Page 27 of Emperor of Havoc

“Well, if you figure it out in the next, oh, seven seconds, and decide it’s a yes?”

I stand and raise my arm.

“Don’t fuck up next time.”

The wrench connects with a sickening crunch, and the basement walls swallow his final scream.

I showerin scalding water afterward. The blood, the grime, it all slides down the drain, swirling into nothingness. By the time I change into clean clothes and head upstairs, the Mori compound feels quiet, almost peaceful.

We’ve only been in the house for a month, but it already feels like home: a fortress hidden in the city’s heart. The mansion itself is a marvel of modern architecture, sharp lines of steel and glass that reflect Tokyo’s neon skyline. The basement is a different story, but that’s intentional.

I walk through the main hall, my footsteps muffled by the thick Persian rugs Kenzo insisted on. My brother’s got a taste for luxury. I don’t mind it. I'll admit, there’s something satisfying about walking through a house that screams power and control.

“Hey, you wanted to see…”

I trail off as I step into Kenzo’s office and seeallmy siblings there. Kenzo is standing by the windows, his jaw tight and a glass of whiskey in his hand. Annika, his wife, sits at his desk nearby. When I step in, she glances at me, then to Kenzo, then back at me.

Okaaaay?

Mal, our cousin, sits at one side of the room, with Freya on his knee. Damian’s back in New York on business for his uncle this week so Hana sits alone, her warmth from earlier gone, replaced by something cold and maybe a little worried.

Shit. What’d I fucking miss?

I don’t have to wait long for the big reveal. Kenzo knocks his head back, downing the rest of his drink before slamming his glass down. He whirls on me, his expression sharp, his face livid.

“Are you fucking high?” he snaps. “What were youthinking?!”

Aha. It would appear word has reached the rest of them about what I pulled earlier tonight. Obviously, I’d rather have toldthem myself. But here we are. And judging from their faces, this toothpaste won't exactly go back into the tube.

“We hadplans, Tak!” Kenzo spits. “Learn Kolya’s ways. Cultivate contacts within his organizations. Map out their operations. Find the weak spots. You told me you’d found a way inside. You didn't tell me it was fuckingthis!”

I smirk, dropping into the leather armchair across from him. “First of all,chill.Secondly, am I missing something?” I arch a brow at my brother. “I just stormed Normandy, defeated the Spanish Armada and sacked Rome, all without lifting a finger or firing a shot. You’re fuckingwelcome, by the way.”

Kenzo’s hand tightens around his glass. “What you just did, Tak, is grabbed the fucking tiger by the tail. You better learn to hold on tight or to run like hell.”

“Comeon,” I reply, stretching my arms out lazily. “Marrying Katarina ends the war. Full stop. Kolya doesn’t have a choice, believe me. All that research? The planning?” I roll my eyes. “Kenzo, I outplayed him. Period.”

Kenzo’s glare is murderous. “You didn’t outplay anyone. You’re forgetting Kolya Ishida is the most ruthless bastard in Tokyo. You think you’re so clever, but all you’ve done is paint a target on your back—and hers, I should add, if you even give a shit.”

My chest twists sharply at that. But I shove the feeling down and lean forward, my smirk fading.

“I’m not afraid of Kolya,” I say coldly. “Or of his men. They think I’m insane, and they’re right. That’s why I’ll win.”

“Tak…”

Hana is looking at me, her brow furrowed. “Why does it feel like you’re making this more personal that it needs to be?”

I scowl. “What?”

“You’re making this personal. I can see it in your fucking eyes.”

I don’t answer. Because she’s right.

This isn’t just about Katarina. Or even Kolya.

It’s about Akira.

It’s taken me a long time to follow the trail. I’ve waited for years for this—for a chance to rip apart the man who killed my friend. Now, I have a name.

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