Chapter 9
Riko Tanaka leaned back in his chair at the small, dimly lit table in the back of his restaurant.
He ran his fingers over the edges of his glass, swirling the whiskey inside, thinking over the latest development.
Ava had met with Luca again. The thought simmered in his mind, aggravating him as much as it intrigued him.
He'd heard the rumors, but hearing about this latest meeting stirred something darker in him.
What did it mean? And more importantly, how could he use this second meeting to his advantage?
The sharp clink of the door to the back office broke through his thoughts.
For a moment, Riko caught sight of the two restaurant owners, their faces pale, eyes wide with terror.
A wicked chuckle escaped his lips as he watched their fear.
He relished it. Last month, he’d waltzed into their little establishment, told them he was taking over their restaurant “for a while,” and then smacked one of them around—just enough to make sure they understood exactly what that meant.
The beating had been calculated, a demonstration of his power, and now they both flinched at the mere sight of him.
Riko thrived on their terror. It was intoxicating, feeding into his sense of control. More importantly, their fear made them malleable—pliant, submissive, willing to do whatever he wanted. They were nothing more than quaking pawns now, easily moved aside whenever he saw fit.
The door clicked shut behind the two men, their terrified expressions lingering in his thoughts.
They had learned their place. Two of his thugs stepped inside, their frustration evident, their shoulders tight with irritation.
They were seasoned men, used to staying in the shadows, used to doing his bidding without question.
But tonight had been different. Something had gone wrong.
“Boss, we were followed all night,” one of them grumbled, shifting nervously and unable to look Riko in the eye. “Some other men. They’ve been tailing us since we left the warehouse.”
Riko’s sharp eyes flickered toward them, his irritation building. “Who?” he asked, though he suspected he already knew.
“We’re not sure,” the other thug replied, rubbing his forehead. “Couldn’t get a clean read on them. But we think they’re from one of the big crews. Maybe Luca’s people.”
The words hung in the air like smoke, thick and heavy. Riko felt a flash of anger but forced it down, keeping his tone steady. He couldn't afford to show panic. Not yet. “Keep your distance. Don’t let them know you’re onto them. I’ll take care of it.”
He dismissed the men with a wave, already formulating his next move. His frustration was boiling under the surface, but he refused to let it consume him. Not yet. He had a plan. There was always a plan.
Just then, his phone rang. Riko glanced at the screen and saw the number of one of his less reputable vendors—someone who dealt in things most people wouldn't want to know about.
He picked up the phone, his voice cool. “What is it?”
“Mr. Tanaka,” the vendor sounded distracted. “I just wanted to confirm the details of the cage you ordered. It’s extra-large, thin, correct?”
Riko's brows furrowed for a moment. “Yes, that’s right,” he said, though the specifics didn’t matter to him at all. The cage was irrelevant. “Is everything on track?” he asked, his voice slipping back into its normal calm, collected tone.
“Yes, boss,” the vendor confirmed, “everything will be ready. I just wanted to confirm the dimensions because…, well, they’re odd.” The guy chuckled, a nervous sound that soothed Riko’s temper. “But no worries. I specialize in making cages in whatever size people need. I’ll have it delivered soon.”
Riko ended the call without another word. His thoughts were already elsewhere, circling Luca. He had no intention of letting his plan be interrupted. He needed to stay focused.
The pieces were moving, and soon enough, he'd put his plan into play.