"This Chapter is told from raina’s prospective "

The city was still half asleep when Malik pulled out of the driveway.

I sat in the back seat watching it pass through tinted glass. Empty streets. Traffic lights cycling through their colors for nobody. The kind of quiet that sits between night and morning.

I hadn’t slept. Not properly.

Every time I closed my eyes, I heard his voice again.

You still got it...

Malcolm.

Two days of silence after that. No follow-up. No message. Nothing. Which somehow made it worse. Silence like that wasn’t absence. It was intent.

My grandfather didn’t hesitate. I told him I would handle it. He listened... then sent Tengu anyway.

The private terminal at Harrington was nothing like the main airport. No lines. No noise. Just a controlled stretch of tarmac where jets arrived and left without drawing attention.

Malik pulled in just as the jet touched down.

The airstair lowered.

And there he was.

Tengu Mayaki.

He stepped out slowly, like he owned the space before his feet even touched it. Tall. Controlled. Every movement deliberate without trying too hard.

Of all the men my grandfather could have sent... he sent this psychotic son of a bitch.

Five men followed behind him, already spreading out across the tarmac.

Malik opened my door.

I stepped out.

"Himari!" Tengu called, arms already open.

"Tengu-san." I forced a smile and let him pull me into a hug.

He held it a second longer than necessary.

"Good to see you."

"Same."

Behind him, the cars had already arrived.

"My ride," he said casually. "Let’s not have this conversation here."

He got in without waiting. His men followed. Malik eased us into the convoy.

My grandfather had put him in the AGRESSA. Top floor Of course.

We went straight up.

The apartment was exactly what you’d expect from the most expensive building in town . Clean. Quiet and an impeccable view .

Tengu sat first. One leg over the other.

His men stayed standing behind him.

I took the seat across from him.

"So," he said, studying me. "Tell me, Himari. Why didn’t you want your grandfather to send me?"

"I told him I would handle it," I said. "I didn’t expect him to send his right hand."

"You know how he is when it comes to you." He tilted his head slightly. "He trusts me to handle things properly."

"I can handle things properly."

"I know." He smiled faintly. "But your current track record suggests otherwise."

Fucking asshole.

"Since you’re here," I said, keeping my tone even, " I’ll let you handle it."

"As you should." he replied smugly.

Of course he enjoyed that.

"Now," he continued, leaning back, "tell me about this Malcolm."

"Malcolm Stein. Felix’s older brother."

Tengu nodded once. "Felix... yes." A pause. " I remember him , I helped bury him."

He said it lightly.

I didn’t respond.

"sorry , sorry . Continue."he said raising his hands up .

" Well as you know , Felix is dead and Malcolm’s been looking for answers ever since. He’s been following me for a while, but he only made direct contact two days ago."

"What changed?"

"I don’t know," I said honestly. "That’s the problem. He waited this long and then suddenly calls me. That’s not random. That’s timing."

And it isn’t because we almost caught him at the motel. This isn’t the first time we had almost got him .

Tengu watched me closely.

"You think he’s ready to act."

"Yes."

A brief silence.

"I need you to find him," I said. "And get him off my back."

"Off your back," he repeated. "As in kill him?"

"No!" The word came out sharper than I intended. "Only if there’s no other option. Threaten him or something. Just... handle it."

"You killed his brother."tengu said putting his leg down .

"It was an accident." I countered

"It always is with you."

"My grandfather sent you to protect me," I said, my voice tightening, "not to be a fucking judge."

He raised his hands slightly. "I’m not judging. I’m clarifying."

I really hate this guy .

"Understood," he said after a moment. "I’ll find him."

"Good."i said taking a breath

"And Himari," he added, his tone shifting slightly, "stay out of it. That wasn’t a suggestion."

I held his gaze.

"Understood."

I left without waiting for anything else.

The elevator ride down felt longer than it should have.

Malik was already outside when I stepped out. I got in and shut the door harder than necessary.

We pulled away.

My phone rang.

Ethan.

The shift was immediate. Everything Tengu left behind in that room faded just enough for something lighter to take its place.

"Ethan. Hey."

"Hi Raina... I’ve got everything planned out, I just need to ask you something."

"Go ahead."

"Do you like roller coasters?"

I smiled despite myself. "I love them."

"Perfect. Saturday. Wheeler’s Park. Two PM." he said " don’t be late ok "

"I won’t be late."

The call ended.

I leaned back, watching the city move past the window.

He was asking me out. Properly.

No work. No excuses. No coincidence.

Just him.

For a moment... everything felt exactly the way I wanted it to be.

And then—

Malcolm.

I turned the phone slowly in my hand.

I won’t let him ruin this for me .