28–Alex
“Alexander, what do you have?”
I moved my arm, placing the folders on Yuka’s desk and stepped back, putting my hands behind my back and looking at a small dot on the back wall of Yuka’s office. I didn’t say anything as he picked up the folders and opened them, rifling through the paperwork.
There were reports of the break–ins at my office and Ollie’s club.
Both reports were meticulous, but we hadn’t found a single person who was suspicious. Everyone had come up squeaky clean and it was starting to piss me off. I hated when things didn’t go my way.
Yuka closed the folders and put them to the side. “Sit.”
I did so, unbuttoning my jacket as I did and placing my hands in my lap.
“Oliver has told me you’ve exhausted yourself.”
I closed my eyes for a second, trying to calm my nerves and my voice before I answered the one man who I respected even more than my own father. “Sir. I don’t know what is going on. Usually, we have chatter. You know how women like to gossip in bed. Other clans whispering about an impending attack, or incursion. But there’s nothing”
I looked at Yuka, who was watching me, and I tried to stay calm. “And your contacts?”
They’re seemingly blind and deaf to any of this. It’s as if it’s being orchestrated from outside the clans. Which is weird, because who would be able to get into our buildings, into our world, if they weren’t at least clan–related?”
“So, at the moment, you’re chasing ghosts?”
I nodded and lowered my gaze. “I’m sorry, Yuka–san. I wish I could provide better information for you. I feel I have failed
you
“Nonsense “Yuka chuckled and I lifted my head, looking at him. “If I was in your shoes, I would not have been able to do any better.”
“But-”
Yuka held up a hand and I fell silent. “Do you know why I hired you for this job, Alexander?”
“h it because I can deal with Pearl?” I chuckled and Yuka followed suit.
The woman in the lobby outside scared the shit out of pretty much everyone in the clan, including Yuka himself. But for some reason, Peral was fior with me and my attempts at flirting with her.
Yuka sighed, leaning back in his chair, his laughter dying off.
“Yes, that is one of the reasons, plus, your humor. But in reality, it’s your dogged determination.” I waited for the man to continue. Thave been the head of the Takada clan for twenty years. Ever since my father’s life was taken by a rival. I have seen my fair share of tough guys Men who think they are the best thing since the invention of the wheel. But they are all bark and no late.”
Yuka stood and I quarkly did the same. He waved at me, and I sat back down again, waiting for him to continue.
“Do you remember Nevada
“How could I forget. Sur
Nevada was where Yuka had to
found Oliver and me
Two young men who were still struggling to find their way in the world. Down on their luck and willing to do anything.. and that anything had seen me fall into underground boxing, with Ollie as my corner man. Ollie could have done it, he was big enough, but having once been a promising football player, he’d had his fair share of head knocks, and I wasn’t willing to
rick his life for some coin
- 1 had stepped up and been the dumbass who fought–and the sad thing was.. I was good at it.
But one night, after a fight, some punk tried to jump Ollie and I for my winnings.. and well, I’d done the only thing I could turk of
Id defended my best friend–with my fists
Every now and then, the image of the man lying on the pavement, his face smashed into oblivion came back to haunt me But it was what happened afterward, which was forever etched into my psyche.
The man I had smashed was Yuka’s youngest brother.
He’d lived, thankfully,
But I had a target on my back after that and when Yuka came looking for us, I honestly thought Oliver and I were going to die. Especially when I realized who it was, and what I’d done.
happened next, was what saw me sitting here, talking to one of New York’s most powerful men.
Instead of killing me, or giving me a beating, like I’d given his brother–Yuka had given me and Oliver jobs. We started at the bottom and rose through the ranks of the Takada clan quickly. To the positions we were now in
It was later divulged to me and Ollie that Yuka’s brother had been cheating the clans and if I hadn’t had smashed his face in
him in hospital, they would never have known about it.
and put
“I saw something in you, which I wanted to foster and refine.”
Yuka’s voice bought me back to the present and I looked at the older man.
vare,
“I have faith in your abilities, Alexander. You will find who is doing this, why they are, and deal with it accordingly.”
Yuka turned and sat down again, lifting a small glass of sake to his lips. “Will you join me for a drink?”
I bowed slightly and shook my head. “I’m sorry sir, as much as I would love to, I have a meeting with Oliver at the Dragon, to go over footage offered from other businesses in the area.”
“Fair enough. But before you leave for the night, did Pearl give you the itinerary?”
I nodded, touching the folders on the other seat next to me. “Yes sir, I will look at them when Sota takes me to the Dragon.”
“Good. Good. I want your opinion on the best way to approach this upcoming meeting. I have heard of some rumblings between some of the leaders, that this is just prostrating to a man who won’t be holding onto his seat for much longer. 1 want to make sure there is an escape plan in place.”
“So, the normal, with the chance of an extra kick of spiciness?” I asked and Yuka smiled, nodding.
“Yes, make it a seventy–five percent chance.”
I nodded and climbed to my feet, picking up the folder as I did so and bowed to Yuka. “I will have everything drawn up by the morning.”
“Don’t be too much in a rush, Alexander. The meeting is in a week. Go, meet with Oliver, then relax. You look..”
“Like shit?” Yuka laughed and I followed suit. “Yeah, Oliver has already told me as much. I will try and relax.”
I bowed again and stepped back, before turning and leaving Yuka’s office. On the way out, I quickly flirted with Pearl, as per our custom and then made my way back down to my office, a few floors below, to close up for the day.
As I stepped out into the lobby, I looked over to Suki. My secretary and Yuka’s only niece. “Suki, sweetheart, can you close my books for the rest of the week?”
Suki Yamashina was a typical Japanese beauty, with delicate features and a sweet, innocent face. But I had seen her at Oliver’s club, ripping into her husband for his wandering eye and I knew I never wanted to be on the end of her anger. She looked up from her computer, a confused look to her face. “Alex?”
“Yuka has told me to relax. I need a break. I don’t want to be disturbed until Monday, unless absolutely necessary.” She opened her mouth to complain, but I shook my head as I walked past. “You can still claim the wages, Suki, you’re going to be the one fielding–my phone calls.”
“Okay, Mr. Kazumi” She called out to me as I made my way down the corridor to my office. I shut the huge door behind me with a heavy thud and leaned against it
Yuka was right
I needed a break. I was exhausted, chasing shadows and trying to keep in my boss’s good books. I knew if I kept it up like I was, I was going to burn out and then I wouldn’t be any good to anyone.
Sighing, I headed to my desk and threw the folder onto it. Collecting my laptop out of its locked drawer, 1 showed it into its carry case, along with other documents that I knew were sensitive, including the folder Pearl had given me on the upcoming trip
Once I had gathered everything, I shung the strap over my shoulder and made my way out of the office and into the foyer. Suki was still there, on the phone, canceling meetings and I waved to her as I left.
Taking the elevator, I made my way down to the main lobby, where my driver was waiting, reading in one of the comfy chairs. “Sota, we’re leaving.”
Sota was hage
A failed Sumo wrestler, he was bull–necked and solid and one of the best drivers I had ever worked with in the clan. He refused to work for anyone but me, because I had seen his potential and had treated him with respect, when others had sneered at his failures.
“Where are we off to Mr. Kazumi?” he asked, stepping in front of me. It’d been something I’d taught all the drivers, who were also bodyguards
Always walk in front of your client. Better you take the bullet than the client. Take me to the t
“Tel sur
Dragon
As I climbed into the sedan and Sota took us across town, I opened the bag that held the laptop and other folders and bought out the one I needed and started planning Yuka’s trip to Chicago.
