My head snaps up to look at him. “Are you sure?”
He nods. “We’re here to offer you back up, Augusto. You started this war. It’s up to you to end it.”
When the brigade of cars pulls up in front of the hotel, I reply, “I appreciate it.”
We all get out, and surrounded by a small army, we head inside. My eyes lock on Tanaka’s underboss, and keeping my eyes on the fucker, I tell Christiano, “That’s Yutaro Kano.”
When we stop in front of the man, he bows his head to Christiano, then says, “Mr. Tanaka is waiting for you in the presidential suite. Follow me.”
Refusing to split up, all five heads take the same elevator to the top floor. On the way up, Rosie says, “I still think I could’ve stayed at home.”
“Don’t start,” Christiano grumbles. “We’re here to show a united front.”
“I know,” she mumbles. “But this is not my thing. I’d much rather sit behind my computer.”
“If you hate it so much, get married and put your husband in your place,” ourcapo dei capireplies.
Rosie lets out a snort. “I’m not even dating anyone.”
“Want me to arrange a marriage for you?” Christiano says as the doors slide open.
“Hell no! Over my dead body,” Rosie gasps.
“Then stop complaining.”
Half our guards walk ahead of us, and it takes close to thirty minutes for the Yakuza and Cosa Nostra to search each other to make sure there are no weapons in the suite during the meeting.
Raffaele and the other underbosses aren’t with us, in case something goes horribly wrong.
When we finally step into the suite, I take in each of the men until my eyes land on Tanaka, who’s sitting on a plush couch while sipping a drink.
His gaze touches on me for a second before he looks at Christiano. “Mr. Falco. I’ve heard you’re following in your father’s footsteps, but I’m surprised you don’t control–”
Christiano stops in front of Tanaka and narrows his eyes at him. “Finish that sentence, and any hope you might have to stop this war goes out the window. I don’t have time to waste, so let’s get this meeting started.”
Tanaka clenches his jaw and signals with a hand in the air. When a server brings trays with drinks, Christiano takes a seat on the other couch while shaking his head. “We won’t drink or eat anything.” He gestures at me. “And you’ll talk to Mr. Vitale.”
When Tanaka turns his attention to me, I just stare at him, my hands itching to break his neck.
After a tense minute, Tanaka gives in and asks, “What do you want, Mr. Vitale?”
“An apology.”
The man lets out a bark of laughter. “For what?”
“For the shit that went down in your club three months ago when my brother was shot and my men were killed.”
“You killed my men, too. Will you apologize to me?” he asks. I almost let out a growl, but then he adds, “And you brutally tortured my daughter.”
Instantly, the guilt I’ve been carrying around wars with my anger. Fighting for control over my emotions, I say, “She was disguised as a man.”
Tenaka nods. “True.” His eyes flick to Kano. “Bring Yuki out.”
While his underboss goes to get Yuki, Tanaka smirks at me, looking like a cat that ate the canary.
What is this man up to?
I cross my arms over my chest, and when Kano comes down a hallway, holding onto a beautiful woman’s arm, my lips part in shock.
