Page 151 of Emperor of Wrath

He wanted me to deliver a fucking bomb.

I can see how it would play out: Tengan would give me Valon’s demands, and I, blinded by my need to rescue Annika, would do as he said. When I got back here to wire whatever money Valon wanted me to, he’d trigger the bomb, killing Sota back at his house.

And then I’m guessing he’d kill me, too, as soon as he’d gotten his money.

Silently, my brain turning, I stuff the money back into the bag and shoulder it. Then I turn to Tengan, slumped against the wall at death’s door.

“Please…” he chokes, blood dribbling down his chin. “Please, Kenzo, forgive?—”

“No.”

He wheezes wetly as I yank the sword out of him, falling forward and barely catching himself with a hand against the wall.

“But I will honor our deal.”

With one clean stroke, Tengan‘s head separates from his body. I wipe the blade dry on the cuff of his pants. Then I turn and glare into the darkness.

Like a snake who’s just caught the scent of its prey.

34

KENZO

Raw and vicious energy throbs through my veins as I stalk through the darkened tunnel. A section of the path leading to where Valon is holding Annika actually gets pitch black. But then, after the stairs and the first turn of the tunnels, a dim light ahead begins to guide me.

“VALON!” I roar.

Announcing my presence is deliberate. Obviously, the idea of sneaking up on him occurred to me. But the thought of his surprise ending in Annika getting hurt…or worse…was too much of a risk.

Besides, I want him to know I’m coming. I want him to believe I’m as blinded by rage as he wanted me to be.

Make no mistake, I am filled with rage. Hate. The consuming need to kill him with my bare fucking hands.

But I need to get her away from him before I do that. And what I have in mind—playing off his greed and desperation—is probably my only shot.

“That’s far enough, Kenzo.”

As expected, by the time I storm through the brick archway from the tunnel into the command room, Valon is waiting for me, standing right behind and a little to the side of a gagged, wide-eyed Annika. He’s got a gun aimed right at me.

My gaze locks with hers, unspoken words flickering between our eyes.

“Drop your weapons,” Valon growls, gesturing with his own gun. I nod, slipping my sword out from behind me and laying it down next to Tengan‘s gun.

Valon flinches when his gazes drops to the duffel bag in my hand. Before he can say anything, I chuck it at his feet.

“I’ve come to offer a trade,” I hiss coldly at him. “Take your money back, for starters. I speak for Sota when I say keep it. I know you had a trial deal with him, and I know your intention would be to settle up with him. Your war is with me, not Sota.”

I feed him the bullshit with a silver fucking spoon, looking him right in the eye as I do it.

It’s critical he doesn’t guess that I know what else is in the bag.

“Whatever happens here between you and me,” I continue, “Sota will honor the fact that you and he are even.”

Valon seems intrigued, but he nods at the bag.

“What makes you so sure that Sota won’t want his fifty thousand back?”

“As I said,” I shrug. “I have authority to speak for him. I’ve known the man for half of my life, and I know that settling debts is important to him. I can appreciate that your returning the money was a gesture of goodwill. But services were rendered. Sota will want to have paid for them, whether or not you do business together after today.”

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