Page 39 of Secrets & Sake

I don’t care about the consequences. Nobody harms Hiro and gets away with it.

Chapter 10

Iput the finishing touches on my article about the mass graves and send it off to the editor. Exhaling, I lean back in my seat. It’s a pretty good article and this could be a huge story. It could even be my first one to make the front page since I started writing for Jiji.

I’m smiling as I take my lunch break. As I scroll social media, I chow down on an egg salad sandwich… and almost choke when I see a photo of Katsuki and his girlfriend. They’re on vacation in Hawaii, the sunset behind them, and Katsuki’s girlfriend is proudly showing off the ring on her finger.

My brother is getting married. Here I was excited about some stupid article while my brother just got a promotion and engaged to the love of his life.

There’s more I should be doing. I’ve been at this for five years but meanwhile, my brother is leaps and bounds ahead of me. Maybe he always will be, no matter how hard I try. Nothing I do ever feels good enough.

My phone buzzes.

Raiden: Hey. Can you come over?

My heart leaps, and happiness chases away my dour mood. He wants to see me, and I want to see him.

Shit. This isn’t good. My feelings are spiraling out of control for this man. I can’t go there. My stupid feelings, whatever they are, are going to detonate in my damn face. He’s a source of information. That’s all.

After work, I meet up with Raiden at his apartment. He leans down and gives me a kiss, and then we go up to the penthouse together.

Once we’re inside the penthouse, Raiden leads me to the living room. “Want coffee? Matcha?”

“Either is good.”

“Just a second.”

I’m wondering what he called me here for.

Raiden brings our drinks to the coffee table. I thank him and take a sip, humming my approval. He even frothed the milk. “You should quit this yakuza stuff and make coffee.”

Raiden suddenly puts his hand on my knee and holds my gaze. My throat goes dry. Shit. What’s he going to say?

“The men who hurt you are not a problem anymore.”

His words ring in my ears. What does he mean? “The guys who attacked me? You found them?”

“And they won’t be bothering you again.”

For a moment, my mind goes blank. I lean back against the sofa, staring at him. “You killed them.”

A stiff nod is my only answer.

Raiden killed them… for me? Two people were killed in my name. It should bother me, but considering they were yakuza, it’s probably for the best they’re gone. “But. Wait. You said they were Takada’s men. Won’t you get in trouble?”

“If Takada finds out. Which he likely will.” He doesn’t sound like he cares at all. Has this guy got a death wish?

“Then why did you do it?” I snap. My heart starts to race as the realization of what he’s done crashes down on me.

He cocks his head, brows furrowing. “What gives? Why’re you pissed at me?” He glowers, though it looks suspiciously like a pout, and crosses his arms.

God. This fucking guy…

“You—of course I’m pissed at you!” I stumble to my feet and back away from him. “You could get in trouble because of me! And didn’t Namikawa just arrange some kind of truce between your clans? You pissing off Takada just put that truce in jeopardy!”

He shrugs. “Good thing I don’t give a shit what Takada or Namikawa think.”

I groan and hide my face in my hands. “Are you kidding me? Why would you risk starting a war with a rival gang?”

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