Chapter 12
Stalemate ていし
Takashi
“What’s your deal?” Bridget asks as she eyes me pulling the chopsticks she stabbed me with free of my samurai knot and placing them inside the jade case I keep them in when not wearing them.
“Nothing but the inconveniences Akchiro has foisted upon us with his actions regarding that nuisance of a woman, Prosperity Shipmoore.” Casting my gaze towards her, I see the way she bristles at the mention of her friend.
“What do you mean?” Sitting up from the cushions of the bed where she was reading. Her tablet is completely forgotten as she waits for me to fill her in.
“Porter and Bishop Shipmoore are here following a lead that she is here in Tokyo. They’ve made it clear they will not stop until she’s returned to them.”
Shrugging off my clothes. I stand before her naked, liking the way her eyes snag along the lines of my body — my dick in particular.
“Well, I don’t blame them.” Huffing, she crosses her arms, her expression taking on a certain stoniness as she drags her gaze away from my hardening dick to my face.
“Hai, me either.” I concede, liking the way her shoulders relax at my words. “However, should they prove to be a nuisance, it could cause unintended consequences. The fallout won’t just be among the local clans but cause an international incident where they to go after our holdings.”
Which is what Riyu, and I told Akchiro earlier after the two brothers showed up at our meeting.
Our unflappable older brother remained just as unmoved at our words.
He’s consumed with the imminent arrival of his new child, a girl this time, and left it to us with a brief “Handle it. Don’t kill them. ”
“Hai.” We bowed in deference. Meeting my twin’s eyes, I didn’t even bother saying what we were both thinking. Love has softened him. So has it done to us all.
“Fuck,” I hiss.
“That bad, huh? Y’all have finally run up on some motherfuckers you can’t just dismiss out of hand.” She titters, looking at me with smug satisfaction.
“Omae wa toraburu-mehkah da,” I grunt, not bothering to have her come with me, as has become our custom.
“Aw, tink. Don’t call me a trouble maker.” She giggles.
Ignoring her, I take my time in the shower, washing the stress of the day away.
When I return she’s no longer in the bed. Sighing, I follow the faint scent of her into the living area.
“Did you eat?” she asks needlessly as she sets food out on the table for us both.
“You waited for me?” she dips her head prettily, trying to hide her smile at the low rumble that’s taken over my voice.
“Come, I know you much be famished after all that criming.” Shrugging she arranges everything neatly before me sitting in at the traditional seating.
“Domo.” Bowing my head a little in thanks, I dig into simple three-course fare of soup, steak with steamed vegetables followed by salad.
Soaking in the small respite of domestic bliss. I let myself enjoy this moment with this woman whom I can’t seem to stop thinking about every waking moment of my life.
It’s almost laughable we — Riyu and I ever thought we could resist the lure of them having been captivated as we were from the first interview with them along with the dozen or so other fledging tech firms we were interested in investing.
“Your home office will be set up tomorrow. Takeda has a new contract we are considering for BITE. We are looking forward to hearing your team proposal by the end of next week.” Her looking at me like I’ve hung the moon sends a smattering of joy through me. I’m not sure I care for.
“Just know,” I say, taking a sip of the whiskey she pours, nothing the excited tremor in her fingers. “Should either you or Ev prove to be untrustworthy in your actions during this process, you will be punished as we see fit.” I deadeye her when her gaze reaches mine.
“Hai.” Swallowing back her eagerness, she settles back with her knows folded under her.
“What is this new endeavor entail?” So eager. It’s like a starting pistol has gone off and she’s ready to sprint.
“We are standing up tech in Morocco at the behest of His Royal Highness Hassan Al-Rasheed. Ironically, Deacon Shipmoore and his new bride, Khadijah will spearhead the initiative.” I don’t tell her the gory details of the plot on Deacon’s life or the implication that Khadijah was involved.
It doesn’t matter to Takeda as long as the two get it together enough to hold up their end of the arrangement, which Hassan assured us they would.
“Arigatō.” Joy so palpable that were it to manifest, it would be more blinding than the sun.
“I know your work is important to you.” Rising, I come around the table holding my hand for her to rise.
We say nothing further before going back into the bedroom. Cuddling into me, this woman has the nerve to prop her tablet on my chest as she reads a dystopian fantasy novel.
“We are going to have a no tech in the bedroom rule implemented.” I grumble.
“You’d be the first to renege on it.” Shooting me a mischievous wink, she returns to the story. “You’re just grumpy because you can’t get any.” She adds, referring to her cycle starting before we left.
“I’m a grown ass man. That doesn’t bother me.” Murmuring, I rub her back, stopping when my phone chimes.
“See,” she quips.
“Reaching out to the nightstand I sit up when I read the message alert.
Warehouse fire in Tatsumoto territory.
It seems the Shipmoores are making their presence known as well as their intentions of getting Prosper back.
Take no action. Keep me posted.
Responding to the anonymous text, I settle back down, thinking of the implications of the Shipmoore brothers bold action against the people they think are responsible for their sister’s disappearance. All this lies at Akchiro’s feet and now it will be up to me and Riyu to deal with it.
I almost regret bringing Bridget with me. A deep foreboding tells me the brothers won’t stop at burning down Tatsumoto interest but will come for what they deem is most precious to Takeda as well.
I’d hate to have to kill Bishop and Porter respecting the men as I do. However, if they think to look towards me and mine, then they leave me with no choice but to kill them.
My musings over I notice Bridget softly snoring into my chest. Her head is slumped partially over the tablet.
Easing it from beneath her, I place it beside my phone, gathering her closer.
The bond we are now forging is tenuous at best. I don’t like to think of this situation with the Shipmoores making things even more difficult.
I rub her back long into the night, pondering the possible outcomes. One thing I know for sure, these men won’t be deterred. I can almost admire them for that were it not such a fucking nuisance.
I already know it’s some bullshit when I come home a week later to an empty suite.
My wife may as well have never been in residence. The space has been wiped clean of her presence.
We have had eyes on the Shipmoores and there is no sign of struggle.
Cold rage eats at me. Did she lure me back into a false sense of contentment only to flee again?
She has no phone. The proposal she and Ev were working on was entirely within the network of Takeda, with both of them working autonomously from their suites. The women have not seen each other since Christmas.
Looking at her work station, I notice that her laptop is gone.
Tearing through our penthouse suite, I notice there is a card on my pillow in stationary I know all too well.
Your wife has graciously joined me for tea.
~Okasaan
Knowing Mother never agreed with our treatment of our wives, I’m not surprised she’s taking the first opportunity to even the playing field as she sees it.
There is a pounding on the door. I know before I answer it who it is.
My twin is already flashing his own embossed card.
“Haha, has taken our wives.” He says with impending doom.