Page 4 of Cunning Lies
My lips curl at those words, a sour taste in my mouth. It’s a way to entice me, but instead, I almostwantto protect her now from an uncle who’s willing to sell his own niece to the Japanese mafia.
“How old is she?” I ask.
“Twenty-five.”
I run a hand over my mouth. A mid-twenties virgin would knowbetter,and that would make her harder to crack. I like an interesting challenge.
But how does her uncle know she’s a virgin? If he’s lying, then he probably thinks he can live off of us through his niece, but that’s not how life works in the Endo-kai. He’s lucky that Tomo even thought to ask me about his offer.
In the grand scheme of things, this prisoner is insignificant. We can kill him and no one will blink. I’m sure our lawyer would appreciate that.
But for me, this is a puzzle. Something to break up that blandness. A buzzing weight spreads across my chest. Oh, the fun I can have with her. My personal little toy. A woman trapped in my games.
Screw it.I make decisions, and I own them. And right now, I have no date and a gala to attend. His niece is perfect.
“If you prefer men,” he says, “I’ve got a son too—”
I cut him off: “Let me discuss it with the boss.”
Back in the lounge, a man shouts at one of the screens, his fists pumping the air, while another gambler has his head in his palms. Another customer looks like he’s about to fall asleep in a deep cushioned chair. I don’t blame him; Tomo went all out for the sports lounge. The bouncers will be in to wake him soon; we’ve got hotel rooms for that.
Tomo’s still at the bar, working on his second or third whisky, and Cherry is clutching a water bottle like she’s got money on one of the car races. She scrunches her nose at me like I smell. I probably do. But instead of starting playful sibling banter with her, I get down to the specifics. I’m too curious about this niece for verbal sparring right now.
“Did you feel anything off about him?” I ask Tomo.
“Told you,” Cherry cuts in, smirking at Tomo. Tomo turns to me.
“Cherry said she thinks he’s hiding something, but all I see is a desperate urchin. But the niece is perfect, eh? Put her in a ball gown and she’ll blend right now. But, ah,etto…” he trails off.
“You told him an arranged marriage is an option?” I ask.
Tomo scrubs a hand over his face. “Weren’t you saying you wanted something different lately? Maybe you need a wife. It would help with these events.” He grunts in annoyance. “Everyone wants Samurai Corporation at their charity balls.”
Tomo hates those events, which is whyI’mthe face of our front-facing company. I can charm my way out of anything, and I blackmail myself out of the rest.
“I don’t know about a wife,” I say, though the thought amuses me. “But I’ll give her a test run.”
Cherry rolls her eyes. “She’s not a sports car.”
I lift my shoulders. “I’m not going to commit to marriage until I know she can ride.”
Cherry scoffs. A buzz of energy ripples through me at the thought.Thisis a new adventure. A woman I’m not just screwing and leaving. A challenge. A potentialwife.Hell, maybe she’ll even be my partner in crime one day.
“As for the prisoner?” I ask. “Is he free to leave?”
Tomo shakes his head, then calls over the bartender, who brings him a small box with a perfectly square white cloth.
“You have a knife?” Tomo asks. I nod. “Yubitsume.”
Pride swells in my chest. I swear the boss collects pinky knuckles like they’re pressed pennies. He keeps them preserved and on display in a jar in his office. It’s part of his legacy.
Cherry and I follow him to the holding cell, her red boots clacking on the floor, and another set of soldiers follows behind us. Right now, Tomo barely limps. He’s too strong to let it show, especially on his way to watch a traditional practice unfold, but he walks carefully. It must be painful for him. Stubborn old man refuses to use a cane, no matter how much we encourage it. He’s still our oyabun. Our godfather. Our honorable leader. A cane isn’t going to change that.
“I hear the designers at the Palazzo are making canes now,” I say.
“Urasai,” he says.Shut up.
Cherry knocks on the door, and the enforcer lets us in again. I hand my knife to Tomo, and Tomo places the white cloth and the knife in front of the prisoner.
