Chapter 7

• Amaya
• "This has to be a nightmare..."
• "If it's any consolation, little sister, he's doing it to protect you," Hiro said.
• The look he got from our father silenced him immediately, enough for him to turn his face away.
• "What are you talking about?"
• "When we get to Los Angeles, we'll talk about everything, I promise you, suki," my father replied, and I furrowed my brow.
• I shook my head; I was somewhat afraid, and I didn't miss the serious look Hiro gave Hiroshi. It made me wonder if it was something natural, usual, for the oyabun to be so expressive and affectionate. I didn't want to inquire, so I just looked out the window until we reached San Francisco. To my complete astonishment, my mother was waiting at the door with a large suitcase and a handbag.
• "Why are we going home?" I questioned the man of all my troubles.
• "Because your mother wants to see you before we board the plane, and we also came for some of your things," he explained, narrowing his eyes.
• "I need all my assignments, everything from university. You should've..."
• "Everything is on your account and in the cloud. We can provide you with the books in the coming days, and your mother has taken care of the rest, so I don't want to hear any other 'buts' coming out of your mouth," he said seriously before getting out of the car.
• I ran my hands through my hair, cursing without any hesitation.
• "Your mother is a beautiful woman," Hiro said, pulling me out of my thoughts. "I understand she must have something in her gray matter to have piqued the cunning old man's interest. Something you seem to have inherited, right? Weren't you raised under our teachings?"
• "No."
• "Well, at least you're honest. So, let me give you a big warning, little sister: follow the rules, don't challenge Otōsan. Especially not in front of anyone else. You'd earn a direct scolding... And don't even think about doing it in front of my mother or my sisters—any of the three, or all three—any of them would turn their backs on you for such disrespect," he advised, and that stuck with me. "I was born, grew up, and live completely within our culture, enough to know that no matter if you have our facial features, if you don't fulfill all our precepts and standards, you're not one of us."
• I knew that very well, too well.
• "I know, and that's why, when I came of age, I distanced myself from it. I have no interest in meeting them, in forming bonds, or in pleasing a man who kept me as a dirty secret," I admitted angrily as I saw the co-pilot handling the suitcases, while my parents approached. "My dreams, my life... have nothing to do with the Yakuza."
• "It's going to sound cruel in what I'm about to tell you, but you need a reality check: you're a woman, you owe it to our parents, to the family, and like it or not, Yakuza blood runs through your veins. So, not only will you be at risk, you'll be considered a loose end and perhaps even a threat," he warned before we got on board. "This won't last long; after you're presented, you'll probably return to your world, but with a lot of protection."
• That was what I feared the most, the complete feeling of suffocation.
• My father and mother got into the limousine, and she came straight to give me a hug that I didn't reciprocate. This made her step back and look at me with a pitiful expression.
• "Are you upset with me?" She dared to ask.
• "My entire life, Mom."
• "Don't be so hard on me. When your father explains what's happening, you'll understand many things... I just need you to be obedient," she pleaded. "This won't last long."
• I didn't trust her words.
• She said her goodbyes at the airport, talked to Hiro as if he were another lost son, and then left us alone. Two hours later, we were getting into another limousine, one that took us to a residential area that was completely different from everything I knew, undoubtedly a world completely different from mine.
• "We're going to one of my properties. I've arranged for a team to get you ready for the presentation dinner," my father informed me, and I looked at him with a furrowed brow.
• "What do you mean by the presentation dinner? I don't understand what's wrong with my outfit."
• Hiro couldn't contain his laughter, as if I were the funniest thing in the world.
• "It's an official dinner, little sister. The one you're wearing would never fit in," he said amused. "You have to look like a dignified Yagami daughter."
• "I'm not a woman who dresses up."
• "It's obvious, but I know the team my father consulted is among the best. They'll make you look radiant, and don't worry, I'll guide you myself," he offered, surprising me.
• "Wow... Thank you."
• "You're welcome. Just get ready to be the talk of our family."
• My father shot him a dirty look, but we got out of the car. Then, they took me straight to a room, so I couldn't get a good look at the house, the property I didn't know. A team of women was there with a short royal blue dress, gorgeous and with a sweetheart neckline. There was a box of sparkling jewelry on it, and silver heels that matched the whole ensemble.
• I didn't understand how I let them do it, but by eight o'clock, I was ready and looking at myself in the mirror, unable to conceive that the beautiful woman reflected was me. I felt as if I were in a dream, one that had me completely numb.
• "Wow, I see you inherited the good genes," Hiro said.
• I turned to look at him; he looked handsome in a tailored black suit that matched his masculine, handsome face and his wicked smile.
• "From my mother, obviously."
• "Of course, you don't look anything like Grandma Kaori, not at all."
• The mention of my father's mother was like a squeeze to my heart.
• "I only heard about her once," I admitted, and he reached out his hand.
• "Today you'll get to know much more, so let's go."
• We walked, and he explained that our father was already meeting with the council; it was necessary due to some events that weren't my concern. That made me furrow my brow, enough to pay attention. He warned me that his mother wouldn't be kind, and therefore, his sisters wouldn't be either. So, he offered me apologies in advance.
• "Don't worry, it's logical..."
• The limousine dropped us off at a much larger, splendid, luxurious mansion. Then, it was as if nerves had completely taken me over, and he had the presence of mind to urge me to follow.
• When we entered the room, everyone's eyes turned towards me. It was so strange that I felt somewhat inhibited. Then I heard some phrases in Italian.
• "She's a goddess, one I'd take to the altar without hesitation if I could."
• "Of the three daughters, she's undoubtedly the most beautiful. And she'd be a magnificent addition as a lady of the Camorra."
• That made me turn to face the two men who were speaking next to the door.
• "The woman you're talking about can understand you. At least have some decency," I said, surprising everyone.