Page 10 of Emperor of Lust

Kenzo shifts, his fingers drumming lightly against his knee, a tell-tale sign of impatience in him. I frown, taking a step closer. “Kenzo, what?—”

The door opposite where I’m standing swings open, and every head in the room turns as Kir Nikolayev strides in, his presence filling the room with a commanding gravitas. His second-in-command, Isaak, follows a step behind him. Kir’s face is calm and controlled, his eyes sharp as they scan the room, and he gives Kenzo a quick nod before taking a seat in the armchair nearest the fireplace.

I didn’t realize Kir was back in Kyoto from New York, which he calls home most of the time these days. At the same time, it doesn’t surprise me that he’s here. Kir and Kenzo have spent months solidifying the alliance between the Mori-kai and the Nikolayev Bratva. Still, his arrival sends a wave of panic skittering through me.

Not because of him. Because of his fucking nephew.

Damian.

Isaak stands behind Kir, his expression impassive as he takes in the room with a gaze that misses nothing. I force myself to breathe and remain composed as I meet Kir’s eyes, giving a slight nod of acknowledgment. His gaze holds mine for a few seconds, a softness in his eyes as he offers a small hint of a smile and a nod of his chin.

It wasn’t that long ago that Kir, Freya, and I were trapped in a bunker: hostages of a ghost from Mal’s past.

Kir almost died down there in that hole. So did Freya and I. But it’s because of us that Kir’s even still alive, and he’s never missed a chance since to remind me that he considers himself in debt to me.

“We’ll start without him,” Kir says, his voice low but firm as he pulls his gaze from me. “He’ll be along soon.”

My mind snags on the wordhe. A slow, heated blush creeps up my cheeks before I can stop it and I glance away, praying no one notices.

Perfect,I think darkly.Of course, Damian is coming to this meeting, too.

I feel the weight of the room settle on my shoulders, the anticipation thickening as Kir gets comfortable in his armchair. Kenzo’s gaze flicks toward me but he still avoids my eyes, something hanging between us that I can’t yet name.

“As you all know,” Kenzo clears his throat, his gaze shifting to the family gathered around him. “We’ve been trying to expandthe Mori-kai’s and Nikolayev Bratva’s influence in Tokyo. We’ve made progress, but it’s been…slower than we anticipated.”

I clasp my hands together tightly, aware that everyone in the room is familiar with the challenges we’ve faced.

Kenzo glances at me, his expression somber. “Kolya Ishida has made it clear that we’re not welcome in Tokyo. He’s tightened the Ishida-kai’s grip on the city, making it nearly impossible for anyone else to gain a toehold. Every attempt we’ve made has either met with resistance or been outright dismantled.”

Kolya Ishida. I’ve heard enough stories about him and the kind of power he wields to feel a faint chill each time he’s mentioned. The head of the Ishida-kai is half-Russian from his Bratva father, and half-Japanese from his Yakuza mother, who was disowned by her family for running off with agaijin.

After his father was killed, Kolya grew up fighting on the streets of Russia, clawing his way up in a world that owed him nothing. But years later, he returned to Tokyo and did what no one thought possible—he reclaimed his mother’s name and birthright and took control of the Ishida-kai.

Now, they say he rules with a brutality that’s almost mythical—hence his nickname:Yuki no Akuma, the Snow Demon. He’s carved out an impenetrable territory in Tokyo, and evenwe’reforced to watch from the fringes, unable to gain a foothold.

Kenzo takes a deep breath, his voice steady but cautious. “However, we may have a way in. Miyamoto Kato, head of the Kato-kai, has indicated he’s interested in an alliance with us. He’s looking to step down and transfer his influence and territory to a trusted family who can maintain what he’s built.”

A flicker of surprise ripples around the room.

“It’s not entirely out of the blue,” Kenzo continues. “Our father, Hideo…” He turns to nod to Sota out of respect. “Helped Miyamoto in his early days, and gave him the resources to secure his first territory. He’s been in our debt ever since, and now he’s offering to repay us by letting us take over his network as he retires.”

Fuck.This ishuge. Kenzo’s right, too: if we secure the Kato-kai’s territory and manpower, that’s a giant step into Tokyo, even with Ishida-kai pushback.

“Hana,” Kenzo says, his gaze finally landing on me. “You’ll handle the Tokyo branch of Mori Holdings, open the new corporate offices, and establish our position there. We’re starting with our legitimate businesses to build relationships with local officials and allies. Once we’re secure, we’ll bring in the, ah, rest of our operations.”

A surge of adrenaline pulses through me.

Hell yes.

Yet even as I nod, excitement twisting in my chest, I notice Kenzo’s expression turning serious, his gaze flicking to Kir before he continues.

“The thing is…” Kenzo’s voice is caged. “The Yakuza in Toyko is…traditional.Extremelytraditional.”

A low growl rumbles from Mal’s corner of the room, where Freya is perched on his knee. “Meaning?”

Kenzo exhales slowly. “Meaning guys like Miyamoto and the other olderOyabunsin Tokyo may not be willing to work with Hana…”

The realization hits me like a ton of bricks. “Are you kidding?” I snap, feeling the heat of indignation rise to my face. “Because I’m a woman?!”

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