Page 7 of Secrets & Sake

My heart thumps. I’ll be face to face with the Wolf of Asakusa. I wonder why he’s called that. Maybe he’ll tell me. “Actually, just sparkling water with some cranberry for me.” I want to be clear-headed.

Ren grins, eyes twinkling with mischief. “Nervous? Don’t be. Raiden isn’t as bad as the rumors say.”

How can she say that when the guy is behind at least two of the kidnappings? Unless maybe she doesn’t know. I paste on what I hope is an excited smile. “I can’t believe the Wolf himself actually agreed to interview me! The guy is a legend in this city.” I’ll admit, I’ve heard some pretty crazy stories about him from Ren alone. His life couldn’t be more different from mine, packed with danger and excitement. Not that I’m glamorizing what he does. The yakuza are scummy people. But I understand the intrigue around their organizations.

Ren looks behind me, and her smile widens. “Be sure to tell him that.” She tips her chin over my shoulder.

I turn, and there he is. The blue lights from above stain his dark hair as he strides toward me. A dark, tailored suit hugs his broad shoulders and accentuates his slender waist. His white fitted shirt, ironed to perfection, outlines a muscular chest, and a red paisley tie provides a pop of color where it fits snugly against the base of his pale throat. Damn it. I hate how hot he is. Someone like him has no business looking so good.

As our gazes collide, Noboru freezes as if he’s as stuck dumb as I am. Electricity zings down my spine and pools hot in my balls. My dick jumps against my trousers.

The last thing I can afford is a conflict of interest, and Raiden Noboru is a walking, talking, tattooed temptation.

Before I can catch my breath and compose myself, he’s in front of me. He’s even taller up close, making me crane my neck to meet his dark gaze. “I-it’s nice to meet you.” My neck burns as I stutter. Damn it, Jinta. Get a grip! I bow low. “I’m Hiro Watanabe. Thank you for meeting with me.”

“Raiden Noboru,” he says, with a long nod of his head. I expected a deep, gruff voice, but the timbre of his voice is low and unexpectedly gentle, almost musical. He motions to the bar. “Ren, another Hibiki. And for you?”

My throat clicks dryly when I swallow, and I have to struggle to hold his gaze as butterflies dance through my stomach. “I’m good with this.” I hold up my sparkling water with cranberry.

Raiden shrugs and leans on the bar. His face is hard to read, carefully devoid of expression. I wouldn’t say he’s friendly, but he’s not snappish and rude like I worried he’d be. While Ren grabs a bottle off the shelf, I catch Raiden glancing my way. What’s he looking at? Is something on my face?

Ren sets his drink on the bar. “Here you go. Play nice with him.”

Raiden makes a noncommittal grunting noise, which isn’t very reassuring, then motions toward the VIP section on the balcony above. “It’s noisy. Let’s talk upstairs.”

Nodding, I rise from my seat. “Sure—whoa!” My foot slips in a puddle of someone’s spilled drink and slides out from under me. The floor hurtles toward me. I screw my eyes shut—and slam into a hard, warm body as two arms wrap tight around me. My heart jumps up into my throat. For a few long seconds, Raiden inhales deep against my hair. Is he… sniffing me? Arousal heats my skin.

“You okay?” Raiden’s breath warms my ear and ruffles my hair.

Face burning, I look up at him. “Yeah. Thank you.”

Raiden’s dark eyes drop to my mouth so swiftly that I would have missed it if I were capable of looking away from him. This close, I can catch the shadow of barely-there scruff on his chiseled jaw. He doesn’t wear cologne, but he smells like clean, ironed linen and aftershave. My mouth damn near waters.

Clearing his throat, Raiden lets me go and grabs his drink off the bar. “You sure? You don’t need me to carry you upstairs?”

I’m so surprised, I laugh. “No, no! I’m really fine! Lead the way.”

I follow Raiden through the crowd and up the stairs past a burly, bald bouncer guarding the way into the VIP section. There are more guards upstairs stationed around a soundproof booth. Once we’re inside, the noise of the club is muffled. The space is dimly lit with dark leather sofas and a white fur rug on the floor. We’re the only two people in here, and my stomach flips. I thought I’d gotten over much of my social anxiety, but here I am, feeling sick at the prospect of being one-on-one with a handsome yakuza.

My heart races, and sweat slicks my palms. I don’t think he’d try to hurt me. He’s got no reason to. But then again, did he have any reason to kidnap poor Himiko, Kohei, and who knows how many others? I can’t afford to let this ridiculous attraction distract me from the truth. This guy is dangerous, and he’s surely killed and hurt people who didn’t deserve it.

The leather squeaks when Raiden sits down and crosses his ankle over his knee, setting his drink on a marble table. He cocks a dark brow. “Nervous?”

“No,” I assure him, voice cracking unconvincingly. “Okay. Maybe a little. It’s just… wow. I’ve heard so much about you. I’ve always been so curious about the yakuza way of life, and you’re… you’re a living legend in the yakuza world.”

Unless I’m mistaken, I think I see a hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth. Or maybe not. It’s not bright enough in here to tell.

“Is it true you once fought five guys hyped up on meth?”

Raiden’s eyes narrow, and he shifts forward in his seat. Unease turns my skin ice cold. Shit. Was that the wrong thing to say? Ren told me that story. She wouldn’t have if it was off-limits, right?

“I’d tell you the truth”—Raiden’s voice is dangerously low—“but then, I’d have to kill you.”

A chunk of ice falls into my stomach. “O-oh.” I squeeze my glass so hard I worry it will crack. “I-I’m sorry. We can talk about something else. I didn’t mean to—”

And then a big, bright grin springs across Raiden’s face, and he throws back his head and laughs. The breath is punched out of me at the unexpectedly sweet, musical sound of his voice. Fuck. He’s the most gorgeous man I’ve ever seen, and I made him laugh.

A laugh escapes me, and all tension flees my body.

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