Thanks so much for the positive feedback everyone. I'm having fun writing this and hopefully you enjoy reading it. The build is slower than I wanted in this one but it sets it up for the next.
*****
Linda survived the night, completely unaware of the ripples her presence caused. She slept well into the next evening; Tomiko and Shouichi never left the room. Their voices were hushed not to wake her even as their conversations sharpened and dulled like a well used sword.
"She's the wife of Cole?" Shouichi asked again as he studied Linda and remained kneeled next to his sister.
"Well ex wife now. That man deserves to be buried alive." Tomiko wiped away a tear as she looked at the bandaged wound.
Her brother wrapped and unwrapped one of Linda's twists around his finger. The more he studied her, the more fragile she seemed and the more murderous he felt.
"Tomi." He reached his other hand for his sister's and held it tightly before letting it go in favor of her shoulder so he could hold her close. She buried her face in Shouichi's shoulder and cried again.
When they were children, the adults would say that Tomiko held the emotions for them both. They were born as twins but never treated as such. He was older by 3 minutes at most, but it could have been three years. He was the older brother, the protector and now again it was time to be quiet and strong for her.
She cried herself to sleep and he held her as she rested against him, taking the time to study Linda more. Her face still carried a hint of softness high in the cheeks as if she'd never quite lose a cherubic innocence. Her lashes were long and curled in mostly the same direction with an errant one here or there. Full lips closed in a soft cinnamon pink despite the fact that all her makeup was washed off. It must have just been their natural color.
Those lips spread and coughed and dark brown eyes fluttered open. She sucked in air and whined, touching the bandage with a trembling hand then groaned softly. Her head turned in their direction and her eyes locked onto him with soft surprise but need.
"It hurts." Linda's voice was hoarse and her eyes scanned him and Tomiko.
Shouichi was a little mesmerized at first. Seeing her move after being so still for so long was dizzying but he nodded at her statement and shook his sister. Tomiko rose and looked toward the palette immediately then did a double take.
"Lin!" She leaned over her and stroked her cheeks. "Lin... you made it."
Linda laughed then immediately regretted it and tears streamed down the sides of her face. It all hurt so badly. Not only the wound, but her body ached. It was like one throbbing mass. Kuro entered after being retrieved by the boss's son. He kneeled next to Linda's form with a small cup in his hand.
"Who am I?" He studied her face and looked over her, checking her hands and around the wound.
"Kuro-sama." Her voice was hoarse but it roused a smirk out of him.
"Good girl. Drink this." He eased a hand under her head and lifted it to assist her. She finished it without complaint and he eased her head back down. Kuro looked over at Tomiko. "She needs to eat and your father will be here shortly."
Tomiko nodded and bowed her head, speaking politely in Japanese. "Thank you for everything Kuro-san."
Linda watched them but the strong pain reliever began to affect her. Her eyes blinked once and then twice and when they opened again she was looking at a new man. He was well dressed like the man she saw with Tomiko and well aged like Kuro. Behind him was another man: bald, quiet, and menacing. She wasn't a fan of constantly being in her underwear around men now.
"I see you have finally awakened. I am Tomiko's father." His voice was strong and commanding in a natural way as if he was meant to lead from birth.
"It's nice to meet you." Linda tried to be as polite as possible as she craned her head to look at him. They were such a tall family. "I'm Linda."
"I know who you are."
She flinched at his abruptness and gritted her teeth at the bit of pain from such a sudden movement.
"I won't be cruel to you; if Kuro trusts you then you are to be trusted. Do you need help?" He looked down at her, his voice monotone and his face emotionless.
"Yes."
"Why not go to your family?"
"I have no family." The question was easy to answer in a cold way.
"Mother?"
"Dead."
"Father?"