I turned and started walking back toward the house.
Again, my guards fell into formation around me.
The path stretched ahead.
A minute later, three figures walked toward me on the path. I recognized the one in front before I could truly see his face due to the bandage wrapped around the side of his head where his ear used to be.
Kiko's cousin.
The maybe-baby mama’s cousin.
The one who'd been so disrespectful to Reo and me.
The one whose ear Kenji sliced because he couldn’t harm Kiko.
He better not be walking to me? This is not the day.
Two women flanked Kiko’s cousin. I didn't know their names, but I recognized them from her little entourage when they were laughing at me.
Both women looked at me the way someone gazed at a person they wanted to hurt. Like if my guards weren't standing between us, they would love nothing more than to slice my neck open and watch me bleed out on the pretty stone path.
I glared.
You two better fix your fucking faces. I’m not even in the mood.
Whatever my expression showed, it was enough to relay the message because their faces did indeed turn neutral.
And then the three got closer, stepping directly in front of me.
Yep. They want to talk.
I sucked my teeth.
My guards noticed too. Their energy shifted and their hands moved closer to weapons as their bodies angled.
The first time I'd seen these people, I was out of place. I was new. I was an outsider from America who didn't understand the rules, didn't know the language, didn't know how to stand in a room full of killers without shaking.
That woman was gone.
I was a queen now and this was my motherfucking island.
And they were going to come correct.
My guards and I stopped.
The three idiots reached us and got in front.
I looked at the cousin and his bandage over that missing ear.
I don't know what you’re about to say, but it better be respectful. Or I'll have Kenji take your other fucking ear.
The cousin cleared his throat. “I would like to speak with you today.”
I stared at him and remained silent.
“I need to relay a message from the mother of the Dragon's heirs." His voice grew tight as if sore from rehearsing this in a mirror over and over. "Kiko heard that you are hosting a celebration tonight for the Dragon's inner circle. She believes that as the mother of the Dragon's children, it is only appropriate and expected that she attend. She would like the time for the event and to RSVP her team as well—"
“No.”
