“I can’t believe you’re suggesting this.” My voice dropped to a whisper. “You want to break up the alliance?”
“This was never about friendship,” Jiro said firmly. “It’s survival. I need you to make it to the end, and you need me. But we don’t need Kenji.”
“He’s part of this, Jiro. We agreed?—”
“We agreed to survive,” he interrupted. “If that means cutting our losses, so be it. Kenji needs to be sacrificed.”
The wordsacrificedhung in the air like a dark cloud. I stared at Jiro, struggling to process what he was saying.
“Jiro, is that how you see me too? As nothing more than a tool to get ahead?”
He reached for my hand. “No, Akiko. You’re different. I don’t want you to get hurt. That’s why I’m doing this. Everything I’m doing is for you.”
I pulled my hand away. “What do you mean, everything you’re doing?”
“Trust me,” he said, his voice firm. “If you trust me, I promise you’ll be the one Chef Sakamoto chooses.”
“And if he chooses you?”
“Then I’ll defer to you,” Jiro said without hesitation. “You deserve this more than anyone. But if we keep Kenji around, you might not even get the chance or be alive.”
I felt like the ground had shifted beneath me. “Wait, you think Kenji still wants me dead?”
“Don’t you?” he asked pointedly. “Think about it. One day he’s eyeing you like he’s ready to slit your throat, and the next day, he’s all chummy, like nothing happened. He’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing, Akiko.”
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
KENJI
Jiro and Akiko walked out of the maze, side by side, their conversation low and intense, like two conspirators plotting the plan of a lifetime. They had no idea I was in the parallel pathway, absorbing every word of their intent to sacrifice me.
Those double-crossing bastards think they can outsmart me. We’ll see who ends up begging for mercy. I’ll make sure Jiro pays first, and I’ll savor the moment when Akiko realizes she’s next. Her charm and beauty won’t save her this time. She won’t get another chance to manipulate me, to twist my emotions like a knife.
A rustle behind me broke my thoughts. Reina appeared, gliding over with that elegance I always admired. “Didn’t I tell you they were scheming against you?” A wry smile appeared on her face. “Believe me now?”
I looked over at her, still replaying the betrayal I’d overheard. “I believe you, but only because I heard it myself.”
“Well, however you came to see the truth, the important thing is that you recognize they’re cut from the same backstabbing cloth.” She stepped closer, her voice turning sweet. “And what will you do about it, darling?”
“I’ll make them pay,” I said. “With their lives.”
Satisfaction gleamed in her eyes. “Now, that’s the determination. You’ve finally come to understand what it takes to win.”
She reached up and lightly caressed my cheek. Her fingers were cool, sending a shiver rippling through me. “You’re so adorable,” she cooed, her eyes inviting.
I leaned toward her, desperate for her approval, and when our lips met, her kiss was as intoxicating as ever. Her soft body pressed into mine, and her warmth enveloped me. Our tongues met flirtatiously, a teasing dance that stirred me to attention. I slid my hands around her waist, pulling her closer, deepening the kiss. But then she pulled away, leaving me breathless.
“Can I count on you, darling?” she asked.
“Of course,” I said. “I’ll do anything for you. You’re the only one I can trust here.”
Her eyes beamed with satisfaction. “Good boy. You’ve played your role perfectly from the beginning. I couldn’t have asked for more.”
“And after this is over,” I said, my voice faltering slightly, “we’ll be together, right?”
Her smile never wavered. “Yes, of course. Don’t you believe me?”
“I do,” I said, keeping my voice steady despite lingering doubt. “It’s just…Chef Sakamoto…”
