Unraveled (Mastered 3)

Just tell him. Straight out. Knox, the morning-after pill I took after the first time we had sex didn’t work, and although we’ve used protection every other freakin’ time, we’re pregnant.

Shiori had to quit obsessing, and yet she still checked to see if she had any text messages from Knox. That’s when she noticed a voice mail from a number she didn’t recognize. She put it on speaker.

“Good morning, Miz Hirano. This is Jeff Jenkins of Executive Luxury Associates calling in regard to the penthouse lease. The owners of the property you’re leasing have returned to the country two months earlier than planned due to health issues. The lease contract has a provision for medical emergencies, so you’ll need to vacate the premises by one week from tomorrow.”

What the fuck?

“Naturally, you will be refunded the entire deposit amount, the payment for the last month will be refunded, and we’ll foot the cleaning charges. Please, Miz Hirano, call us as soon as you receive this message. Sorry for the inconvenience.” The message ended.

“You’re not one bit sorry for the inconvenience, you asswipes.” Just what she didn’t need to deal with on top of everything else.

After making sure she had her phone and the pictures from the doctor’s office, she called for a car to take her to Knox’s house.

His place was dark; only one dim light from the kitchen reflected in the front window. But Knox’s pickup was parked out front, so she knew he was home.

She turned the handle, but the door was locked.

Hadn’t he been expecting her?

Shiori dug out the key he’d given her, unlocked the door, and slipped inside. When she hit the living room lights, she saw Knox hunched over the breakfast bar.

He didn’t acknowledge her. The half-empty bottle of booze clasped in his right hand could be the reason for that.

“Are you celebrating something?” she asked.

“Just the opposite.” Knox didn’t offer any further explanation. Instead he said, “What’re you doing here?”

“You asked me to stay this morning, remember?”

“But you didn’t stay. I figured you went home. Besides, when do you take into consideration what I want?”

“Since . . . always.” Tired of talking to the side of his head, she moved into the kitchen to stand in front of him. “Where is all of this coming from?”

“Like you don’t know.”

“I don’t. So tell me.”

“Master Black. Sensei.”

“What about him?”

“You missed a great fucking meeting today. The new rules for the House of Kenji were laid out.”

“And?”

“And congratulations to you.” Knox picked up the bottle in a mocking toast and swigged. “The rules are black-and-white.” He snickered. “Black, get it? Ronin Black’s rules? Funny, right?”

“Hilarious. Tell me what that means.”

“It means Black Arts is under the House of Kenji, and since you outrank me, you officially get the title of Shihan.”

That made no sense. Knox had to have misunderstood. “Ronin said this to you? This is not you extrapolating something you overheard?”

“You think I’m an idiot? I might be drunk now, but I sure wasn’t drunk when Master Black informed me of the change. Effective immediately.” He tipped the bottle and drank. “I never realized how short I fell of Sensei’s expectations until you showed up here.”

That wasn’t true and he knew it when he wasn’t full of booze and self-pity. “I’m not following.”

“No, you’re always leading, aren’t you?” he shot back.

Shiori counted to ten, trying to keep her temper in check. “Do you want me to apologize for being a higher belt rank than you? Guess what? I won’t. I worked just as hard as you did to get where I am. Harder because I’m a woman.”

“Which is why you’re now Shihan. You should’ve been it the minute you walked into the dojo. I didn’t question staying in the number two spot just because I was so damn glad to be there. I didn’t know I’d retained the position only because Sensei felt sorry for me. I’m a fucking pity case. Or I was.”

How was she supposed to respond?

“Do you have any idea what that feels like? Of course you don’t. You’re the anointed one.”

“That’s not something I—”

“Let me finish.” His tone was curt. And a little raw.

“By all means, since this has been going so well so far.”