Page 33 of Broken Blood Ties

“Katsuro’s dead.”

My pace slows as I walk away from the table, and I have to reach out to stabilize myself on the textured wall, featuring a subtle, wavelike pattern. I blink, trying to process what he just said.

“How?” is all I can muster out.

“Sources say it was an internal execution.” Cormac sniffs on the other end of the phone.

“The Japanese killed one of their own?” I repeat back to him.Shite.

“Aye. Do we need to meet with Yuki? The men here are worried the tide is changing, Kieran.” Cormac sounds spooked. “What the bloody hell is going on?”

I shake my head before realizing he can’t see.

“I don’t know. Let me reach out to Yuki. Ye know he handles communication with me only.”

“Okay.”

“And Cormac? Who are the other Japanese fighters scheduled for next Wednesday?”

He pauses and papers rustle on the other end of the line. “Ren and Shota.”

“Have Finn see if he can get an eye on them. I’ll message Yuki.”

“Aye, Boss.”

When I hang up the phone, I type a message out to Yuki.Meet me tomorrow 10 p.m. The usual spot.

Sliding my phone back in my pocket, I turn and jump back, startled to find Summer standing there.

“We’re headed to the gift shop. The buses will be ready to pick us up in thirty minutes.” She gestures where I’ve pocketed my phone. “Everything all right?”

I work my jaw back and forth, steeling my expression. “Aye, ready to be done with today.”

She smirks as I move past her to follow the students and the guides to the overpriced gift shop. “And here I thought you’d be buying a souvenir to remember this lovely trip.”

My lips twitch. “Ye bring up a good point. Maybe I’ll see if they have earplugs.”

She halts, raising her eyebrows. Shite. Did she think I meant to keep from hearing her? I meant for the overhyped bus ride back to school. No way in hell I’d ever want to keep from hearing her voice.

Her chin raises, and she squints at me. “Rick said octopuses have three hearts. Maybe you can buy one of those.”

“And why’s that?”

“So you can borrow one.” She marches off, her corduroy dress swishing with her accelerated walk and her captivating hips. I pull my lower lip between my teeth and groan.

Idefinitelydon’t need a souvenir to rememberthisday.

Chapter11

Kieran

Raindrops splatter against the windshield, the rhythmic drumming of drops merging into rivulets that stream down the glass. I’d turned the car off three minutes ago, and the air is already thick.

Glancing up, the shattered windows of the abandoned office building are jagged and no longer transparent. Instead, they’re coated in some grime or mold, making them murky and impossible to see through.

The first time I met Yuki here, I was hesitant. With one barely functioning lamplight, the dark street on the outskirts of Boston isn’t exactly appealing for a meet with another organization’s leader. Now it’s the norm.

I pull the handle of the door, exiting my car, and shiver the instant I step into the chill. The air is cold, made worse by the icy water droplets. Making quick work to check my surroundings, I jog to the rusted door. The rain obscures my vision just enough that I miss the handle and slam my hand against the metal.

---