Page 109 of Dangerous Deceit

“I’m coming with you,” she says, straightening her stance. She’s got power in her gaze, and her eyes are clear, like the flood is finally receding.

“Why?” I ask. “This isn’t your problem.”

“I made this mess; I’m going to fix it.” She narrows her eyes at me, and my heart drops to the pit of my stomach. “Whether or not you like it.”

There’s a chance she’s screwing with me, that this is all another game so she and Jay can kill me, and if that’s the case, I can’t let her go.

“Jesus, woman. You and your uncle?—”

“He’snotmy uncle.”

That’s when I see it: her face is slightly red and swollen, like she was hit with a heavy object. My chest tightens, but I step forward, putting a gentle hand against her skin. It’s puffy enough to show the mark is recent. Vi would go for a lot of theatrics, but a bruise like this seems too far, even for her. My vision reddens. He’s going to fucking pay.

“Did he do this?” I growl.

“I’m comingwithyou,” Vi demands.

Warmth bursts through me. When Vi sets her sights, she doesn’t let go until she has it. I admire that. That’s my woman.My wife.

I grunt, then open the passenger door for her.

I speed, darting through traffic as the sky darkens with an afternoon storm, and Vi bites her nails. I take pride in that; any time I’ve seen her nervous before, it was probably fake, but now, I know it’s real.

I should call for backup; Dice will probably listen because he’s a man of logic, and Ronin has shown he can earn our loyalty. But I can’t risk it. If I bring Dice or Ronin into this, there’s a risk they’ll kill Vi.

And right now, this isourproblem. Me and my wife.

CHAPTER 48

KENZO

Right off ofRed Rock Canyon Road, we take the scenic loop to Oak Creek. Going past the trailhead, there’s a large building hidden behind one of the sandstone rock formations. Out here, everything is rich red and mud brown, so the brown walls of the building camouflage the storage facility with the desert. With darker trim and authoritative writing over each door, it’s formal enough to be a visitor’s center; no one will ever second-guess its purpose. But there are no windows, and the double-door entrance and the garage hatch are always locked. It’s only one of several facilities we have spread throughout the desert.

Lightning cracks overhead. Vi startles, and I clench my jaw. The storm clouds swallow what’s left of the late afternoon light.

We’re here.

Jay stands outside of the building with his phone up to his ear, a smile on his scabbed lips. Bruised blue skin. Gray and brown hair smashed against his forehead. Sweat on his temple.

The bastard waves.

I check my holster, then get out of the car, moving slowly toward him. I consider telling Vi to stay in the car, but I know she won’t listen.

“Thisisit, isn’t it?” Jay asks. “I knew it.” He holds up the phone, and I aim my gun at the device, but he laughs. “I already sent the location to the Ito-gumi. They’re sending someone to pick it up right now.”

Ifhe’s telling the truth, the Ito-gumi won’t do it themselves; they’ll hire someone else to come out here. And if Jay thinks they’ll actually pay up, he’s mistaken. The only reason they’ve kept him alive is to get more out of us, but he’s already lost that connection by letting Vi tell me everything.

Vi is my goddamn miracle.

“You’re fighting a losing battle,” I warn. “You don’t want to do this. The Endo-kai?—”

Jay’s hearty laughter bounces off of the sandstone. Thunder rolls around us, and the sky is gray and ominous. The storm is about to break.

“You ain’t gonna do shit,” Jay says. “The Ito-gumi will wipe their asses with your remains. It won’t be a war. It’ll beannihilation.”

I want to ask what he means by “war,” but I don’t say anything. My word to keep him alive is null; he hurt Vi. I pull back the hammer on my gun.

“Do it! I dare you, motherfucker,” Jay howls like a madman. “See how sweet ol’ Vi likes it,” he mocks in a baby voice. He throws a look in her direction. “Good job. You played your part so well, sweetheart. You can drop the act now.”

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