I want them dead before dinner. Yuri straightens, nodding. "Okay, sir. We'll do that."
"Oh, and also, give me every dirty detail we have on Senator Ivano," I add. "Pile them into a file and drop it on my desk."
Yuri frowns. "Boss, what are you planning to do with that information?"
"I'm going to give it to her."
His eyes widen slightly. "Boss, giving it to her means you're exposing yourself and cutting ties with the senator. We still need him for the documents on that property—"
"Oh, look, Yuri," I cut in, leaning forward, "I know you live by the book or whatever, but sometimes I feel like you're always questioning my authority. If I ask you to do something, fucking do it. Do you have to complain every time? I know what I'm getting myself into. It's not like I don't have the court in my pocket.” I just want my woman happy. I can think about the consequences later.
I push back in my chair. "Oh also, arrange dresses in many colours, size 8. Her shoe size is forty, so get a pair of heels in that size. And some jewellery. The most expensive, exquisite jewellery you can find."
"When you're done getting all the stuff I asked for," I continue, "make sure everything is to her liking. Then wrap it up in a nice box."
Yuri gives a short nod. My wife has been offended, and I have to appease her.
"Noted, sir," he says. "I'll get right on it."
• • •
Low golden light spills over from the many chandeliers lit above us, catching on diamond cuffs and the polished edges of whiskey glasses. The bass hums softly giving the room a slow rhythm.
Perfume clings to the air, mixing with cigar smoke and the faint burn of aged liquor. I enjoy coming to places like this. Where I can have conversations that increase my wealth.
Sitting across from me is Ryuji Miyamoto, the Oyabun of Japan, in the private section at the back of the restaurant.
The man's a beast in his own right. Six-foot-six, with a big built, on his face is a scar cutting through his left eyebrow and another running down the side of his neck. Dark hair falls just past his ears, careless and messy.
We are demarcated from the rest of the party by a brick glass wall. There’s enough privacy here for couples. Perhaps I’d bring my wife here soon. This is a romantic spot too is it not?
He takes a swig of his drink, sighing relaxed.
"So," I start, leaning back and swirling the whiskey in my glass. "I've been hearing about a lot of executions in your port."
Ryuji takes another drink, before answering, "Yeah. I've been carrying them out personally."
I let the silence hang between us for a moment before continuing. "And what may be the cause? From what I could gather, your father made a treaty agreement with the Chinese. You've been at peace for years."
He sets his glass down, jaw working. "My father is dying. And I wasn't the one who signed anything for a treaty."
I put my glass down too, meeting his eyes. "Let me give you a bit of advice. Keep your mafia business out of it everything to do with your woman. Creating enemies isn't going to do you any good. Listen, I know..."
Before I can finish, Ryuji cuts me off. "You don't even understand." His voice drops dangerously. "Those fuckers approached her. They kidnapped her for two days." He pauses, letting that sink in. "So, I decided to go on a killing spree for two months. So that next time, they wouldn't do it."
I lean back, nodding slowly. "Obviously, I know that's a valid point. I would have gone for two years, in fact." I pause. "But you should have kept your woman safe. Kept her close."
"I did keep her safe," he snaps, leaning forward. His eyes flash with something dark. "I bought a house for her. In one of the most protected areas in Japan. She stayed there with her father, her mother, her little brother. Everything she needed, I provided."
He pauses, his knuckles white around his glass.
“Then what happened?”
"But when our arguments came up, and she realized I wasn't planning to marry her as a first wife she decided to leave. She left the house I bought and went back to where her family stayed." His voice drops. "Obviously, her father tried to persuade her. But she didn't listen."
I watch him, seeing the rage simmering just beneath the surface.
"When my enemies found out that the woman I so cherished had left my area of protection," he continues, "they kidnapped her. I would have preferred if they kidnapped my fiancée. Heck, I wouldn't even get into a fight with them if they killed her. Maybe I'd throw a bit of force around, you know, for my future father-in-law to be at peace. But I wouldn't even give a shit."
