“That’s what’s worrying me. That they didn’t give us a heads-up and let someone come all the way to your door.”
“Then they must have thought that someone would certainly be welcome.”
“I’m not taking any chances.”
She suddenly slapped her forehead. “You made me forget I have a video intercom.”
He blinked at her. It seemed his circuits had been irrevocably fried, wiping out all his ingrained training. He’d have to train all over again. He’d have to reinstall simple logic.
Feeling sheepish, he followed her as she checked the video feed. With a gun pointed at the door.
Then he saw who it was and his arms fell to his sides, the gun dangling loosely in one hand.
It was his uncle, Megumi and Hiro.
With a cry of surprise, Scarlett rushed to open the door.
Raiden stood frozen, unable to even come up with a reason that the unlikely trio was here. He’d thought he’d never see them again, let alone together.
He watched Scarlett welcome them inside, hugging Hiro, her face alight with pleasure at seeing her friend, and he could swear she was really pleased to see the other two, too.
The trio looked over at Raiden, their gazes drawn to the gun in his hand.
He waved it in self-deprecation. “I assume I don’t need this and that you come in peace?”
Megumi giggled. Giggled! And such a merry sound, too.
Seemed it had been the prospect of marrying him that had been the reason for her stilted attitude.
As he put the gun away, Scarlett invited them all into her living room.
As soon as they sat down, Hiro blurted out, “I wouldn’t have blamed you if you shot me on sight, Kuroshiro-san.”
“When I thought you were interested in Scarlett, you were definitely in danger. Now, as her best friend, you’ve been drafted to the role of mine, too.”
“It would be my honor to have you as a friend and ally, Kuroshiro-san.” Hiro extended a hand to him, his eyes warm for the first time.
Raiden shook his hand. “If we’re going to be friends, you’d better get used to calling me Raiden. And I’ll call you like my lady calls you...Hiro.” He slapped Hiro on the back and winked at his absolute surprise. “Next time you want to force me to do the right thing, just pick up the phone and threaten me. I’d rather be given the chance to avoid being smeared all over the tabloids and the World Wide Web.” Hiro looked so mortified he took pity on him. “And if we’re going to be friends and allies, we need to start working on your sense of humor. I was only teasing.”
“You shouldn’t be,” Hiro objected. “I thoughtlessly caused you and Scarlett, and at the time Hashimoto-sama and Megumi-san, a terrible scandal.”
He grinned as he gathered Scarlett to his side. “From where I’m sitting, what you did was part of a sequence of events that led to me being here, the happiest man in existence.”
Scarlett raised her hand. “Happiest woman in history here.”
Though they’d just said the truth, she was clearly unable to bear seeing her friend beating himself up over this and she needed to make him exonerate himself. He felt the same way. Even if Hiro’s actions could have caused untold damage, they hadn’t. And what he and Scarlett had now was so unbelievable, he could forgive anyone anything.
“And then you were only defending your beloved,” Raiden added. “Saving her from a fate worse than death—marrying a man who loves another while she loves you.” He grinned widely at Megumi, then at the still-chagrined man. “So that makes you a hero in my eyes.”
“You might both forgive me in your magnanimity, because somehow my actions caused you only temporary distress. But that things were resolved so spectacularly was no thanks to me. So I reserve the right not to forgive myself, and to be forever at your disposal, should you require satisfacti
on.”
“Just take that get-out-of-jail-free card, Hiro. I will no doubt need one from you at a future date.” At Hiro’s reluctant nod, with one last smile, Raiden turned his gaze to his uncle. “Not that I’m not thrilled for this unexpected opportunity to see you again, but I really thought I never would. So what brings you here? Whatever you needed, you know I’m forever at your disposal and I would come to you wherever you are.”
“I had to be the one to come to you to make the offer,” Hashimoto said.
“What offer?”