Page 118 of Blood in the Water

“I needed...” I said when I could finally pull my eyes away. “I don’t know, I just needed to move. To think.”

He studied me carefully, and the way he sized me up had me shivering from the bottom of my feet to the tip of my head.

Obi took up all the air in the room. That had to be why I found myself slightly breathless and entirely captivated.

He carefully folded his newspaper before setting his mug on the counter. Then he faced me again and crossed his arms over his chest. “My brothers caught me up on everything that happened.”

I had no idea what he expected me to say or what that meant. Did he want me to leave? To stay? To explain myself? To pay them back for their services so far? My brain ping-ponged all the worst-case scenarios as I almost shriveled under Obi’s expectant gaze.

“Okay.”Really? After days of verbally sparring with Ryuji, that was the best I could come up with?

He stared at me for a few more moments and then gestured to the stools at the island bar. “Come. Sit with me.”

I did as he asked but left a stool in between us. My shoulders were tight with tension. “I’m sorry. I’m a guest in your home, and I’m being weird.”

He chuckled, a rich sound that was like music to my ears. “It’s no problem. You were not expecting me, so I understand I have caught you off guard.”

I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves so I could think straight. There was nothingscaryabout Obi, just imposing. He’d been nothing but polite. And I was the intruder, not him. But I did want to make a good impression. If I had any chance at getting out of here without making enemies, I had to start with him.

“I owe you thanks. All of you. So, even though this is our first time meeting, I have to say thank you for allowing Caspian and me space in your home to recover. If the guys told you, you know my life has been uprooted. I need time to get my feet under me, and I’ll be out of your hair.”

“Out of my hair?” His head tilted to the side, and those dark eyes—a deep, rich brown, now that I could see them clearly in the morning light shining through the windows—regarded me carefully.

“Yes. I owe Wynn, Ciel, and Ryuji a big debt. They’ve saved my life on multiple occasions, and I could never repay you all for helping me get Caspian free. Once I figure out my next steps, Iwon’t inconvenience you further. And I swear I’ll pay you back. Somehow.”

A slight frown crossed his features, and then he shrugged. “That was not my understanding of why you were here in the first place.”

“What do you mean?”

“I heard you wanted to take out a contract with us. Now that I am here, we may be willing to work through the details. Has that changed?”

I looked down at my hands squeezing together in my lap and then back to him. “It has changed.”

“You don’t want our services anymore?”

“I don’t want to avenge my father’s legacy anymore. I want to forge myownnow. I want to fix the drugs and the trafficking and rebuild the territory I’ve lost. People are living there that have suffered because of my father, and they deserve better.” I leaned back in the chair. “But I understand that my father’s mistakes have tainted my name, and I wouldn’t blame you for wanting nothing to do with me.”

“So your intention is just to leave? To walk away from Wynn? Leave Ciel behind?” He raised an eyebrow. “Forget about Ryuji?”

Surprise coated my face. Had they told Obi about our… romantic developments, too? I wasn’t expecting that when he said they told himeverything. But it almost sounded like they didn’t want me to leave. They would be upset if I did.

I didn’t want to lose them. I wanted the warmth Wynn offered. I wanted Ciel’s support and his shy yet calming nature. AndRyuji. Like I’d ever be able to forget about how he set me on fire every time he walked into a room.

I didn’t get a chance to respond before Obi spoke again. “I would advise you not to make assumptions that are not deserved, Leona. And make your choices carefully.”

I inhaled slowly. “You’re saying I shouldn’t leave? But why?”

“I am saying I didn’t take you for someone who would just give up. It would be foolish not to even try. Though… some of us might still need convincing.”

My eyes widened. They might still want to work with me? Help me?

But there was an undercurrent to what he said.

They might need more convincing. If Ciel could access my money, this would be no issue, but that didn’tfeellike that’s what he was saying. It was almost like he wanted me to negotiate with them. Make them an offer they couldn’t refuse…

And how exactly might I do that?

My mind spun.