Page 107 of Cunning Lies
Tomo acknowledges Kenzo, then turns to me. My cheeks flush with heat. I’m not sure I’m ready to be interrogated by the big boss.
But then Tomo nods his head, almost bowing to me.
“Now, tell me, Vi,” Tomo says. “What happened?”
I tell him about everything Jay said. That the foreign client was trying to steal the guns so that they don’t have to work with the Endo-kai anymore. I tell him about the new soldier, the one with glasses who told Jay where to find the guns and how to get inside. I tell him that Jay is convinced that in a few months, the whole Endo-kai will be wiped out, because the Ito-gumi are set on a war. That I wouldn’t be surprised if the Ito-gumi wants to take over the Endo-kai’s claim in Vegas.
The entire time that I ramble, Tomo nods his head. Every so often, he says, “Hmm,” or scratches his chin. Kenzo rubs my back, soothing me, but that doesn’t erase the tension in my shoulders. Kenzo won’t let his family kill me, but they get to decide our future, and I’m scared.
“It’s been a long time coming, I suppose,” Tomo says.
“That’s what you get for leaving on the wrong foot,” Cherry snarks.
Tomo waves his hand. “Dice can handle the courier. Ronin will take care of that new soldier,” he says. “We’ll watch the execution. Make sure he carries it out. Prove that he’s with us.”
“And the war?” I ask hesitantly. Kenzo wraps an arm around me.
“Your client must have had your uncle under the wrong impression,” Tomo says, amusement in his tone. “The Ito-gumi wereoncestrong, but they’re desperate now. Still, Akio is smart. He’ll start a war on business fronts first, eh? We must get ahead of him.”
I should feel calm, but I don’t. Nothing about the yakuza is easy, and my stupid heart won’t let me run away. Instead, I find my place in Kenzo’s arms, because even if our future is marked in danger, he’s home.
Kenzo kisses my forehead, and then,onlythen, does a tiny bit of relief flow through me. But I still tap my fingers on my sides nervously.
“And what happens to me?” I whisper.
“Nothing,” Kenzo says. He tightens his grip around me, reminding everyone that I’m his. But those decisions don’t always lie with him. I turn to Tomo, knowing that my life will either be easier,or harder,depending on what he says. He may respect Kenzo’s wishes to let me live, but that doesn’t necessarily mean I’ll be welcome in the Endo-kai.
“Yubitsume?” I squeak. I don’t know if I can cut off my own pinky, but if I have to, I will.
Tomo bursts with laughter, and Cherry snickers too. Even Dice grins a bit, and Kenzo shakes his head.
“Are you crazy?” Kenzo asks. “You’re not losing your finger.” He looks around. “Where is Ronin, anyway? Putting crazy ideas into my wife’s head—”
“You saved my son,” Tomo says, locking eyes with me. “You’ve shown your loyalty to him, and I hope, one day, you will dedicate that loyalty to the Endo-kai too.” He bows his head deeper than before, and I blush. Saying something like that—offeringme,an amateur con artist, a spot inside of the Endo-kai—is a big deal. My insides turn to mush. “We’ll call it time served.” Tomo adds a wink, then he offers his hand. “We need another strong person like you on our side.”
Tears fill my eyes and instead of shaking his hand, I give him a big, giant bear hug. Tomo jolts from the contact. Cherry straightens. But Kenzo laughs. Eventually, Tomo pats my back,almosthugging me back. And I’m okay again.
“All right,” Cherry says. “We get it. You’re happy. Now get off of my dad.”
“Sorry,” I mumble, but I can’t stop smiling.Thisis what a family is supposed to be like—being there for someone, even when they mess up—and it feels good. “I’m just relieved.”
Cherry gives me a half-smirk, and that, coming from her, is a victory. Dice nods at me. Kenzo laces his fingers in mine.
“Dice,” Tomo says, tilting his head toward him. “You handle the Ito-gumi’s courier, then call Niko. The two of you will take care of the storage facilities. Find a new place.” He lets out a long sigh. “We’ll have to change our security software too. What a fucking nightmare.”
Tomo’s phone vibrates.
“Ahh,” he says, looking down at it, then he answers the call. “Ronin?” There’s some talking on the other end of the line, then Tomo says, “We’ll take care of that next. For now, I want you to find Ryu. Take him to TSC Maintenance Shop. We’ll meet you there in an hour.”
My stomach curdles. Without hearing the details, I know what that means. Ryu must be the new soldier, the one who gave the information to Jay. Kenzo pulls me toward the door.
“We both need a shower,” he says. He scratches his jaw. “For our next place, we’ll have to get one of those big walk-in showers. Maybe one with an indoor hot tub too.”
I raise my brow, about to tease him, but then my eyes catch Tomo and Cherry heading toward their SUV. It’s like we’re cutting class while everyone else takes a test.
“Don’t we have to go to the maintenance shop? And watch?” I ask.Watch an execution.I’m dreading it.
Kenzo shakes his head. “You’ve already had enough of that for one day.” My insides warm; he may not admit it, but this is how he’s taking care of me. Business can wait.
