Her Fearless Ronin (The Syndicates #4)

Chapter 17

Jiro

A fter spending several hours with the local yakuza to ensure we had the manpower we needed and briefing their leader about the potential fallout from our cartel meeting, Hoka and I were en route to meet Valdez .

“Have you decided yet?” Hoka asked, his gaze focused on the road as the car glided through the city’s streets.

“Decided what?” With everything going on, I wasn’t sure which decision he was referring to.

Hoka cast a sideways glance at me. I sensed he wanted to know if I’d return as his wakagashira . The decision should’ve been easy. Of course, I wanted to return. But then there was the girl I kept insisting I’d leave behind. Whenever I considered my old life, she became a dominant thought, seemingly integral to any decision.

“What I don’t get,” Oda chimed in from the front seat, “is how you can say you’re protecting Hope from Valdez, yet you’re not fully committed…” His tone dripped with sarcasm.

Suppressing a grin, Hoka looked down at his lap, reminding me of our earlier disagreement. Oda continued, “I mean, if it helps, I can claim her. I’m sure Hope and I would get along—”

Reacting instantly, I slapped the back of his head.

“Ow! Seriously?”

“I’ll do it again until you grow up, kid!”

“I’m twenty-four!”

“You sure don’t act it,” I shot back as the car stopped outside a row of commercial buildings.

“Ready?” Hoka adjusted his jacket and checked his gun.

“Is meeting him here really a good idea?” The reflective windows of the building gave me a sense of unease.

Hoka tried to sound confident. “Valdez isn’t foolish enough to start a war. As long as we hold up our end, we’re fine.” But we both knew my real concern.

As we exited the car, Hoka straightened his suit. “If things go south, it might force you to decide.”

I smirked. “Oh, how appealing.”

His grin was wry. “Sure, I bet you’d hate having Hope in your bed every night. Tough luck, Jiro.”

Before I could reply, Hoka’s phone pinged. One of Valdez’s men beckoned us. As Hoka read the message, he hesitated. A sense of dread consumed me, taking me back to a tragic memory two years ago. I now had a better understanding of Hoka’s distress from back then. And for that, I owed him an apology.

“Hope…” I whispered, seeing her in a chair, handcuffed and slumped, unconscious.

My fingers instinctively reached for the gun in my holster. To hell with peace. Valdez was seconds away from a bullet.

Valdez quickly raised his hands, attempting a calming gesture. “Calm down. She’s unharmed. We can talk like reasonable men, and she’ll be safe.”

“You took her from the hotel where she was with my wife , under my protection ?” Hoka’s voice was steel, his yakuza leader persona emerging.

Valdez’s bravado wavered. “I didn’t mean any offense. I asked her brother to bring her. I needed to prove he wouldn’t sell out his family again .” Valdez’s gaze shifted to the side, his lips twisted in disgust. “I was wrong.”

Following his gaze, I saw Leo Myers. My contempt for the man deepened—he was even worse than I’d feared. My fingers itched to shoot him. But my attention shifted back to Hope, her vulnerability diming my anger .

“I need to make sure she’s okay before we continue,” I said, my voice tight.

Valdez’s smile was devoid of mirth as he nodded toward Hope. “Go ahead.”

I signaled for Oda to check on Hope, wanting to keep my eyes on Valdez and her treacherous brother. She stirred as Oda cupped her face, her wide eyes reflecting her fear. The thought of her brother causing her more pain incited a rush of anger, fueling my urge to physically retaliate.

Oda whispered to her, and she quieted, her distress easing. I clenched my teeth, realizing I should be the one calming her, not delegating that role.

Despair sank in. Would I be capable of providing the emotional support she needed? Despite Oda’s reassurances, her gaze darted to me, and I could see trust and wonder in her eyes.

I managed a small smile, hoping to alleviate some of the jealousy that had been churning within me. She sought me, always me.

Then she looked toward her brother, and the intensity in her eyes was lethal. I couldn’t help but grin. That’s my girl.

Hoka’s tone was biting. “You promised civility. This isn’t it.”

“Neither is the yakuza meddling in our business,” Valdez snapped back.

“Hope has a connection to me,” I blurted out instinctively, my words ringing louder than I intended.

Valdez raised an intrigued eyebrow. “Really? Because my man Pedro tells me you never mentioned her before.”

“Well, I’m mentioning her now .” I was leaning into the role of a possessive alpha male, which wasn’t too far from the truth. I glanced at her, and, unsurprisingly, her glare was squarely on me. She certainly disliked this display.

“So you’re claiming her as yours?”

I hesitated briefly, contemplating the ramifications of a “yes” answer. I didn’t want to control her choices, as an official claim would demand, yet at this moment, it seemed essential to establish my position. But before the words escaped, I was surprised to hear myself saying, “Yes.”

Valdez acknowledged my response with a nod. “Very well. In the spirit of our collaboration, I’ll pledge that you’re safe from us. But I also ask that you stop sniffing into our business.”

Hoka’s nod was sharp and decisive. “Yakuza have no interest in your business, Valdez. Our primary concern was ensuring Hope’s safety and satisfying her inquiries.”

Valdez shifted his focus. “Is Hope Myers the sole individual you’re claiming?”

I understood his unspoken query—was Leo Myers also under my protection? Before I could respond, Hoka intervened, his tone carrying a fierce edge. “Yes, she’s the only one.”

“Alright then.” Valdez gestured toward Hope. “Take the girl and go.”

With that motion, my world shifted. There it was, the tattoo that had haunted my nightmares for over a decade. It was the bizarre image of a snake entwined around an eagle’s talons, the serpent biting into the bird. It felt surreal, like a figment of my imagination. Memories of an alley flooded back, and my hand instinctively reached for my gun, pointing it at Valdez’s head.

“Jiro…” Hoka’s voice rang with an unfamiliar caution.

I cocked the gun, the metallic sound cutting through the tense air, accompanied by a symphony of other guns being readied—Valdez’s men, most likely, preparing to aim at me. Yet, I was heedless of their presence.

“Jiro!” Hoka’s tone sharpened, his command aimed squarely at me. “Lower your weapon, now!”

My hand trembled, my finger twitching near the trigger. The burning hatred and vengeance ignited a fire within me that made it difficult to breathe.

“He struck first, Hoka. He tried to end me,” I spat, the words sharp and accusing. The memories of that alley resurfaced, mingling with the searing pain of Anna’s loss. “I have every right to take his life.”

“What are you talking about? I’d never be stupid enough to cross a yakuza,” Valdez countered, raising his hands in a slow, deliberate gesture. Around the room, I heard the distinct sound of guns being uncocked, but my grip remained resolute.

“Jiro!” Hoka’s voice sliced through my turmoil. “Lower your weapon.”

My finger hovered over the trigger, the maelstrom of emotions clashing within me.

“You shot at me twelve years ago like I was a rabid dog. I saw those tattoos when your arm came out of the car, and you fired at us, killing Anna.” I pointed toward Hope. “ Her sister. I have every right to take your life.”

“I wh—” Valdez raised his hands in surrender. “I didn’t know it was you. You weren’t even supposed to be there. ”

“What does that mean?” Hoka’s voice broke the tense stillness, pulling me back from the precipice of my anger. His presence was a lifeline, grounding me in a reality that seemed to waver.

I looked around the room, my eyes flicking between Valdez’s guarded expression and Hoka’s concerned gaze. The only thread of rationality I had left was barely stopping me from pulling that trigger.

The memories surged, vivid and raw. Anna’s lifeless form sprawled on the ground, her eyes empty, haunted my thoughts. I could still feel the desperation that had gripped me as I had crawled toward her as the world around me crumbled. And then, out of that chaos, Hoka had emerged like a guardian angel, yanking me away from the brink.

Yet, there was resentment that lingered; part of me had hated him for saving me. It had been easier back then to share my self-loathing with him, to let him bear some of the weight of my guilt. I suspected he understood and accepted the unfair burden of my anger without a word.

But right now, in this room, the ghosts of the past seemed to loom larger than ever. I needed to push back the overwhelming tide of emotion and focus on the present, on the man before me who held answers.

“What do you mean I wasn’t supposed to be there?” My voice trembled with anger and pain, the memories flashing before me like shards of glass.

I tempted a look at Hope, and despite the tears in her blue eyes, seeing her there, with her focus on me, took some of the pain away. How was that even possible?

Valdez’s posture changed as he threw a look full of disdain at Leo before concentrating on me again. “I had no clue who you were, nor did I care that a yakuza was present. Those were different times, and I was still acting under my father’s command back then.”

A heavy silence fell upon the room, the words sinking in like stones dropped into still water. I lowered my gun, my hand shaking slightly, the anger that had fueled me now mixing with disbelief.

Valdez turned his attention toward Leo again, his gaze seething with contempt. “Did you let him carry the weight of your mistakes? Do you always like to play the victim?”

Valdez’s words pierced through the room, a reckoning that seemed to be long overdue. Leo’s face twisted with a blend of guilt and defiance, and he took a step back but was blocked by one of Valdez’s men.

“It’s not as simple as that!” Leo spat violently. “Yakuza are bad news; one way or another, my sister would have ended up dead! Look at Hope now, tied to a chair!” He pointed at Hope, who was glaring at him despite the tears running down her face.

Valdez snorted, “You’re delusional. Your sister being tied to this chair surrounded by armed men is a hundred percent on you.” He sighed, his attention returning to me. “Let me enlighten you, yakuza. Back then, Leo was the star quarterback of his high school, so we approached him for a ‘partnership.’ You see, there’s a lot of money in high school and university games. Leo’s greed had no end, and he saw this as an opportunity to fuel it even further. He started making deals with other parties, which could have spiraled out of control.” Valdez shrugged .

“The sister’s death was… unfortunate but necessary. Leo’s greed needed to be controlled, and that was the warning he understood,” he continued, his tone steady but heavy with the weight of the past. “A message to keep on the straight and narrow. Leo had been warned many times. But it seems his desire for more blindsided him to the dangers.”

A shiver ran down my spine as the puzzle pieces began to fit together, revealing a portrait of deceit and manipulation that I had never suspected. I’d never been the one to blame for Anna’s death. It was Leo… Leo, whose tears at Anna’s funeral were more about the weight of his guilt than genuine sorrow. Leo, who had traded his sister’s life as if it were a commodity, cared little for the past they shared.

“Unfortunately, it seems that guilt, or maybe karma, who knows, played its part because, after his sister’s death, our Leo was no longer capable of influencing the outcome of a game, but…” Valdez shook his head. “He was good at recognizing desperation and greed in other players like him. He’s been our best recruiter.”

The selfishness of Leo’s actions struck me like a blow.

How easy it must be to carry such a burden without an ounce of remorse or accountability, I thought bitterly, the anger within me surging, threatening to consume reason.

Everything he had done had been for money and not to help his family; no, that would have been somehow commendable. He’d done everything for himself, not caring who died in the process, even his own flesh and blood.

My eyes flicked to Hoka, and he met my gaze with understanding. He saw the storm of resolve and determination forming into a chilling purpose. Leo Myers had to pay, and I would be the one killing him.

The prospect of ending his life didn’t cause any issue with my conscience. Sometimes, trees that had grown twisted couldn’t be straightened. They only spread their poison, threatening to destroy everything around them. I wouldn’t let that darkness taint my Hope’s world any longer.

Hope’s presence caught my attention. She looked down, her vulnerability exposed, and Oda’s comforting touch sparked a flicker of jealousy inside me. That was supposed to be my role—to provide her with solace, to shield her from pain. But right now, my yakuza persona demanded priority. I had to be the guardian, even if it meant pushing my personal feelings aside.

I faced an agonizing truth—I couldn’t always choose her, couldn’t always put her first, no matter how much I yearned to. This realization added another layer to my unworthiness. Would she understand my decision to eliminate her brother, or would she despise me for it? Could she see beyond the act to the underlying truth—that her safety was paramount to me, even if it meant tearing my own heart apart in the process?

“You don’t have a legitimate reason to wage a war, Nishimura.”

“Perhaps, but if my wakagashira wants to spill blood, I’ll stand by him.”

Hoka’s unwavering support was a lifeline. He was willing to go to battle for me despite the chaos I had inadvertently brought into his life.

“I didn’t intend for yakuza bloodshed, and you know the implications of that. And before you cast a stone, take a good look at yourself and tell me you’ve never used leverage to make a point.”

My lips tightened. I couldn’t deny it. Both Hoka and I were far from blameless, and we had used collateral in the past.

Valdez’s smirk widened. “But you know what, yakuza? I’ll grant you the retribution you’re after.” Before I could inquire about his intentions, Valdez reached behind him, retrieving a gun and shooting Leo Myers in the head.

I stared in shock at the abrupt act.

“He was becoming more trouble than he was worth. Take the girl and leave. Our business here is concluded.”

I looked at Hoka, his expression a mask of cool indifference. While it wasn’t uncommon for syndicates to sever ties with problematic members, Valdez’s swift action left me somewhat stunned. I couldn’t predict how Hope would react to this sudden turn of events.

“Go to her; you’re who she needs right now,” Hoka whispered.

I nodded, each step toward Hope quickening the hammering of my heart. Would she shy away from me? Be repulsed? Would she run to her brother’s lifeless body to grieve? My mind raced with uncertainty, but I didn’t have long to dwell on it. As Oda finished cutting her ties, Hope removed her gag and rushed directly into my arms.

She clung to me, burying her face in my neck, her silent tears soaking into my skin. The overwhelming relief I felt was impossible to put into words. She wasn’t rejecting me; in fact, she sought comfort in my embrace. I wrapped one arm tightly around her back, leaning down to hook my other arm under her knees, lifting her into my arms as she clung to my neck.

Kissing the top of her head, I released a long, grateful breath. Carrying the most precious person in my life, I walked away from those haunting memories. Oda followed us, his usually composed expression now grim, his eyes filled with concern. He opened the car door for us.

“Ikiteru koto yori ai shiteru,” I love you more than life itself, I whispered into her hair.

Oda shot me a surprised look as I settled into the seat with Hope still on my lap, holding her tightly and gently rubbing her arm.

Hoka joined us in silence, his expression mirroring Oda’s concern. Both of them understood how life-altering it could be to witness death in such a brutal manner.

After a few minutes, Hope’s breathing deepened, and by the time the car stopped in front of Hoka’s hotel, she was fast asleep.

I carefully got out of the car, making sure not to wake her.

“All the emotions must have drained her,” Hoka commented, giving her a concerned look. “Take her to the guest room in our suite.”

“Thank you,” I murmured, brushing my lips against her hair once more. “Sleep, my love. I’ll keep you safe.”