Page 109 of Emperor of Havoc

“You mean your and Kenzo’s idea to neutralize the prospect of war between us and the Ishida-kai?”

I nod. “The plan was always the same,” I reply, my voice low and rough. “Use her to get inside the Ishida-kai.”

Hana swears under her breath. “Fuck, Tak…”

“I wanted revenge, Hana,” I growl quietly.“It was Kolya who killed Akira. I used her to get close to him.”

“You’re sure about Kolya? That he?—”

“It washim,” I cut her off, my tone sharp. “He has to pay for what he did to Akira.”

For a second, I swear I hear something. But when I shut the fuck up and tilt my head to the side, I relax when I hear it again: it’s just a fucking car horn going off somewhere in the city.

Hana sighs heavily. “But is thereproof?”

I shake my head. “I’m working on it. I’ve tried to hack into his systems, but there’s nothing there so far.”

“Have you asked Freya for help?” she asks.

“No,” I say quickly. “This is about me, not the family. I don’t want to involve any of you.”

“Tak,” she says firmly. “Let us help. You don’t have to do this alone.”

I clench my jaw, thinking.

“There’s something Kolya’s hiding,” I finally admit. “He keeps meticulous records but there are entire parts of his businesses, his world, that are missing from his system. That means they’re somewhere else. I just need to find out where.”

“Why bother?” Hana asks. “If you’re so sure he did this, why waste time?”

I don't respond, my gaze dropping to the floor. I know the answer, but saying it out loud feels like a betrayal.

When Hana speaks again, her voice is tinged with disbelief. “This is about her, isn’t it?”

I run a hand through my hair, frustration simmering beneath the surface. “She needs to see proof, or she’ll never believe it.”

“And if she does believe it?” Hana asks. “What then?”

I don’t have an answer for her.

The silence stretches between us, heavy and unending. Hana sighs again, and I can hear the faint edge of worry in her voice.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Sure,” I grunt.

“It’s…” My sister sighs. “It’s a big question.”

“Hana—”

“Do you love her? Is that the problem? That you’ve fallen in love with the daughter of the man on whom you’re trying to wreak vengeance?”

My eye close as I drop my forehead again to the cool glass.

“Yes,” I murmur.

Hana and I talk a little while longer. But eventually, I say goodnight to my sister and sink onto the couch by the windows, gazing out over the city.

I came here with a plan. A vendetta.

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