The Dragon 5 – Tokyo Empire Read Online Kenya Wright

Categories Genre: Alpha Male, Dark, Mafia Tags Authors: Kenya Wright Advertisement

Advertisement

Reo's jaw tightened. His eyes moved around the room for a second. Taking in the stone slab, the remnants of fire play equipment still visible in the corner, as well as the scent of smoke and sex that clung to the air.

He didn't speak about it. But I saw the anger there, simmering beneath his professional mask.

Finally, Reo spoke. His voice was flat and operational like he'd already moved past the shock and into the plan. "We have the Fox's location."

The words slammed into me.

My breath stopped. The air turned sharp and cold as I dragged it into my lungs.

Finally.

Chapter twenty-seven

The Pleasure District

Kenji

My voice came out rough and those words scraped against my throat like broken glass. "Where's my father?"

Hiro shifted the black lollipop between his teeth. "He’s within the Yoshiwara Depths."

Of course. The bastard is hiding out in the old pleasure district.

I leaned my head to the side. "How do we know this?"

Reo reached into his jacket, pulled out a small voice recorder, and held it up between us. "We intercepted the call between the Butcher and your father."

Fuck. That happened already.

My very hot evening with my Tiger had caused me to oversleep.

I held out my hand.

Reo placed the recorder in my palm.

I pressed play.

Static crackled through the speaker, then a phone rang.

Once.

Twice.

A voice answered that I recognized immediately as the Butcher's. "Hello."

Then my father’s voice slid through the speaker like oil over water. "My friend."

I hadn't heard his voice since the night he killed Hiro's new love, Nura. Hearing it now made my hands curl into fists.

"Yes," the Butcher said. "I'm glad you understand that we are friends. I had no idea what your son was going to do with my weapons."

A pause came.

Then my father's voice again, smooth and controlled. "Do not worry about my son. Kenji was a step ahead that time. But this time, we will be a step ahead."

My blood went cold.

The Butcher's voice came through again. "Just tell me what you need."

"I need your continued kindness and support. I have a plan. We’ll talk again soon."

"And I'll be waiting."

The line went dead.

I clicked the recorder off and gave it back to Reo.

Silence filled the space.

I stared at the device in his hand and replayed the words in my head. Dissecting every syllable.

Hiro pulled the black lollipop from his mouth. "Why wouldn't he ask for anything? Our father is a greedy bastard. He always wants something. Money. Weapons. Territory. But he didn't ask the Butcher for a damned thing. Just kindness and support?"

He was right. The Fox never made calls without extracting value. Every conversation was a transaction. Every word was currency.

Reo's expression darkened. "I'm worried they know we're listening."

I nodded. "They probably do."

The words settled over us like ash. If my father knew we were monitoring the Butcher's calls, then this entire conversation had been theater. A performance designed to feed us information.

But why?

What was he trying to tell us?

Or worse, what was he trying to make us believe?

"Is this a test?" I asked.

Hiro's eyes met mine. "Or is it a trap?"

I didn't answer because I didn't know. That uncertainty sat in my chest like a blade.

Reo stepped forward. "Regardless of the call's intent, the hackers got the location. We sent scouts. They confirmed activity."

I crossed my arms over my chest. "What kind of activity?"

"Your father's people stationed around the area. They're trying to blend in. Casual. Like they're just part of the neighborhood. But our scouts recognized the signs. They're monitoring corners, watching the blocks, and guarding someone."

My pulse kicked up. "Did the scouts go inside?"

Reo's jaw tightened. "They tried. Yoshiwara’s underground sex tunnels are a maze. They got lost within twenty minutes and had to retreat."

I frowned. "Then we need someone who knows the tunnels."

"Hiroko." Reo nodded. "She's been notified. She's coming with us."

My chest tightened.

Hiroko knew the Yoshiwara underground because she'd spent years consulting in Tokyo's most exclusive circles. The elite. The powerful. The depraved. If anyone understood the labyrinth beneath the pleasure district, it would be her.

But Hiroko wasn't a fighter. She was older and skilled in psychology and dominance, but not in combat or war.

I looked back at Reo. "We need double the men around her at all times. She doesn't leave our sight."

Hiro spoke, "We can put Kaede and Daisuke on her.”

“No.” I shook my head. “Put the twins on her and two Scales.”

“Can’t happen. The twins will be guarding you.”

"I don't need them guarding me, brother. Hiroko is more important."

Reo's expression didn't change. "She's not more important than the Dragon."

The words landed and I let them sit.

He was right. So was Hiro. I was thinking from the wrong place—from the part of me that wanted to protect a woman who'd helped my Tiger and me find each other on a deeper level.

Emotion was making the decision.

Strategy needed to.


Advertisement

Advertisement