SENSEI

 

As the van pulls up, I glance at my parents. Mother in Father’s arms as they embrace tightly. Warmth floods through me that we were all able to get through this. Without my father coming to our aid, who knows how this might have ended.

Taking a deep breath, I bow my head to him as we all step out of the van. “Father, how did you manage to gain the Ikigai Syndicate’s help? What did you have to offer them?”

Mother peers up to him as if to wonder the same question.

Father stands taller. “I would offer them my life and my afterlife if it meant you and Shinobu were to live.”

That’s his way of saying he paid a hefty price, but he won’t actually tell me what. Or maybe he will when Mother isn’t around. I will ask again at another time and place.

“But this does not matter right now, son. Go! Find your Old Lady. She is what matters.”

My heart swarms that he called Sass my Old Lady. It means he’s given his blessing. He is accepting of her as part of our family. Pride swarms through me as I nod then turn.

My family is fine, now I need to make sure my woman is okay. I bolt through the yard then inside the clubhouse noticing Foxy sitting by the pool table. The unmistakable sound of bubblegum popping lets me know I’m heading in the right direction. I run, my feet sounding like a stampede as I race over to see her sitting on a chair, a bandage on her forehead and a beer in her hand as she cradles her other arm like it’s in pain.

The sight sends a shudder through me. The thought that she’s in any pain, kills me, as I lunge forward and drop to my knees sliding to a stop in front of her.

Sass’s eyes bug open, and she lets out an almost scream as she sees me, then pushes forward slowly wrapping her good arm around my neck while she embraces me as tightly she can. “Oh my God, thank fucking Christ, I had no idea if I was ever going to see you again.”

I pull back looking into her watering eyes as I plant a heavy kiss on her lips. She kisses me passionately, the taste of her bubblegum making me smile as everyone else slowly filters into the room.

After a short time, I pull back and look in her eyes. “There’s no way I would go anywhere without you.”

Sass smiles as Foxy slowly walks away leaving us alone in a quiet corner of the clubroom. She brings her hand up cradling the side of my face and looking into my eyes. “I have no idea what the hell happened today. All I do know is that being with you means I’ll be in danger.” I go to talk, but she stops me by putting up her good hand. “I also know, no matter what the danger, I’ll take that chance because I’m fine with it, Sensei, as long as you come home to me in the end. As long as what you said to me was true.”

Smiling, I know exactly what she’s talking about. “I mean it, Sass. I claimed you. You’re mine. I’m not letting any-fucking-thing get in the way of that… of us.”

She grins wide wrapping her arm further around my neck, but then winces letting out a small groan.

Immediately, I tense. “Where are you hurt?”

“It’s my shoulder. Foxy says it’s just a strain, I should be good to go in a few days.”

I lean in and kiss her softly. “I’m still going to get you checked over by Kline…” Sighing, I continue, “I’m sorry. I detest you got dragged into this.”

She weakly smiles rolling her eyes. “Now I’m your Old Lady, you wanna tell me what’s actually going on?”

I let out a small laugh and nod. “Yes, I’ll tell you all about it, but first I want to know if you are okay?” I ask, and she weakly smiles. “You have been through another trauma, first fucking Vince at the garage, and now this. I’m concerned for you.” I take the seat next to her as I look into her intense hazel eyes as they glisten.

“The thing is, while it was scary seeing you being taken by Aiko and not knowing exactly how it would turn out…” my brows knot at the use of her word ‘exactly,’ “… and while the car accident wasn’t the ride of my damned life, Franky was actually quite the gentleman once he told me what the hell was going on.”

Exhaling, I sit a little taller wondering how that went down. “Yes, I’m intrigued. Franky made you crash your truck to take you to Ishikawa… and then?”

She smiles. “I saw him right after I crashed. Then the panic hit. But he quickly reassured me he was sorry. That it wasn’t meant to happen that way. He quickly took me from my truck and placed me in his where he filled me in on everything…. told me the entire plan. That Enzo was going to double cross Ishikawa. That your father was going to help, too. I just had to come along for the ride, play my part until everything… fell into place.”

Reaching out I grab her good hand and lace my fingers with hers holding on probably tighter than I should. “You’re so brave.”

She snorts as she looks deep into my eyes. “No. You are. You went with him knowing it would be the only way to save your mother’s life. I’m in awe of you. I’m so fucking lucky to be your Old Lady.”

Leaning in, I can’t hold back any longer as I press my lips to hers. Not hard, I don’t want to cause her any pain, but not too damn soft either. I just need to taste her. To make sure she’s here, and we are both in this moment. Her tongue collides with mine while I run my free hand up and into her hair, the loose tendrils threading through my fingers as I hold her to me. That usual spark tingling inside of me making me feel all kinds of euphoria in the moment.

I have my woman.

I have my family.

I have my brothers.

Hell, I even have the Italian Mafiosos at my back if I need them.

And Aiko is dead.

My life is full.

I am perfectly… content.

Pulling back, l look into her eyes as her lips turn up into a smile.

“I will never get tired of kissing you.” She beams.

Chuckling, I lick my lips. “That’s a good thing because there’s a lot more kissing in our future, Sass.”

She leans into my side, and I wrap my arm around her. “You think now I’m your Old Lady we’re gonna have to do something about our living arrangements?”

A chuckle erupts from my chest. “That’s a given. The moment I claimed you, the back of my mind was making room for your clothing in my closet.”

She snorts, pulling back and shoves my chest. “You’re such a liar, Raiden! You were being held by the Yakuza at gunpoint, being told that they were taking you and your mother to Japan, and you were thinking about closet space?”

I chuckle and shrug. “You can’t blame a guy for forward-thinking, Sass.”

She rolls her eyes leaning close to me, her bubblegum-perfumed breath striking my senses as I smile at her. “Fuck it, I’m just gonna say it…” she pauses as she chews on her bottom lip, the look seductive and hot as fucking hell piques my interest. She exhales, her eyes looking into mine and something shifts. She looks more serious, more intent. “Raiden… after everything I’ve gone through, after everything we’ve gone through together, it’s shown me that with you by my side, I am even stronger and can overcome any fear, any obstacle… you’re my strength.”

I smile and lean in closer, our lips almost touching as electricity sizzles through the air at her remarkable words. No one has ever spoken of me like she is now.

“Getting to this point has been fucking rough, but you make it all worth it. Raiden… I know it’s quick, but… I love you.”

My chest tightens, and a sudden rush of excitement runs over me. No one besides my family has ever told me they love me before. Honestly, hearing it from Sass couldn’t be any more fucking perfect if I tried. Seeing her tied up and bleeding only cemented my feelings for her too. Claiming her today might have looked like a desperate move in an attempt to stop Aiko’s advances toward her, but Sass would have been claimed soon enough either way. Aiko just made me realize what I’ve been wanting.

Her.

She is my life.

She may be my opposite.

The Yang to my Yin, but she fits with me. Just. Fucking. Right.

My heart is hammering in my chest as my mouth turns up in the biggest of grins, her eyes sparkling as she assesses my mood. My nostrils flare as I try to contain my emotion.

This woman!

“Sass, you are everything. I’ve made it my mission to protect you for the rest of my life. Harm will never fall on you again. I swear this to you. I too…” I pause as my chest swells never having said this to a woman before, “… love you.”

She grins with a slight chuckle. “That was hard for you to say, wasn’t it?” She beams almost like she’s enjoying this moment.

I roll my shoulders. “Not hard, as the words are true. Just… a first.”

She leans in pressing her forehead to mine and sighs. “Thank you, for opening up to me. For letting me be the one you spend your life with.”

I press my lips to hers tenderly, a spark shooting all the way down my spine as I pull back and look into her eyes. “There was never an option. The moment I saw you, I was fucking done for.”

She nods. “Me, too, Raiden. Me, too.”

I lean in kissing her, and this time I don’t hold back. I know we’re in a clubroom full of my brothers, but I don’t care. Sass’s going to be living here now, and so they’re going to have to get used to our public displays of affection.

And right now?

Right now, I need to let her know I am never letting her go.

No matter what the cost.