Page 114 of Dangerous Deceit

Cherry sits beside Vi and raises her glass of champagne.

“Nowwe’re sisters,” Cherry says. “Omedetou,Vi-chan.”

I’m pretty sure Cherry is technically older than Vi, but not by much. I’m about to start shit with Cherry for belittling my wife for using the suffix “chan,” but when Cherry pulls Vi in for an uncharacteristic hug, I stop. Cherry is serious, then. Seeing them hug fills me with pride. My family is coming together.Finally.

Ronin raises his glass and nods to Vi. “Kanpai,” he says.

She raises her glass too. “Kanpai!”

They both drink, and I do too. Ronin still hasn’t gone through thesakazukiceremony himself, though I bet he’d jump on it in aheartbeat. It’s going to take a lotmorefor him to prove himself to the Endo-kai, but he’s still here, celebrating Vi’s new status. And for once, we’re not thinking about the upcoming war with the Ito-gumi. We’re simply enjoying family. I want to keep it going.

“Next up,irezumi,” I say, poking Vi in the arm. She squirms in her seat. “What? You don’t want a full body tattoo?”

“That’s not the kind of pain Ilike,” she says.

My dick twitches at the thought of the kind of pain shedoeslike: her neck bound in rope, strung out on adrenaline, her pussy so sensitive, it’s guaranteed to gush in seconds. I fiddle with her wedding ring, wishing time would speed up. We have to stay at the club to make our appearance, but I’m eager to get this over with so I can show Vi her gift.

“Good thing I prefer your body bare anyway,” I say, and we kiss so hard, Niko scoffs under his breath.

“Get a room,” Niko says. He’s never liked public displays of affection, not since his fallout with his ex. But I don’t care. This is Vi’s night.

“We can get a VIP room,” I say to Vi. “Think one of these strippers will be our audience in a private room?”

Vi giggles, and her infectious laugh warms me. “That sounds fun,” she says.

My woman loves being watched, no matter who it is. And, right on time, a stripper with pin-straight black hair stands in front of us.

“Hi,” the stripper says, curtseying towards Vi. “I’m Lily. Do you two want to play tonight?”

Dice stiffens to the side of us. Then I recognize the stripper. By the way Dice acts, there’s no doubt in my mind it’sher,his crush.His Lily.Lily’s eyes subtly twitch, like Dice’s gaze is burning her skin, but Dice keeps staring. He doesn’t say a word.

“Ah, we were just messing around,” I say, dismissing Lily as gently as I can. “You know though, my brother may be interested.”

Lily quickly glances at Dice. “Hi,” she says. “How about it? Do you want to talk to me this time?”

Dice’s eyes fixate on a random point on the wall behind her. His lips are sealed shut.

Lily’s nostrils flare. “All right.” She forces a smile at us. “I’ll come check on you later.”

As she leaves, Vi’s jaw hangs open. “Oh my god. She smelled like cotton candy,” she says.

I smack my lips. “Oh, you like her then, huh?”

“I almost smacked you for not saying ‘yes,’” Vi says. “I want her hair. And why can’t we let her watch us? Don’t tease me?—”

“No,” Dice says loudly, cutting Vi off.

All of us—Vi, Niko, Cherry, even Tomo, Ronin, and the rest of the soldiers—turn toward him. The muscles in his neck are rigid, a vein throbbing in his neck.

“You will not dance with Lily,” Dice says.

I lift my hands in defense. “All right, brother,” I say, nodding at him. Finally, Dice relaxes into his seat. The man has watched Lily for a long time, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s never said a word to her. It’s insane, yet he still stops by here every time he has a free moment to see if she’s working. He’s fucking obsessed.

“What was that about?” Vi whispers. “Does he want to murder her?”

She’s joking, but I get why she’d make the joke. Dice isn’t exactly the friendly type. That’s probably the most he’s ever spoken to Vi.

“That’s just Dice,” I say. Dice is a cold, heartless killer, but he’s obsessed. You don’t get in between a man and his obsession. I know that now.

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