“Didn’t though. BecauseIshowed up. So maybe say thank you by letting me rail you, yeah?”
“You’re fucking unbelievable.”
“Hey, your ass is sweet, and you almost got me killed. I better get lifetime access.”
“I’ll give you access to the hospital if you don’t shut up.”
He laughed.
“I don’t care, I’m gonna need abigreward for this. You hear me?”
“You want a reward? I’ll give you one.”
That’s how we end up at the Dokugumo-kai quarters, two pissed-off bastards standing side-by-side in front of a room full of muscle—some curious, some nervous, and some that already know exactly what the fuck this is about.
Ryo laughs like a maniac.
“Can’t believe this is where my dick landed me. Selling out my crew for a good fuck and a walking bloodbath.”
I step forward.
“Kobayashi tried to kill me, so I’ll kill him,” I pull the tanto from my waistband and hold it up, blood drying along the edge. Some of the men flinch. “If any of you plan on fighting for him, you won’t last the fucking hour.”
Weapons clatter to the ground. Not all, but a lot more than I expected.
And when I step forward, the world ignites.
A blade flashes, aimed for my ribs. I don’t dodge. I grab the guy’s wrist midair, twist till I hear the crack, then shove my tanto through his jaw’s underside so fast his knees give out before a sound leaves his throat. Blood sprays warm across my face.
Imissedthis. Real fight. Real death. Not whatever the fuck happened back in the studio.
I fight and all around there are sounds of teeth cracking against cement and the wet thunk of bodies dropping like sacks of meat. My boots slide across the slick floor, blood already pooling underfoot. I duck under a swing, slam an elbow into a gut, then crush a skull against a decorative rock.
Ryo’s at my side, moving like a bastard with nothing left to lose. Fast, wild, grinning like a fucking lunatic as he moves. Hebreaks noses with his forearms, kicks out knees, grabs a guy by the ears and slams his head into a beam hard enough to leave a dent.
From the shadows, a few of my men step forward.
No orders or promises.
They just startfighting.
Jackets tossed aside, shirts rolled to the elbow or torn straight off, with blood already staining the white undershirts. Ryo laughs loudly, says something about me being the new boss.
I lead them forward, deeper into the quarters, painting the floor in blood and bone until there’s no one left in our path. Until the last doors.
I kick them open.
Kobayashi is sitting there, cross-legged in front of a low lacquered table, sipping tea like this is just another boring Tuesday. Calm like he’s not about to die.
He doesn’t even flinch when I walk in covered in blood, blade still slick, surrounded by men who’d die for me.
He looks up.
“I must admit, I thought you’d be dead by now. I suppose it was naive, trying to keep a beast caged.”
I take a step forward and he looks at my tanto. Set the cup on the table.
“I always knew this day would come,” he says. “I made a mistake the moment I tried to put a leash on you. I should’ve known a mad dog can’t be trained.”
