Finally, Reo spoke. His voice was flat and operational like he'd already moved past the shock and into the plan. "We have the Fox's location."
The words slammed into me.
My breath stopped. The air turned sharp and cold as I dragged it into my lungs.
Finally.
Chapter twenty-seven
The Pleasure District
Kenji
My voice came out rough and those words scraped against my throat like broken glass. "Where's my father?"
Hiro shifted the black lollipop between his teeth. "He’s within the Yoshiwara Depths."
Of course. The bastard is hiding out in the old pleasure district.
I leaned my head to the side. "How do we know this?"
Reo reached into his jacket, pulled out a small voice recorder, and held it up between us. "We intercepted the call between the Butcher and your father."
Fuck. That happened already.
My very hot evening with my Tiger had caused me to oversleep.
I held out my hand.
Reo placed the recorder in my palm.
I pressed play.
Static crackled through the speaker, then a phone rang.
Once.
Twice.
A voice answered that I recognized immediately as the Butcher's. "Hello."
Then my father’s voice slid through the speaker like oil over water. "My friend."
I hadn't heard his voice since the night he killed Hiro's new love, Nura. Hearing it now made my hands curl into fists.
"Yes," the Butcher said. "I'm glad you understand that we are friends. I had no idea what your son was going to do with my weapons."
A pause came.
Then my father's voice again, smooth and controlled. "Do not worry about my son. Kenji was a step aheadthattime. But this time, we will be a step ahead."
My blood went cold.
The Butcher's voice came through again. "Just tell me what you need."
"I need your continued kindness and support. I have a plan. We’ll talk again soon."
"And I'll be waiting."
