I swear my vision blurs for a second with how angry I am. “Clare.” The girl in red steps back as she reaches for her friend's elbow to try to pull her away, but Clare shakes her off.
“Mei, is there a problem?” Toru asks, coming to my side with our drinks in his hands.
“No problem, Toru. Well, not one I can’t handle myself at least,” I reassure him with a smile as I slip around the table past him.
Clare takes a step back as I move closer to her. It’s not far enough. She stupidly opens that mouth of hers again. This time she doesn’t get the chance to speak. I lunge for her. My hands wrap around her neck as my vision turns red. The Nakamura in me has come out to play.
19
Kazuo
Ito has been speaking for five minutes straight. Talking about unity, about how the families should work together to ensure a profitable future for all.
I watch him, never taking my eyes from the snake as he tries to sell his bullshit. His gaze lands on me often, but I give no indication of my feelings about the ridiculous lies falling from his lips. I can see right through him, but so can everyone else in this room. We didn’t rise to the top of the Yakuza ranks by being fools.
“And this is the reason I believe Rai will become the leader we all need. He can bring the families together and maintain order and fairness among us. He’s young, smart, and as my successor, he will inherit the entirety of my operation.” He looks at me pointedly. “It would be wise for all of you to respect him and to understand that it is my wish for him to become the leader of the organization in the States. He’s ready.”
Rai, sitting behind his father, puffs out his chest.
When Isamu takes his seat, he looks around as if he expects applause or perhaps some sort of congratulations. What he receives is flat silence. Until Rai begins clapping. That quickly dies off as I stand.
“I feel as though I speak for the rest of the families when I say, with all due respect, that Rai Ito will never be anything more than a sniveling whelp, propped up by his father because he was too weak to stand on his own.” I see several smirks around the table and a few nods of agreement.
“You dare insult my son?” Isamu rises and reaches inside his suit coat.
But of course, there are no weapons allowed here. It’s neutral ground. We were all searched before entering this room, including him. Even so, the fact that he reached isn’t something that goes unnoticed. We are the heads of the organization. While we regularly engage in violence, we don’t do it out in the open and certainly not among ourselves. I can already imagine Hideo dressing down Isamu for daring to breach etiquette in this fashion and bringing dishonor to his own name.
“I certainly do dare. Though you are avoiding the obvious elephant in the room, everyone here knows you’ve struck me without justification or provocation. You killed my people and cost me money–those are two things I will never abide. If you were half the leader you claim to be, you’d know that. But–” I glance at Rai and then back to his father. “As you are less than half a man, and your son is less than half of you, did you really believe I’d ever allow him a seat at this table?” I scoff as I back from the table.
Ito sputters as Rai’s face turns a violent shade of crimson.
“Thank you for the party, Isamu. It’s truly a lovely event. Like a thoughtful present to all of us here. In return, I’ve given you several gifts.” Rai’s phone buzzes, then Ito’s begins to vibrate on the table. “Enjoy them.” With that, I turn and stride for the door.
The guard opens it for me, and I immediately make my way downstairs. As far as I’m concerned, my business here is over. Given the chilly reception Isamu’s speech received from the other families, I’m certain they aren’t far behind, leaving Ito and Rai to stew. Good.
When I enter the ballroom, I zero in on Mei in a matter of moments. I suppose the fact that she’s throwing another woman to the ground and trying to jump on top of her is just par for the course with my little rebel.
The woman screams and tries to hold her hands up to keep Mei from attacking. Mei doesn’t let up even though Toru is trying to step between her and her prey.
I run forward and scoop her into my arms before she can go after the woman at her feet.
Mei yelps and starts swinging before she realizes it’s me holding her. Then she gets a sheepish look on her angelic face.