all are having a light dinner tonight. No alcohol after sunset. Sleep mandatory. Anyone caught up after midnight is getting thrown in the cells under the mansion."
Tomorrow night, we would walk into the Hotel Gajoen wearing demon faces, kill as many as we could, climb one hundred steps in blood, and bury my brother and the Fox.
