Page 94 of Emperor of Lust

I stare at him keenly. “What are you saying?”

“I’ll pay back every cent I took from her.” He pauses. “And I’d like to…” He glances at his wife, then drags his eyes to me. “Sweeten the deal, so to speak.”

My eyes glint. “Excuse me?”

“May I?” He starts to stand. I nod, backing away as he and his wife get to their feet. “Look,” Senator Donahue sighs. “What are you, Yakuza?”

“Bratva,” I growl. “But allied with the Mori-kai Yakuza.”

He nods. “Well, let me explain to you how government works.” He smiles wryly. “It’s corrupt. Always. And the way to get good things done is to align yourself with the right ‘wrong’ people.”

My brows lift. “You want to ally yourself withmyorganization.”

The Senator smiles. “Would it be so bad? It could be win-win. As Ambassador, I’ll have a decent amount of influence onthe Japanese government—on their policies regarding organized crime, for example. Or sentencing maximums.”

Christ, what a corrupt fuck. At the same time, he’s right.

Thiscouldbe win-win. Bigtime, too.

“What, precisely, would you want from me in exchange of this…influence?”

“Information on those you consider enemies.” He shrugs. “I’ll be seen as cleaning up the streets by helping to shut down certain organizations…” He lifts a significant brow. “While quietly allowingotherorganizations…shall we say…carte blanche?”

My God. I hate that I’m even considering this. But hedoeshave a point.

“You think this buys my forgiveness?”

“I think it’s a start,” he says, a faint smirk on his lips. “Plus this.” He turns and walks to a desk in the corner. He opens a drawer, pulls out checkbook and pen, and makes it out.

“Here.” He strides back to me and hands me the check.

Fuck me. That’s…alot.

“You’ll note I left the recipient blank. Keep it for yourself,” he shrugs, “or she can cash it personally, or pump it back into her family’s organization. Up to you.”

I glance again at the massive check before I fold it up and slip it into my pocket.

“What do you say…” Senator Donahue frowns. “I’m sorry, I missed your name.”

“Damian,” I mutter.

He smiles. “Damian. Do you think we have a deal?”

“We might,” I say quietly. “It’s not my decision.”

“But you’ll bring it to those whose decision it is?”

I suck on my teeth, eying him. Donahue is clearly a self-serving opportunisticshit. But that plays in my favor right now.

“I will,” I growl.

He beams, clasping his hands together. “Excellent!” he cries. “Truly excellent!”

He chuckles as he turns to refill their wine glasses and pour one for me. Josh’s mom walks over and hands me mine.

“A toast?” she says hopefully, smiling. “To a mutually beneficial new relationship here in Japan?”

“I’ll bring the offer to my uncle,” I murmur. “That’s all I can promise.” I turn to level a hard look at Donahue. “You should know, if I bring this to Hana, and she wants you dead…” I smile as his face pales. “That’s what will happen.”

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