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I tense.
“Let me tell you a tale, Mr. Black. Years ago, before my uncle and my family’s clan were as prominent as they are now, a different Yakuza family ruled Japan. The Mori-kai.” He smiles. “They were powerful, wealthy, and very well-connected with the government. But then, their oyabun lost his way. He got tangled up with a woman not of the Yakuza way. A foreigner, no less, and they had a daughter together.”
My pulse skips.
“Those two things together made him weak. He fled, taking his daughter with him, when this woman of his was killed. After that, the once great Mori-kai folded, scattered to the four winds. My family was bold enough to sweep up the broken pieces and build them into an empire. But there are remnants of the Mori-kai still out there. And a man who could unite them would rule all of Japan.”
“That’s a wonderful bedtime story for the kids,” I hiss. “Next time, though, I think you should throw in some dragons and magic?—”
“The oyabun who fled Japan and the Mori-kai is Hideo Yamaguchi.”
I go still.
“Formerly known as Hideo Mori. And, since you’re such an intelligent man, I presume you know where I’m going with this…”
Sweet Jesus. Fumi. He’s talking about Fumi.
“I don’t know what the fuck you think this is supposed to prove.”
He grins. “I’m not interested in proving anything, Mr. Black. I came here today because blood talks. And so does money.” He steps closer to me. “I came here tonight, Mr. Black, to make you this offer: divorce Fumi. Let me marry her instead. The five million you gave her, which she gave to me, will be returned to you. Use it for whatever you want…a new house, cars, women…” He shrugs. “Put it all into your campaign if you like, though my sources tell me you’re almost guaranteed to win.”
My heart thuds dully in my chest. A low siren whines in my ears.
“This is bigger than you, counselor,” Takato says quietly. “Far bigger. This is about me recouping what is mine to recoup. It’s about collecting the last remnants of power of the Mori-kai under my house, with the daughter of Hideo Mori at my side.”
It takes everything I have not to put my fist through the asshole’s face.
“I am who she should be married to, Gabriel.”
“She should be married to whomever she wants.”
He chuckles. “Really, counselor? Says the man who paid her five million to marry him?” He shakes his head, smiling coldly. “Don’t insult me, Mr. Black. And don’t make the mistake of crossing me or doubting my resolve with this…or any other matter.”
He slips a card into my jacket pocket.
“I’m flying back to Japan tonight. You have forty-eight hours to make this right. If what I hear whispered on the wind about what you’ve dug up on Governor Hall is true, you’ll win the election at this point even without a fake wife by your side. So…” He cocks his head. “Do the smart thing. Don’t cross me, Mr. Black,” he growls, stepping closer. “I’ve taken down far bigger than New York Governors before.”
I watch in silence, bristling with rage, as Takato strides away.
I don’t “do” threats from fuckheads like him.
The second he’s out of sight, I yank out my phone and dial a number.
Ares, Kratos’ oldest brother and the head of the Drakos family, answers with a chuckle. “You know I’m actually at the fundraiser right now, yeah? Where the fuck are you?—”
“I need to call in a favor.”
Ares is a smart man, and he gets my tone of voice instantly.
“Gimme a sec, lemme get somewhere we can talk.” There’s some scuffling, then he clears his throat. “Okay. What’s going on, Gabriel?”
“Do you still have connections with certain three-letter government agencies?”
A brief pause. “I do.”
“I need someone put on the no-fly list into the US. A Japanese national: Takato Ito. But I need it only to go into effect tomorrow.”
After Takato leaves the US and lands back in Japan.
