Page 34 of Savage Angels
“Lead the way,” I growl, my heart pounding.
The man leads us through the opulent halls of Kiyoko’s home, my boots echoing on the polished marble floor. My eyes dart from one closed door to the next, my heart pounding with each passing second. I can feel Salvatore and Tony’s tension mirroring my own.
“Here,” the man says, stopping before a set of double doors. He pushes them open, revealing a spacious room filled with plush furniture and ornate decorations.
“Kat,” I whisper as my eyes lock onto her, sitting on a velvet couch, her face pale but her eyes defiant. The moment she sees me tears well up in her vibrant green eyes, and she rushes into my arms.
“Thank God,” I breathe out, wrapping her in a tight embrace, my relief morphing into white-hot anger at what she’s been through. “I’ve got you, baby.”
“Hey,” Salvatore interrupts gently, his voice low and controlled. “Kiyoko, we can’t thank you enough for finding Kat.”
I hold on to Kat as if my life depends on it, my fingers digging into her waist, grounding myself with her presence. She clings to me just as desperately, her face buried in my chest.
Kiyoko gives us a curt nod. “It was the least I could do. Your wife is strong. She’s made of steel.”
“Damn right, she is.” I can’t help but think how close I’d come to losing her.
“Please, sit.” Kiyoko gestures to the seats around a coffee table. We settle in, Kat never leaving my side, her hand gripping mine like a lifeline.
“Your partnership with the Obayashi Yakuza will benefit both parties,” Kiyoko says, her gaze fixed on Salvatore. “But know that our loyalty comes at a price.”
“Understood,” Salvatore replies, his voice steady. “We won’t forget what you’ve done for us.”
“See that you don’t.” Kiyoko’s eyes flick to mine, then back to Salvatore. “And remember, we will always be watching.”
“Message received loud and clear,” I say through gritted teeth, the weight of this new alliance settling in my gut like lead. But at least my woman is safe—it is all that matters right now.
Not wanting to waste any more time, as I know Kat will want to be back with our kids, I say, “I can’t thank you enough for finding my wife. We’ll honor any agreement and look forward to working with you in the future.”
Kiyoko raises an eyebrow, clearly surprised by my genuine gratitude and love for Kat. “It’s rare to see men of power love so deeply and act with such honor,” she muses, her voice softening just a fraction.
“Kat means everything to me,” I reply, tightening my grip on her hand. “I’d do anything for her and our family.”
“Very well.” Kiyoko nods. “Take your wife home, Dane Reynolds. We will be in touch.”
“Thank you,” I say once more before turning to Salvatore and Tony.
Sal holds up a hand. “We have things we need to discuss with Kiyoko. Take Kat home. We’ll be there as soon as time allows.”
Grateful I don’t have to keep Kat here any longer than necessary, I stand, taking Kat with me. We walk through Kiyoko’s home and out to the waiting car. I open the passenger door, and Kat climbs in. As we leave the lavish estate, Kat clings to my hand, silent tears streaming down her cheeks. My emotions threaten to consume me, but I force myself to focus on getting us home back to where she belongs.
As we continue driving, Kat’s grip on my hand tightens, and I know she needs to let it all out—the fear, the pain, the uncertainty.
“Stop the car,” she whispers, her voice trembling.
I pull over, concern for her almost overwhelming me.
“It was Stella…” she pauses, struggling to find the words. “She was… deranged, Dane. She murdered Gareth Goodman and Will Van Ryken.”
“Fuck.”
Kat continues, her voice barely audible. “The room she kept me in was filthy, damp, and reeked of garbage. I tried to escape once, but she caught me, and for a while, I thought she wouldn’t let me go.”
“Jesus, Kat,” I breathe out, pulling her closer to me. I cannot even begin to imagine the horror she has experienced.
“Stella thought she was protecting me, Dane. She tried to kill a man on a motorcycle, but she ended up dead instead.”
“Protecting you?” I ask, anger flaring inside me at the twisted logic. “By kidnapping you?”