Wolf slowly moved his gaze back to Jiro. “You want to do this now?”
“I will never bow to you as head of the family.” He turned to the room and waved a hand at Wolf. “This is who you will follow? This pup? He is still wet behind his ears. He knows nothing. He will change everything, and you will sit there letting him? He sucks cock, he takes men to bed, and soon you will be bending over for him.”
Jesus Christ.
Another man stood abruptly. “I will not follow a man who takes other men.”
Bloody hell, were they all bigots?
“My personal life has nothing to do with how I run the business or the family. No matter who I take to bed.”
“You ask us to change from the old ways, and you’re not willing to change?” the man asked.
“Akio Oji-san, the changes I make will never affect the businesses. And doing it without forcing the women of the Takahashi family to do things they never should have to do. Our own father knew of the changes I would make, and yet he still picked me. This was even before he was as close to death as he is now. Maybe having his daughter run from our lives over a business deal where she had to marry an old man had him seeing things in a new light.”
“Never,” Jiro yelled. “It was you getting in his head. Everything ran smoothly in our lives until now, until you.”
Wolf scoffed. “Smoothly? It’s so smooth your daughters quiver at your feet because they do not wish to marry men older than them, men who abuse women. Do you not care for their welfare?”
This family was screwed up. Everything just angered me to a point my gut burned. The old cunts needed to back down and let Wolf take charge. I could see he would be a good leader, and I wasn’t the only one reading some of the respectful gazes sent his way. He fought for the women, and I knew he’d fight for others who came to him for help against old-fashioned crap.
Wolf snorted. “Of course you do not care when you are also one who lays your hands on them.”
“Enough,” Jiro belted out.
“Never. I will protect them and anyone who needs it in the family. Even if it’s from their own father.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “You have no choice here, Jiro, because I run things in the Takahashi family, and that is my final word.” He turned his back on Jiro. I wasn’t sure it was wise. “Mimi, come get the girls and take them to your room.” Mimi started forward, but I wasn’t letting her go alone. I matched her pace. While Mimi helped Yuri stand, I tucked my hands under Hina’s arms and brought her to her feet.
Jiro made a noise in the back of his throat, and I caught the nod he sent just before the three men at his back advanced towards Wolf.
“Wolf,” I barked, since he hadn’t seemed to have seen them.
However, as soon as they were close, Wolf struck one in the throat, one in the chest, the other in the kidney. They tried to fight back, but Wolf counteracted it with a quick punch or kick. Never had I seen anyone move as fast as he did. His movements flowed, his body twisted and bent. In moments, the three men were on the floor, groaning and clutching some part of their bodies.
“Leave,” Wolf ordered Jiro.
Jiro waited for a couple of moments, glowering at Wolf before he snapped at the older women, and they walked out the room.
“Ryo,” Wolf called loudly.
A door opened, and five men dressed in black walked in. They had damn swords strapped to their hips, but I also saw guns strapped to their other side. The one in front, who I guessed was Ryo, stopped and bowed to Wolf.
He nodded towards the men on the floor. “Take them out of here.”
Ryo clipped, “Sorera o shita ni motte itte kudasai.” The others behind him moved forward and collected the fools on the ground, taking them from the room. When they were out of earshot, Ryo added to Wolf, “Next time, do not ask me to wait out in the hall. I am here to protect you.”
Wolf grinned. “You know I had it handled.”
“It does not matter.”
“I’m sure there’ll be other situations.”
Ryo huffed and crossed his arms over his chest. Was he pissed he didn’t get in on the action? Probably. The two of them seemed close. Then again, they must have been for Ryo to speak to Wolf like that. I doubted Wolf would accept that attitude from many.
Wolf patted Ryo on the arm and addressed the room. “Anyone else wish to go against my new rule?”
Silence.
The other older guy had even sat down.
“Then let’s eat.” He faced Ryo again. “Ryo, could you take over from Mimi and get the girls to Okaa-san?”
Ryo nodded and gently wound an arm around Hina’s waist, taking her from my hold. Then he did the same for Yuri. Wolf got close to them, cupping a cheek on each girl. They lifted their gazes to his.
“You have my protection. You have my love. I will make sure you never have to do anything you wish not to.” They clasped his hand in each of theirs and bowed, pressing their foreheads to the back of his hands.
“Thank you, Jiā jūn, thank you.”
I leaned into Mimi and asked, “What’s that word mean?”
“Jiā jūn?”
“Yeah.”
“Head of house.”
“Rise, girls, and go with Ryo. I’ll have Katon bring you something to eat soon. Do not fear for anything.”
They bowed a couple more times and went with Ryo. Wolf moved to Mimi and me. I jolted a little when his hand landed on my waist. “Let’s eat,” he said. I turned back to the table and felt his hand slide to my lower back, guiding his sister and me back to our seats.
It was damn weird having a guy’s hand on my back, but I wasn’t going to make a fuss about it in front of everyone. Obviously, there were many rules and traditions in the house, and I knew I’d stuff up over something, probably kicking someone’s arse, but for now, I’d keep my mouth shut.
Respect for the guy who just pulled out my seat ran through me, despite my brows shooting high, wondering why the fuck he made such a gesture. If we had more time here, I could even come to like the man. That was if he stopped treating me like some woman, since he’d just tried to place a napkin on my lap.
I snatched it out of his hand and glared up at him. The prick smirked.
Maybe liking him as a person was not going to last long. I had a feeling he’d get on my nerves more than anything.
Chapter Four
Ruin
After dinner, Mimi and I stood in a library. I’d pulled her aside to see how she was, since she’d gone to see her father earlier. Pouring us a drink, her hands shook a little. I placed my palms on her shoulders. “Let me do that, babe.”
She handed me the bottle of bourbon and took the glass she’d already poured, stepping out of the way. After I got myself a couple of licks of straight Kentucky, I turned and leaned against the bar and watched her pace in front of me.
“I’m guessin’ it didn’t go well.”
She sucked back her drink and faced me. “He was sleeping when I went.”
“You didn’t get to speak with him then.”
Mimi rolled her eyes. “I suppose I could have talked to him while he slept.” I took on her irritation. She’d come here for one thing, and that was to sort shit out with her father before he kicked the bucket. Since it hadn’t happened, she was probably fretting over the thought. Her shoulders sagged. “Sorry.”