Loving Jiro by Jordyn Tracey Page A

especially when she and Ayumi both were somewhat depressed when Jiro had to go out of town on business, it was the safest she had ever felt in her life. “This is like living on constant vacation,” she admitted. “As long as I keep out of sight of your grandfather."
    Ayumi rolled her eyes. “Yes, I'm really sorry about how he treated you when you first came. Sometimes, it makes me angry how our ways are. I'm not supposed to have too much exposure to the western way of doing things because Grandfather thinks it will corrupt me. But I've seen that women aren't treated out there,"—she gestured toward the gates leading off the property—"as they are here. We live in our own world, and it's not right."
    "You've apologized enough for the entire family.” Kiara laughed. “Jiro is good to me. He never raises his voice, never hurts me in any way. That is priceless."
    Her companion gave her sidelong look. Kiara knew that expression. Only ten, having had her birthday a couple weeks back, Ayumi was wise beyond her years. She knew without being told that Kiara had been abused, and that she still had a problem with Jiro's line of work.
    They walked on in silence, Kiara lifting her face to the warm sunlight. Birds chirped and leaves rustled at a slight breeze. Despite whatever reservations still lurked inside her, she couldn't help the anticipation she felt inside. Jiro would be back tonight from his latest trip, in time for some type of function. Ayumi always called them family get-togethers, but from what Kiara had gleaned, more than family would be present. Either way, Jiro would no doubt be in her bed again. She had missed him more than she wanted to.
    "Kiara?"
    "Hmm?"
    Ayumi hesitated. “I understand how you might feel suffocated by the rules the men in my family put on you."
    A warning went off in Kiara's head. “How so?"
    "Well...” She glanced around, then took Kiara's hand to pull her off the path. They picked their way through the trees to a small clearing with a bench in its center. Had Ayumi not brought her here, she would not have known it existed. The trees were so thick, that no one could see in until they pushed their way through to it. “I discovered this place after I found out my mother was killed."
    Kiara gasped. “You were only four years old."
    She nodded. “I know, and I didn't really understand what was going on. Jiro-san said she wouldn't be back, that she had gone to rest with our ancestors, to watch over me. I was so mad at him for saying that. Someone left the door open, and I ran and ran.” She stroked the bench seat like an old friend. “My face was all scratched, but I found this place. It's a safe hideout for me. Maybe my mom led me here. She comforted me, and I fell asleep. After a long time, Jiro-san found me and took me home. That night he promised he would always take care of me, no matter what. I know now that it was also when he decided to become an assassin."
    Kiara dropped onto the bench. Jiro and his grandfather thought they were shielding Ayumi from the dangers of the western world, but she knew so much already about death and killing. How could that be healthy? “I don't understand. I would think he would not do that type of work because it was risky.” She didn't want to outline how risky, like the fact that someone could retaliate and kill him or his family. She shivered at the thought. She had already seen firsthand the guards present at all times on the grounds.
    "It's because of what happened to my parents,” she explained. “My other brother, Jiro-san's twin, was supposed to protect them, to handle the threat against my family. He wouldn't do it, and Jiro-san was the second son. When Ichiro-san died, the responsibility fell on Jiro-san. He promised Grandfather that he would get the people responsible for my parents’ and my brother's deaths."
    "How do you know that?"
    She had the grace to blush. “I listen at doors sometimes.” A laugh escaped her, and she covered her