44. Ryuji
RYUJI
I t was plastered all over the evening news.
Obi had come stomping into the living room after dinner. He grabbed the remote and clicked the TV on without saying a word. Then we were all treated with the news story about the single most brutal incident of gang violence in the city in over fifty years.
A bloodied corpse with its lungs splayed out behind it like wings, strung up in an electronics store in Brooklyn.
Wynn and his fucking blood eagle .
His lips had pressed into a thin line while we all gaped at the TV.
The mayor was currently promising to find the culprit as soon as possible, while indicating he would crack down on gang activity and bring in other agencies if it was necessary.
My teeth clenched when the news interviewed the chief of police and he thought the incident was related to other instances of gang violence, like the attack of local clubs and liquor stores.
Cas and I exchanged a glance. We tore those places to shreds, and yeah, they were connected, but they were all owned by fucking traffickers.
I rolled my eyes when he promised to keep the city safe. We were doing them a favor by getting these scumbags off the streets.
It was all fucking bullshit. Half the department was on our payroll, and the mayor himself was a direct contact of Obi. This city lived and breathed on corrupt officials.
But connecting these separate events, and then indicating that other agencies might get involved… fuck .
“We aren’t called the fucking Shadows for nothing, you absolute idiot.” I cut a glare over to Wynn.
He ran a hand through his platinum hair. “I will not apologize for taking another one of them off the streets.”
I scoffed. “I obviously don’t fucking care that you killed him. I care you left the body in the window for the cops to find.”
“Nothing will come of it,” Ciel said, crossing his arms over his chest. “Right, Obi?”
Obi pulled Leona to his chest, her back against him, while he wrapped his arms around her. “No. Nothing will come of it.”
“No big deal, Ryu,” Leona said, trying to keep her voice light. “We made progress with the tunnels, and that’s what matters. If the police can’t trace it back to us, everything will be fine.”
“ One misstep.” I held up my pointer finger. “That is all it takes. Then, we are in the crosshairs of governmental agencies while the Albanians get to disappear.”
“I’m surprised you’re all up in arms about this,” Cas said. “I’d have figured you’d encourage such blatant signals to our enemies.”
I groaned and pointed at the TV. “Not if it’s going to land on the fucking evening news!”
“The police won’t find anything,” Wynn said, avoiding my gaze. “The warning will draw the Albanians out more. They’ll want retaliation and get sloppy.”
“The only person getting sloppy around here is you, Wynn.”
The entire room went quiet. Everyone turned to look at me .
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Wynn asked, standing straighter.
Leona tried to extricate herself from Obi’s arms, but he held her tight.
“It means you’re the one who needs to be on your best fucking behavior.”
“Ryu—” Leona warned.
“If you have something you want to say to me, say it.” Wynn stepped closer, his face turning thunderous. But I’d had enough of his bullshit moping around. Enough of his losing control. “I’m not the only one known for violent proclivities.”
“I’m not the one who has overstepped at every opportunity. I am not the one who put a giant fucking target on our backs.” I sucked in a deep breath. “I am not the one who lost the love of our lives .”
“That’s not—” Leona started.
“I knew it,” Wynn interrupted, staring at the ground. Ciel put his hand on Wynn’s shoulder, and he shrugged him off. “I knew all of you would never forgive me.”
I pointed at Leona, nowhere near done letting out the rage I’d bottled up since the worst day of my fucking life. “You caused that scar. You let her get taken. We almost lost her because of you !”
His shoulders slumped, and his face went white as a sheet. Still, he had no defense, because everyone in the room knew I was right. He fucked up, and it almost cost us everything.
Leona finally pulled from Obi’s arms, a frown marring her face. I expected her to agree with me, to confront Wynn for letting her down. She stomped over until she was right in front of me, and then she smacked me across the fucking face.
My mouth gaped while my fingertips pressed against the stinging skin. What the fuck ?
“Apologize,” she demanded, glaring at me .
“What?”
“Apologize right now,” she repeated. “Wynn almost died trying to protect me. To save me. What happened to me was not his fault, and I will not let you put that blame on him.”
“He—”
“Shut up!” she yelled. “For once! Keep your mouth closed, Ryuji, and listen .”
My mouth snapped shut.
“It is not fair. I was the one who begged him to leave the penthouse.” She looked to Obi, Ciel, and Cas. “I was the careless one, despite Obi’s orders. All Wynn did was try to protect me, and if anyone else has shit to say about Wynn, you better say it to my face.”
I swallowed down emotions I wanted to direct at her. It was never her fault. And if I couldn’t blame her, then I had to blame Wynn.
No one had a response.
“You have your own fears, Ryu. You can talk to me about them directly, but don’t for a second think that it is okay to treat your brother that way.”
With my jaw clenched, I jerked a nod.
“Apologize.”
My eyes snapped to Wynn. He stared at Leona like she was an angel sent from heaven.
She was, but I still wanted to wipe the expression off his fucking face.
“Sorry,” I bit out.
“Wow, real believable,” Leona snorted. She walked over to Wynn and pressed a kiss to the corner of his mouth. Then she stalked toward the hallway that led to her room. “Come with me, Ryu. Now.”
My eyes went wide as I glanced at Cas. He shrugged with a bemused expression on his face. I almost flipped him off before Leona shouted at me to hurry. I scurried off after her like a lost puppy.
God. I was fucking whipped.