Page 23 of Pragma
Soma nods. “Either way, he’s in the wind for now.”
“Naruhodo.” Masa hums. “And you think someone is after the company.”
“Or trying to interfere with Akira-san’s growing empire,” Yuna tells us her thoughts, which reflect mine. Someone is trying to make me look bad, even ruin me.
“Was thekumichoinformed?”
“No. And she won’t be until I find out what’s going on,” I hiss out, adding a venomous tone to my voice.
After a moment of silence, I hear, “I can help with finding the rat.” I turn my head toward them as I hear Masa’s words.
“How?”
“I have my ways.Kumichochose me to be part of your crew because I know this town and the people living here. I was raised in Queens. Give me three days, Mr. Boss.”
He was born in Hokkaido, the northern island in Japan, but he grew up in New York; I’ve seen his background file.
I narrow my eyes at him. What he calls me could sound sarcastic, but I don’t hear any ill-intention behind it. “Is this your way to try to get into my good graces?”
“I’d think it would take much more than that. You don’t look like the easy type, Mr. Boss.”
Oh, but I could be for the right person. My eyes fall on River. I could be so easy.
I snort at Masa’s cockiness. I don’t trust him, I don’t think I ever will, but I need to give him more leash to keepKumichoat bay. Moreover, pretending to accept him could turn to my favor.
“You were supposed to go with Trevor to shake down the greedy fucker from the environmental agency.” I pause for a moment. “Alright. Show me your skills, Masa. Three days from now, I want that bastard under my sword.
“Will do.” He bows and moves to the door.
“Soma go with him.” He nods back, understanding my keep-an-eye-on-Masa look.
Masa gives me a “Yes, Mr. Boss,” and they both leave.
“Yuna and Karin, you need to find the three ski-masked fuckers who vandalized my warehouse. Go talk to Trevor.”
I hear them stepping out after they give me a “Hai, Akira-san.”
My eyes go back to the city view. Too many things happening at once. As usual, my life is a fucking circus, and I’m mister juggler trying to keep all the balls in the air.
I need to focus on building my legacy and showing to the family I’m the right fit for the nextkumicho. And if I have to marry I… Even only thinking of doing it makes my stomach twist. I don’t like to be forced into making changes, especially about my life. If my aunt thinks I’ll just bow and follow her orders, she is more delusional than I thought. I need to find a way around it. In the meantime, I’ll pretend to go along with the fucking dates, while really continuing to move forward with River.
“What’s going on in your bunny maze brain?”
“Bunny maze?” He sounds amused. Fucking ha-ha.
“Did you know about the marriage deal already?” Is that why he didn’t act surprised by my aunt’s order?
“Are you implying thatKumichotold me, thegaijin, something you don’t know?” His sarcasm doesn’t go unheard.
“Gaijindoesn’t mean leper, but foreigner.”
“You mean outsider.”
I snort. “The fuck you are. You should be proud of the nickname. You are the only one my aunt gave one to.”
He frowns, eyes looking distant the way he does when he’s thinking intensely about something. Shit, I like the way I know him so well.
“Are you still afraid she’ll kick you out if you take a wrong step?” His fear of losing everything is ingrained inside of him because of his past.
