Page 66 of Dangerous Deceit

Maybe that’s the difference between us. Con artists are delicate with their negotiations, so everyone believes they’ve won, even if it’s a small, simple win. On the other hand, yakuza men don’t care. They know what they want, and they’re determined to get it, by any means necessary.

“Have you always been part of the yakuza?” I ask.

Kenzo keeps his eyes on the flames. “I met Tomo when I was twelve.”

I nod, wondering what twelve-year-old Kenzo would have been like. Was he scared, like I was at six years old, knowing Uncle Jay was my new guardian? Or did Kenzo not care about anything? Did he think Tomo was cool?

The fire dances before us, and there’s a certain beauty to it. The flames can hurt anyone they touch, and yet for now, the fire is content in the pit. Freedom and gratitude bubble in my chest, but guilt is there too.I don’t deserve this,I want to say to Kenzo.I’m the last person you should be helping. I don’t deserve you.But I can’t make myself say it.

Instead, I say, “You didn’t have to kill him for me.”

“Actually, I did,” he says. “I’m not going to apologize for what I did, Vi. He hurt you, and I refused to let that go.”

His words are so final I know I’m never going to win this argument. It doesn’t matter if I’m fighting for my late cousin’s life, or if I’m arguing because I don’t deserve Kenzo’s loyalty. Kenzo is confident in his actions. He doesn’t regret anything.

Because he has decided to put me above everything else.

“If it weren’t for this yakuza stuff,” I say, “I think I could actually trust you.”

“If it weren’t for the yakuza, neither of us would be here right now,” he says. A deep pressure fills me. He’s absolutely right, and I’m grateful for the paths we chose. That he found Tomo. That he agreed to meet with Uncle Jay about an arranged marriage with me. That I reluctantly agreed to our first date at the gala.

Kenzo’s hand caresses my back as his eyes roam over me. “To be honest, you shouldn’t trust anyone, Vi. Especially me.”

“You’re right,” I say. But Idotrust him; I just won’t admit it. Saying it aloud will make the bond real, and I’m already losing so much of myself to Kenzo.

So instead, I whisper, “Kiss me.”

His lips press to mine, and I melt into his arms. He’s hard and venomous, but he feels like love, like safety, like protection, like a real home, like I can bury myself inside of him and never come out. He pulls up my sweater and undershirt, then squeezes my breasts in his palms. We spin around until I’m facing the road. The breeze rustles through the desert, tickling my exposed chest.

“What if someone sees us?” I whisper.

He chuckles in my ear, and his dick stabs my ass cheeks.

“My wife exposed like this for anyone to pass by and see. What if Iwantthem to see you?” he says in a low voice. “Whatif I want the world to see you’re willing to do anything for me? What if I want everyone to know thatyou”—those warm words bounce across my ear—“are”—his tongue leaves a trail of wetness along my neck, his teeth scraping my flesh—“mine.”

He whips me around, kissing me so deeply I can’t breathe. The bonfire cracks behind us, and as he explores my body, I forget everything. My whole world is absorbed by Kenzo, by someone who choseme.A man who doesn’t ask what I can give him. Who doesn’t teach me a lesson. Who doesn’t expect me to get blackout drunk and fuck whoever he puts in front of me. My world is absorbed by a man who even told me I should run away from him. Who said he’d give me the respect of making that choice.

But I’m still here.

He lays me on the gravel, pulling my pants off of my hips. The rocks dig into my back, but I let him do exactly what he wants to me. His cock slides between my legs, finding his home deep inside of me, and he moans. The flames flicker in his eyes, and it’s different like this. Something has changed between us. I don’t know what it is, but his eyes stay on mine, and I know he feels it too. We’re safe with each other.

“I’m glad you’re part of the Endo-kai,” I whisper.

He pulls back between his thrusts to look deep into my eyes. A warmhearted smile forms on his lips, as if to say he’s glad too. He brushes the hair out of my face and shoves deep inside of me again.

“One day,” he says in a low voice, “you will be too.”

CHAPTER 29

KENZO

The sun shinesin the blue sky like a cartoon. I go across the street to DuPar’s Bakery. All I see in the display case are pies, not pastries, and so I call it safe and get my wife pancakes to go and one of their apple pies. It’s not an apple tart, but it’ll do.

I leave the food on the counter for her, then head to Samurai Castle. Tomo gives me more information about my latest hustle, Legendary Analysis. They’re not as suspicious as we originally thought, but we agree to keep them in our blackmail queue, just in case something valuable pops up. Once we’re done, I check my watch; I’ve got a stockholder’s meeting to attend for another company. I twist around, heading to the valet.

“Hey!” Ronin shouts, grabbing my attention.

“Yeah,” I say back. Ronin ashes his cigarette, and I rest against the counter next to him. “Has Dice been treating you well?”

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