You hint at my Tiger again and I toss you into that fucking pyre and watch your skin melt off those cold Russian bones.
And then I would gladly fight my father and the damned Bratva, if only to make sure Nyomi was safe.
One word from Kazimir and this ended in blood.
We all waited.
And the pyre crackled.
And more smoke rose into the sky.
But he didn't give that word. Instead, he laughed—low and genuine, the sound rumbling up from somewhere deep in hismassive chest. "There it is. There's the Dragon I came to see. Not the politician. Not the businessman. The monster."
"You haven't seen the monster yet. Pray you never do."
"Oh no, Dragon. That would be impossible. Gods don’t pray to anyone." He reached up and brushed a piece of ash from his shoulder. Slowly, Kazimir turned to face me fully, and the philosophical contemplation was gone from his expression. In its place was cruel hunger. "But you didn't invite me here to discuss philosophy.”
"I didn't invite you at all, Kazimir."
“Aww. Perhaps, you didn’t. But we can agree on one thing.”
“And what is that?”
“You are looking for your father.”
Fuck.
Chapter six
The Gift that Keeps on Taking
Kenji
Shock slammed in my chest so hard, I was surprised I didn’t lose my balance. Still, I had to seem calm and unaffected. “I am looking for my father.”
I heard subtle movement from my side and realized Reo had stepped back.
Amusement hit Kazimir’s face as he lifted one hand and gestured to his men.
What is this?
A huge Russian man stepped forward. Tall. Broad. Face like carved granite. He was carrying a folder—plain manila, unremarkable—and he handed it to Kazimir with the respect of a priest presenting a holy text.
Kazimir took the folder and held it between us. "Misha found your father’s location, and I must say. . .it is a very clever one. I doubt you will be able to find your father on your own."
I kept my expression neutral, but my pulse spiked, thundering in my ears.
"It’s all in this folder. The precise coordinates in Tokyo. Everything you need to end this war in a few hours. I have men who can assist. There would be no need for you to even get a single scratch on them."
The pyre crackled behind him. Ash drifted through the air, landing on the folder like gray snow. And I stared at it—at the answers I'd been searching for, the information that could end this war, save my people, destroy my father.
My chest tightened.
Calm down. Don’t be too eager. Remember. With these Russians, it is always going to be bigger than just criminal. There are our nations to think about.
Plus, any large business moves I made with the Russians would be scrutinized by not only the Japanese government, but all of Asia. The other criminal organizations on this continent. While I could battle them, there was no need to war with every-fucking-body, if I could easily avoid it.
Additionally, the history between Russia and Japan was written in death, dates, and unfinished business. It went back to 1904, when Russia believed East Asia could be absorbed the same way Siberia had been—slowly, through infrastructure, pressure, and presence rather than outright conquest.
