Page 26 of Dangerous Deceit

“I thought there’s supposed to be a tea ceremony,” Vi says. “That’s the Japanese tradition, right?”

I quirk my head to the side, impressed she actually knows about that. My wife is curious about our culture? How interesting.

And suspicious.

“Not tea. Sake,” I say.

“Oh?”

“Declined it,” I add. “I suffered through asakazukiceremony for my initiation?—”

“Sakazuki?”

I wave a hand in front of me. “It’s the formal sake-sharing ceremony. Anyway, I don’t want to suffer through something that long and tedious again unless Ihaveto.” Tomo didn’t pressure me to go through with it this time, so we stuck to the western traditions. I continue: “You did your research, then?”

“I like to be prepared.”

I like that. Thinking ahead is one of my weaker traits. The wind takes me, and I follow it, just like with this marriage. I needed a wife to pretend to be the typical corporate face, and the wind brought me Vi.

The doors markedEmployees Onlyswing open, and two of our soldiers enter, escorting a man in a suit with crew-cut black hair, black eyes, and an angular jaw. The entire promenade falls silent. Tomo is already on his feet, and Cherry and I are immediately standing on either side of him, staring coldly as the stranger approaches us. Niko crosses his arms over his chest, eyeing us from afar, and Dice speaks quietly into an earpiece from the corner of the room.

“Tomo-san,” the stranger says as he bows his head. “My name is Ronin.”

“I know who you are,” Tomo says.

The rest of us scrutinize Ronin. How do we know him? The sharp features of his jaw seem familiar, but I’m not sure why.

Niko steps forward, his bluish-black eyes narrowing in on Ronin.

“How the fuck did you get through security?” Niko asks, his tone pure ice.

“I’m Tomo-san’s first-born son,” Ronin says.

Niko’s brow subtly creases, then he rubs his bottom lip. He steps between Tomo and Ronin, creating a physical barrier. If Ronin is claiming he’s Tomo’s first-born son, then that means Ronin may be our nextoyabun,instead of Niko.

Sometimes, I swear Niko only tolerates the yakuza because he knows one day he will be our boss. Ronin is threatening that.

“Bullshit,” Niko says. “I remember you: you’re Akio’s kid.”

“Akio raised me, but you can test my blood,” Ronin says. “I am Tomo’s son.”

“So you admit it, then?” Niko asks. “No one from the Ito-gumi gets through our security without?—”

“I cleared it,” Tomo interrupts. “My son has always had clearance here.”

Niko glances at Tomo. Tomo has such a big heart when it comes to family, especially his kids.

But Ronin is an outsider. We don’t know him.

Why is he at my wedding?

Aswakagashira,this is Niko’s territory. Niko and Ronin lock each other in a staring contest, a samurai-level battle of patience, and it’s almost funny.

“You’re a spy,” Niko says. “Youarefrom the Ito-gumi.”

“Not anymore,” Ronin says. He lifts his hand, and there it is—his missing pinky, cut off at the knuckle. The edge of his finger is blunt, with red and pink blood crusting over the blackened skin. A low murmur curls through the room.

“Tsumetaka,” Tomo says in awe.You cut it off.

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