Page 29 of Bound By the Yakuza

I leaned back and crossed my arms over my chest. “Alright. I’m listening.”

? ? ?

KARINA

I didn’t see that cop for the rest of the night.

They sent me back to my cell to “think about it,” but I knew that there was no way I could betray Tatsuya and his gang.

Bail was posted. I’d have to get in touch with my brother to see if he could wire the money in. 1.5 million yen was a significant chunk of cash - but not to my family. It was just under a million Russian rubles, which my father made while he slept. Money was not the problem - how to get it could be tricky. If my brother sent the money from his main account, my father might track it to find me. We both had secret personal accounts as well. I needed to get in touch with Aleksey.

Tastuya. My mind wandered to him. “No,” I whispered to myself. I couldn’t ask him for bail money. It would only prove that I was involved with the yakuza. I didn’t need to give the cop any reason to investigate them.

Knowing him, if he came here, he’d probably kick down the door, guns blazing, and get us both in shit. He was amazing, but he was definitely more of a “do-er” than a thinker, which was why he must have been so valuable to his mob boss. The mob had an ecosystem all its own; I would know. Sometimes you needed the guy to knock down the door and fuck shit up. Sometimes you needed a more diplomatic approach.

I needed to call Aleksey. It was the only way I could prevent any more links between myself and the Himura-gumi and get the cops off my back.

I banged on my door as a patrolling cop walked by.

He turned on his heel and glared at me through the tiny window. “What is it?” He barked.

“I need to make a phone call, please!”

The cop shook his head. “No way. The superintendent gave strict orders that you are to speak to no one until he returns tonight.”

I bit my lip and turned on the best damsel in distress look that I could muster. “Oh, please, sir,” I begged. I was so good at this that I almost believed myself. “I need to talk to my older brother and let him know I’m ok.”

The cop hesitated. My pouty look could melt even the most hardened of law enforcers.

I let a single tear roll down one cheek.

The cop squirmed, battling his conscious against the orders that he had been given. “Listen,” He started, but then was cut off by a crackle on his radio.

“Attention staff, please report to..”

I couldn’t understand the rest. The signal was terrible, and the crackle washed out the person’s quick instructions.

The cop sighed and shook his head. “I’m sorry. No phone calls.” He turned and left without another word.

Devastated, I leaned against the wall and slid down until I was sitting with my knees hugged against my chest. I shivered. The cell was so cold and the fluorescent lights flickered every so often. I was exhausted; all I wanted to do was sleep, but that seemed impossible.

I closed my eyes, rested my head on my knees, and waited.

-

I wasn’t sure how long I waited. Long enough that my legs were asleep and pins and needles shot through me when I moved.

The whirring sound of the magnetic lock shook me from my trance.

I looked up.

There was an older cop standing there. Thankfully, it wasn’t the asshole that had been interrogating me last night. I relaxed a fraction, but kept my expression neutral. Who knew what kind of games they would play. Good thing I was trained to handle the worst. Japanese cops were fluffy bunnies compared to the Russians.

“Get up,” He said. “You’re free to leave.”

I didn’t believe what I heard. I struggle to my feet, doing my best to ignore the pain from sitting curled up for so long. My nerves cried out as the blood flow resumed. “Excuse me?” I said politely as possible.

“Your bail has been paid.” The man was straight to the point. His voice echoed against the painted brick walls.

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