Page 55 of Dangerous Deceit

Tomo ushers Niko forward, and Niko shakes Mr. Harry’s hand. “Niko,” he says.

“He’ll be taking over for me once I retire,” Tomo explains. Niko’s upper lip curls, and it’s obvious his eventual rule over the yakuza is in question now, with Tomo’sactualfirst-born son outside of the dining room, guarding the negotiations.

Tomo nods at me, and I offer my hand to Mr. Harry. Tomo continues: “This is my financial controller, Kenzo.”

I’m always amused by how oddly formal the title sounds. But it’s easier than saying, “he runs public relations for Samurai Corporation, handles the drug dealers,andblackmails corporate bigwigs.”Financial controller.It’s a nice term.

Nice.There’s that fucking word again.

I grip Mr. Harry’s hand. “Mr. Harry,” I smirk. “Golden Honor Firearms in the flesh! It’s about time you honored us with your presence.”

“Pleased, so pleased to be here.” Mr. Harry tilts his head, then nods to Cherry. “And the beauty back there?”

She presses her lips together but doesn’t offer her hand. “Cherry,” she says.

“She’s my daughter,” Tomo explains. Usually, he brags about her martial arts training, but with Mr. Harry, he keeps it simple.Is he trying to keep Mr. Harry’s defenses low? Or is he trying to be “nice?”

“Nice to meet you all,” Mr. Harry says.

Nice.That word haunts me.

We take our seats around the table, and a server brings us water and our choices of liquor. Music hums through the speakers, but in my mind, Johnny Cash’s gravelly voice sings, “God’s Gonna Cut You Down.” I envision Patrick’s blond curls on top of his wiry body, and I split his skull down the middle with a machete.

Patrick Petrus. A nice man. A nice man who deserves a nice death. The part that kills me is this isn’tjustabout jealousy—that I wasn’t the one to take Vi’s virginity. It’s about her safety too.

He’s supposed to be her family, and he’s the biggest predator of them all. A bottom-dweller ready to cannibalize his own cousin.

I should be focused on the meeting. Harry and I are both smooth talkers who wash over deals and make fortunes a reality, but my mind is scattered. Vi’s words repeat in my ears:Just be nice to him. Please, Kenzo.

The fact that Patrick and Jay manipulated Vi into believing they were protecting her dominates my thoughts. Sheneverhad a chance. It stews inside of me as I try to make sense of it. Maybe it’s a lie. Another way to deceive me and make me lower my defenses around my wife. Maybe Vi is the mastermind here, using me for her own gain.

That doesn’t feel right though. There’s something else lurking beneath the surface. Vi is just doing what her uncle and cousin say, which means they’re working for themselves or working for hire.

I should push this as far as it can go. I should keep Patrick alive until I figure out the true purpose here in Vegas. And Vitold me to be nice, and by sitting here, not doing anything about it, I’m being nice.

But every breath of air is one too many for Patrick.

“Kenzo?” Tomo asks, interrupting my thoughts. “You all right?”

I scan the room quickly. I drifted off into my thoughts and have no idea what we’re talking about. I can’t focus. Not until I take care of Patrick.

I take a deep breath, then smile at Mr. Harry.

“Excuse me,” I say. “I’ve got some pressing business, but I’d like to reschedule for a private meeting. I’d love to get your insight on the future prospects of Golden Honor Firearms. Perhaps we can host you at the Gilded Stage?”

“Of course. I love the Gilded Stage,” Mr. Harry says. “Strippers always make business negotiations so much better.”

We shake hands again, and I bow my head at Tomo.

“I’ve gotta take care of this,” I say in a low voice. Tomo nods back and doesn’t ask questions. He trusts me, just like I trust him.

“Tell me later,” Tomo says.

I acknowledge Dice and Ronin on the way out. I momentarily consider asking Dice to send a few of his men my way in case Patrick tries to run, but this is a job I want to take care of myself. It’s the best way I can guarantee holding onto Vi’s wishes to be nice.

Be nice, Kenzo,my mind mocks.He was just trying to help her, Kenzo.

My wife wants me to beniceto her cousin. It’s such a simple task.

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