Page 73 of Pragma
Her chuckles make the hair on my body stand. “Still lying to me. Are you fearless or brainless,gaijin?”
“Neither. If you want to punish someone, punish me. I’m ready to accept it.” I straighten up and place my hand on the table. I’m willing to cut my own pinky to show her my sincere apology if she asks for it.
“Do you believe what you did was such a grave mistake, you’ll performyubi-tsume?They took our weapons, there’s no knife,” she deadpans, not at all impressed by my sacrifice.
“I have teeth, don’t I?” I grind them and give her my most resolute look. I’ll do it if she orders.
“And you say it’s just meaningless fun.” She narrows her eyes at me. “Did you lie to Akira?—?”
Gunfire blasts interrupt her question. One of her men quickly takes thekumichointo the corner away from the window and door, while I look outside.
The sound of firearms being discharged keeps going as I see at least twenty thugs, maybe more, shooting atKumicho’s men.I recognize a couple of them, mercenaries that the Chinese mafia sometimes hires.
“I knew this was a trap.” I can’t see Masa and Soma. “Aki!” I had this nightmare before, where I’m only able to reach him when it’s already too late.
Did someone in the crew contact my brother? And did he follow my instructions?
“Ah!”Kumichoexclaims, looking pissed. “I knew it. We have a damn traitor in our midst.”
No shit! “Ishida-san.” This is his turf. This large number of thugs from another organization couldn’t step foot on his territory without him knowing. The fucker must have actually helped them.
She nods with a menacing smirk. She doesn’t seem surprised.
“How long have you known?”
“A while. Wasn’t a hundred percent sure, though. I needed some proof.” She tosses her cigarette on the floor and takes out of her small purse a tiny gun and a small knife.
That’s why she’s here today. That’s why she agreed to this insane meeting.
She’s a sly fox. “Ishida-san was the one suggesting Ling Wang as a candidate. The dickhead is aiming for my throne.”
That motherfucker. I’m going to peel his face, tear it in two, and then again and again until we have Ling Wang confetti.
“I was sick of waiting for him to kill me. Couldn’t resist the chance to fuck him back.” She shrugs.
How? By being sitting ducks with no weapons?
“So you did this intentionally? Coming here, using Aki as bait.” She is diabolical.
“I didn’t expect Ishida-san to be this bold.”
“Akira could be in danger.” I shouldn’t talk to mykumicholike this, but if something happens to Aki, I…
“He is the next in line to lead this organization. Are you telling me he can’t handle a little snag like this? He’ll eat them up and defecate their hearts.
The gunshots keep going, and I know the crew is fighting like hell outside. The door slides open and I see the two men in suits in the corridor.Kumichoorders them to stay put before the door is shut again.
I give another glance outside before a bullet goes through the window and hits the opposite wall. Fuck me! “Your men are getting killed like flies. There’s only a few standing that I can see.”
“How about Akira’s crew?” One of the men asks, while thekumicholights up another smoke.
“I can’t see them. But we need to get ready. Wang’s men are probably already inside the building.”
A woman screaming reaches my ears as I hear running footsteps.
“Let them come!” Thekumicho’s eyes gleam just like Aki’s before a fight.
I take off my coat and let it fall on the floor as I slide out my knife from inside my boot.
