Page 111 of Emperor of Wrath

“I think he’s a slimy little snake,” Sota says, still grinning pleasantly.

Mal coughs to cover his snort of laughter.

“I think he’d sell his own mother if he got a good price. But…” Sota shrugs. “He’s apparently one of the best. Either way, it’s your call, Kenzo.”

He turns back to Leka and switches to English.

“Kenzo and you can work out the details. He has my blessing to speak for both his organization and mine.”

Sota and Mal exchange a look, glance back at me, then head over to the bar.

“He speaks highly of you, Mr. Mori,” Leka smiles at me.

“Sota-san is a good man.”

“And I want to congratulate you on your marriage.”

I nod. “Thank you.”

“She’s a lovely girl, that Annika.”

My smile hardens. “Yes, she is.”

“I won’t keep you.” He flashes a shark-like smile at me. “But let’s talk soon?—”

“Mr. Leka, I’ll be blunt.”

I’ve already decided. I don’t like this fucker. I don’t like the way he talks, or the way he schmoozes, and I really don’t like the way he calls my wife a lovely girl.

I fix him with a flat, businesslike smile.

“I’m not really looking to bring on more people right now. I’m happy with our current network. Nothing personal, of course.”

His jaw sets, and a flash of malice crosses his face.

“Mr. Mori, I think if we could sit down and speak, I could show you?—”

“No need. My mind is made up. Again, nothing personal.”

His face darkens. “Perhaps we should invite your wife into this conversation.”

Something vicious snarls and claws inside of me.

“Perhaps, Mr. Leka,” I growl, stepping closer, “you should keep my wife out of this conversation, and utterly out of your thoughts. Because that, I can promise you, I will take personally.”

Valon scowls. Then he clears his throat, pasting on a smile.

Yeah, he gets it. He might be hot shit back in his little fiefdom or when he’s running drugs for the Cosa Nostra or the Turkish Mafia. But here?

Here, I’m a fucking Emperor. Here, he bows to me.

“Of course. My apologies, Mr. Mori. I hope that if you ever revisit the question, you’ll keep me in mind.”

Eat shit.

I smile politely as I nod my chin. “Of course. Thank you for coming all the way to Kyoto to meet?—”

“Oh, I had other business here as well.”

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