Page 62 of Emperor of Havoc

I raise an eyebrow. “You think I poisoned myself at my own wedding.”

“Look, I already know there’s a thousand things about this whole operation that you’re not telling me. I’m choosing to ignore that. I just want to know what your angle was if youdid?—”

“I didn’t poison myself and my bride at our wedding, Kenzo.” I tap my temple. “I’m crazy—not nuts.”

He waves a hand. “No one says you’re crazy, brother.”

“Everyonedoes,” I grin. “And they’re right. Still wasn’t me, though.”

“Then we have bigger problems. I’ve heard about you royally pissing off Sergey Vorobev by kicking his son out of the race to marry Katarina. If it was him?—”

“Wasn’t Sergey,” I say dismissively, leaning back against the bike.

Kenzo narrows his eyes. “How can you be sure?”

I take a moment, weighing if I should tell him. Hell, it doesn’t really matter. “It was Katarina.”

He freezes. “What?”

“My bride,” I say with a nonchalant shrug. “She laced the third bowl.”

“Fuck off,” Kenzo groans, shaking his head and smirking, waiting for the “gotcha”. When it doesn't come, he freezes and glances around, checking to make sure no one else can hear before he leans closer. “You’re fucking serious?”

I nod.

“That doesn’t make sense. Why would she?—”

“Whynot?” I counter, crossing my arms. “She wanted to show she’s not to be fucked with.”

“Why the hell would she do that?”

“Probably because I’ve been fucking with her,” I shrug. “Anyway, it’s a move I can respect.”

“Respect?” Kenzo’s voice is incredulous. “We had a plan, Takeshi. You marry her, secure the alliance, and stabilize the families. Not piss everyone off so much that your new wife tries to kill you at your own wedding.”

“Plans change,” I say simply.

Kenzo stares at me for a long moment. Then he exhales sharply, running a hand through his hair. “You’re playing a dangerous game, little brother.”

“When am I not?”

“Tak!” he snaps. “If this falls apart, it’s war. A real war. And you know what that means.”

“Yes, I do,” I say, my voice dropping to a dangerous edge. “But thisisn’tgoing to fall apart. I’ve got this, okay?”

I…don’t. Not in some grand master plan way. Honestly, I’ve been shooting from the hip ever since I set foot in Kolya’s dining room and blew up his plans to link Katarina with that drunk fuck Rodion.

But as long as I can get to the point that I can carry out my real mission?

That’s all I need.

Kenzo clearly isn't convinced but doesn’t argue further. He just turns, his gaze drifting toward the city.

“Don’t forget why we’re here,” he says at last, his voice quieter. “Or let her distract you.”

I don’t respond. After a moment he turns and walks away, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

Too late.

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