Page 76 of Emperor of Lust

This. Whateverthisis.

“There’s something else I need to talk to you about,” I mutter. “Kolya Ishida made contact tonight, via an envoy.”

I can practically hear Kir’s jaw grinding. “Did he, now,” he growls. “What does he want?”

“For us to split with the Mori family and partner with him.”

Kir snorts. “Of course he does. Divide and conquer. His Russian half is showing.”

I sigh heavily. “Yeah, well, the offer came with threats.”

“Against?”

“Our family. The Mori family.”

Kir exhales. “And your thoughts?”

I shake my head. “I don’t doubt that Kolya is a man of action, even brutal action. But Ithinkthe threats tonight were simply that—threats. I also think they mean he’s worried,” I mutter. “He sees the writing on the wall and realizes that a joint Nikolayev-Mori incursion into Tokyo is going to throw off the balance of a lot of things he has an interest in here. He needed to make his voice heard, loudly, because he needs to split us from the Mori-kai to weaken his enemies.”

Kir chuckles quietly. “You’re a good student, nephew.”

“I had a decent enough teacher,” I grin.

“What does the student think we should do next?”

I draw in a breath. “I doubt Kolya is going to try anything. But I do think we should bulk up security. We’ve got some men justsitting around in Kyoto. I’m going to get them on a bullet train here by tomorrow morning, and I’m going to suggest to Kenzo that he send some of his guys with them.”

“Fortification. Smart move,” Kir murmurs. “Good work.”

There’s a pause.

“Is the extra security for our interests, or the Mori-kai’s?”

I frown. “Well—we’re on the same team…”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“Then speak clearer,” I growl.

“Fine.” My uncle coughs delicately. “Is the extra security for you, or for Hana?”

My jaw sets.

“I can handle myself, Kir.”

He chuckles quietly. “That’s the only answer I need.”

Part of beinga good hunter entails being good at waiting.

That’s exactly what I do when it comes to Prescott Harding.

In my world, I don’t have the luxury of believing in coincidences. So when Hana gets a random surprise iPad delivered with a recording of her assault on it, and then one of the fuckersfromthat night just happens to cross her path within twenty-four hours?

Like I said: me and coincidences don’t exactly see eye-to-eye.

Prescott’s been in a medically induced coma since I beat him so badly that he had brain swelling, but he’s awake now.

Which means it’s time to pay him a visit and have a littlechat.

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