Page 25 of Cunning Lies
Ronin’s words echo in my mind:Convenient, isn’t it?The bastard is getting into my brain already.
But she’s my wife now; she can afford anything she wants. Her uncle may have done a shit job of taking care of her, but Ialwaystake care of the people in my circle.
“Send me a shopping list,” I say with a smirk, then I leave her alone.
CHAPTER9
VI
“List for what?”I ask, but Kenzo is already halfway across the promenade, charming another group of guests. I glance at my phone, ogling the different wax flakes and fragrance oils. Part of mewantsto send him a list—to see if he’s telling the truthandbecause I don’t really get to spend money on myself. We save most of our con money for our dream house, and since I usually don’tworkon the cons—I just research them—my payout is smaller. It’s fair, but sometimes, I want a little extra for myself.
It doesn’t help that we’re always on the run too. Candles can be expensiveand heavy,even if you are making your own. It’s not practical, but Uncle Jay lets me indulge every once in a while.
Instead of dreaming about custom jars, I focus on the newcomer, Ronin. He’s sitting a few seats away from me, staring out at the guests like a vulture. It seems like the yakuza don’t trust him, but he’s a younger version of my father-in-law. The same jaw, sharp features, dark eyes, and a strong body. He probablyisTomo’s son.
And he just wrecked the entire social order by crashing our wedding reception.
“Did you get enough food?” I ask him.
Ronin dips his chin, but he’s lying. He hasn’t had a single bite since he arrived.
“Did you try the steak?” I ask. “There’s a sushi chef on call. I can get you anything.”
He’s silent for a while, but eventually, he answers, “I’m fine. Thank you.”
Still, something itches inside of me. I need todosomething, and feeding this stranger is easier than watching my husband bounce around like a grenade ready to explode while I anticipate our consummation. I head off to the catering table and a staff member serves a slice of prime rib and sushi. I slide it in front of Ronin and he blinks, shocked that I actually gave him something.
“No,” he says. “I can’t—”
“Please,” I say. “I’m not poisoning you. I just—”
I swallow. I’m not sure why I’m doing this. It’s clear that the yakuza members—besides Tomo—don’t care for Ronin. Maybe I want to befriend him because we’re in similar positions. If the rest of the Endo-kai knew my truth, they wouldn’t like me either. I tuck a strand of loose hair behind my ear.
“Indulge me,” I say.
Ronin bows his head just enough to show his gratitude. He holds chopsticks and studies the roll.
“Thank you,” he says.
He finally takes a bite, and the words come out before I can stop: “Tell me about yourself. You’re new in town or something?”
He nods as he finishes chewing. “I arrived from Tokyo a few hours ago.”
“Wow.” I sit up in my seat. “That’s a long flight.” He grunts in confirmation. “And you’re from the yakuza too?”
He lifts another piece of the sushi roll in the air, a drop of sriracha mayo dripping off the top. “Originally, I was part of the Ito-gumi. I left permanently.”
There’s an iciness to his words. Something vicious happened, probably beyond his amputated finger. I nod, pretending like I know what that means. Patrick motions for me. I stand up, but Ronin makes eye contact with me for the first time.
“There are more people watching you than you realize,” Ronin says.
My stomach drops to my feet, but Ronin holds my gaze, undeterred. He doesn’t trust me, then. My skin is probably as red as my hair, but I don’t know what to say. I briefly glance at Patrick. He nods at me.
Patrick and Uncle Jay would find a way to discredit someone like Ronin. And if I have to, I’ll do that too. At least around Kenzo.
“They’re watching you too,” I say, straightening my shoulders. “They cut off my uncle’s finger for touching one of their wives. Watch your back or they’ll do that to you too.”
“But it’s more than that, isn’t it?” he asks easily, like a lost finger doesn’t faze him. An uneasiness settles in my stomach. He continues: “An arranged marriage. So convenient that your uncle touches one of their wives right when you arrive in Las Vegas.”
