I was waiting near the pool the next morning when Kan’s guards brought Akira in, and shoved her to her knees.
I winced, and Kan, who was ever attentive to every tiny cue from me, scolded them with a charring look.
The men bowed and stepped back.
I turned my eyes back to the woman; blindfolded, her hands and legs bound behind her and remembered how she had smiled at me just before I had walked into that room.
I had ignorantly thought she was just being kind and sweet where domestic staff here usually weren't, but now that I knew the truth, I felt chills all over my arms.
Her smile had been a farewell.
I stood up from the couch on the open backyard porch, overlooking a deep blue swimming pool, and padded barefoot towards her.
Kan said nothing and just remained sitting quietly.
She
