51
Although Vincent and the rest of his family laughed and drank and told stories of the past, I merely sat beside him in silence looking around at the smiling young and old faces. My face veered off toward Clay who remained by the bar watching with little to no interest of the events.
Our moods matched because of what happened prior to this celebration. I knew Ujio well enough. He would know even if he had no proof that I killed his brother. That gave me all the more reason to retaliate. But a war is bad for business.
Clay pulled out his phone and began text on it. He doesn't text much but when he does, it's with purpose. I did my best to be genuine to Vincent's family tonight. I wouldn't give off any fake vibes just so I had time to think. They would know and was sure to see it as a sign of disrespect. That night, was no different as my mind was thinking of ways to handle Ujio. If he reaches out, I deny everything as I should. I stood out on the back porch looking at the bright city. My phone vibrates and I answer the call.
"The three men dispose of the body. It won't be found. No pictures were taken of it." Dial tone. I nodded and hung up the phone and inhaled and nodded. I hear the back door closing and I glance over my shoulder to see Vincent approaching in long black silk bottoms and a black tank. He looks at me with a moderately concern stare.
"Clay is sleeping in my guest room… that concerns me." he replied coolly. I scoffed playfully.
"And here I thought you two were friends enough for us all to sleep over." I teased, but the effort wasn't fully in my tone. He approached slowly placing his hand on my hips.
"I know you've been thinking of what happened all day. Don't worry about it. You've had to do things like this all the time I'm sure. Because he's your ex, things are personal now?" he asked. I shook my head some.
"It's because of what he can do is why I am worried." I replied and slowly moved from his hold to turn from him to look back at the city. I held myself now as I felt the cool wind against my skin. "People are raised off one of two things: Love… and survival." I turned to look at him and he stared at me softly to show he was listening.
"You and I could both say we had the love of our parents, the love of those around us, but we weren't raised off it. We were raised on survival. You, me, Clay, Nathan all of us… on survival. Ujio was raised on survival. We will do unspeakable things to those beneath us to stay on top, to keep the power. We will be unpredictable to do what we have to do. Ujio is unpredictable." I announced looking up at the thoughts of our past together.
"So why don't you just kill him?" Vincent asked. I shook my head.
"I can't he signed the contract and is a customer of Red Lake."
"So that means he can't touch you." he said.
"Doesn't mean he won't send someone who can try." I told. Vincent nodded some looking down in thought.
"So why don't you send someone not connected with you to handle him? Wait till he draws first blood then all bets are off." he said. I nodded slowly.
"But do I really want to wait until he hurts someone I care about?" I asked. He winced taking my hand in his.
"It's all about survival." he said. I knew he was right, and I sighed some and nodded leaning in to him. He wrapped his arms around me and we held each other for a moment. I needed to get a handle on this whatever the outcomes were, I would handle them.
With my eyes watching all around me, I wasn't worried. They were literally paid quite handsomely to watch where I go no matter what I was doing or who I was doing. And Clay was there too. I would do what must be done.
The week went on usual. I was checking in on my clients and making sure they were okay. Vincent and I made the unexpected yet quick decision to break my lease and move me into his home- our home. Everything government owned, I had Clay send a team to remove them and bring them to the house. Vincent and Amara were in the kitchen discussing the party we were having at La Buona Tavola. They just needed to tell me the plans and I would be there. I was preparing renewal papers for a client now in the living room when Clay entered, a serious look on his face.
"Ujio Takahashi is still in the city. He is on the phone asking to know where his brother is." he said holding up one of our work phones that couldn't be traced. I knew this day would come. I held up my hand and Clay handed me the phone.
"Mr. Takahashi." I replied.
"Miss St. Patrick… I should have been on a plane back to Japan yesterday. Yet I am still here do you know why that is?" he asked. I lifted my head glancing at Clay who just watched, his eyes icy and still.
"I hear you brother is missing." I replied.
"What have you done to him?" he asked suddenly.
"Ujio I am not responsible for your brother. I do not know where he is." I replied. "You know how he is. Maybe he is passed out drunk somewhere."
"Or maybe he got himself into trouble." Ujio said viciously.
"You know how your brother is you've enabled him enough over the years. Maybe he did get himself into trouble. I don't see what this has to do with me." I replied nonchalantly. I could hear the sinister chuckling from his end.
"I heard your brother's club, Truth, was shot up a few nights ago." he said. I was mildly stiffening.
"Just some stupid men doing stupid things. I don't concern myself with my brother's business." I replied.
"I'll give you one more chance to tell me where my brother is." he said. My face hardened as I stared off into space.
"Your brother is not my problem Mr. Takahashi. Don't call me unless it involves business." I replied and hung up the phone exhaling through my nose and just holding up my phone for Clay to take. He took it and tucked it inside his suit pocket.
"Would you like me to put eyes on them?" he asked. I inhaled in thought. If I keep putting eyes everywhere then they aren't doing their job to me. If I am going to do anything about Ujio it needed to be done quietly.
"Get me my eyes on the ground. I want a tracker on the Yakuza here. If any more members are called from Japan I want to know." I replied before looking back at my paper work. Clay dipped his head in response before turning and exiting the room, passing Vincent on his way out. I stood up and met him halfway and he just took my hands in his.
"Are we happy?" he asked. I looked his face over, his deep brown eyes showing only love to me. I raised my hand to caress his cheek.
"We are." I replied and he smiled and leaned in capturing my lips in a deep and passionate kiss.
"I already booked out La Buona Tavola for Saturday at 7. I invited only my immediate family… or those you could call immediate and of course you bring whoever you'd like." he said and I grinned wrapping my arms around his sides.
"It seems you are ready to party." I replied and he wrapped his arms around my shoulders.
"Oh you know I am." he said. I could hear my phone going off from the couch and I pecked Vincent's lips before we released each other and I moved over to see who it was. I sucked my teeth in annoyance and answered.
"Why am I hearing from you?" I replied.
"I need a simple yes or no answer, Yara." he said seriously. Already in more drama I see.
"What is it?" I asked.
"Kanan ever fuck with you?" he asked and now my body stiffened and I looked over my shoulder to see Vincent raising his head curiously as if asking who I was talking to. I held up a finger for him to hold on. He nodded and pointed out the room before leaving I turned around and leaned into my phone.
"Why do you care? What does it matter?" I asked lowly.
"Damn, Yara fucking yes or no?" James snapped. His voice was on edge and he was talking fast. He was going to do something. What I just didn't know. I wanted off the phone with him though.
"Yes." I replied lowly.
"He put hands on you?" he asked.
"Yes." I replied quickly.
"In what context?" he asked. Now I was hesitant wondering why he was suddenly asking all these questions. Why was he asking these questions? How did he even know to ask about Kanan? Now I know who was left with him to know. Clay. I sighed. "What context Yara?"
"What do you think?" I asked lowly.
"What he try and fuck you or something?" he asked swiftly.
"Not try…" I said.
"When the fuck did this happen!" he asked.
"A lot of different times. Look I had to do what I had to do so he wouldn't tell you about what it was I did… and I couldn't say no. Besides it was all to hurt you anyways. You did get him thrown in prison I mean." I replied before hanging up the phone. I took some even breaths and closed my eyes. It's the past. It didn't matter anymore. Why my brother cared was beyond me. The rest of the day was spent working. Vincent was at Bamonte's handling some business with Tommy and his father. As I finished my latest phone call, Grandma Amara came into the living room with a glass of wine in her hand.
"Am I disturbing you?" she asked. I gave a polite smile and shook my head.
"Of course not. Is everything alright?" I asked and she shrugged coming in and sitting down on the couch beside me.
"Well you tell me. Vincent, excited as he should be to marry you, is telling me of all our family and friends that will be coming to Saturday's event. But he does not mention any family of yours." she said. I nodded exhaling gently.
"My family and I are complicated. We don't get along and we don't need any negativity at the party." I replied. She smiled gently nodding.
"Yes, Vincent has mentioned your brother to me. He sounds like a man who believes he is on top of the world." she said. Because I allow him to feel that way.
"Yes, well he has worked quite a lot to get where he is today." I replied. She nodded.
"Yes. As has you." she said. I shrugged lightly some before staring up into her face some squinting some.
"You're hinting at something." I replied. She scoffed lightly.
"I am being quite obvious and you are choosing not to understand." she said and I looked away trying not to frown to hard at what she was wanting.
"My brother and his family don't have time for such things and I don't have time for them." I said looking at her with firm eyes to show I didn't plan to back down. She nodded raising one hand and waving it lightly.
"Yes of course. I am not trying to stir any pot." she said before shrugging and getting up. "I just hope you don't think it's fair that you get to be accepted into our family with open arms and we are not granted the same courtesy." And with that said she sipped her wine and strolled from the room. I groaned lightly in response before shaking my head.
As it grew dark outside, Vincent and I were in bed curled into one another. I refused to tell him what his grandma and I spoke of earlier. I hated that in some way she was right. I just didn't want James anywhere near my piece of happiness, seeing me in my element and knowing it was not about him.
"You think of a date yet for the wedding?" he asked. I thought about it for a moment.
"Hm not yet. But I want it to be simple." I replied.
"What you serious?" he asked and I rolled over to look at him.
"I don't care about who sees us get married. I've never cared even with my exes. At one point I just wanted them, but now I just want you and only you." I replied. Vincent chuckled lightly.
"Never thought I'd meet a broad- a woman who didn't care about a flashy wedding." he said. I grinned.
"I'm not like other broads." I replied leaning in to kiss him warmly. However our tender moment was interrupted by my phone. I leaned back just a bit but Vincent leaned forward trying to kiss me more.
"Let it ring." he muttered into my lips. I grinned.
"One second." I replied and I turned over to see it was a text from James.
James
9-1-1. Meet at the warehouse by the docks. 1 hour.
I tensed at the text re-reading it for a seconds before turning to look at Vincent, my eyes already telling him what I planned to do. He pouted and leaned in kissing me hard.
"Be safe. Call if you need me." he said. I smiled and nodded and got out of the bed texting Clay to get the car ready already texting him the address to the familiar spot we used to hang out at. Within a few minutes, I was walk out the front door in black leather pants and a tight black shirt beneath a black leather jacket. Beneath the jacket was my cross the body holsters that had my guns in them. My hair was pulled back up. I walked over the Car with Clay behind me. He was just as ready as I was. He opened the back door and I got in. Once he was in, he took off to the docks. We were quiet for a moment.
"You said something to my brother about Kanan." I said.
"Yes." Clay replied coolly. I looked at the back of his head.
"Why?" I asked.
"You told me to kill him. I just used a different method in doing so." he replied. I looked at him almost stunned. What was he planning? Within forty-five minutes we arrived at the docks. I could see my brother's familiar vehicle and he was standing beside the driver's side of his car. Once our car stopped, Clay got out and opened my door and I stepped out. He was also dressed in all black, wearing all black. I approached him and he moved from his car to do the same.
"Why are we here?" I asked and he just glanced out at the calm waters for a moment before looking up at the sky.
"You remember we used to come here a lot as kids when school was out. We'd get into trouble." he said. I looked at him strangely before sighing some.
"No you got into trouble. You and Tommy would drink and smoke weed but never let me touch a single one of either. And you'd break the hands of anyone who tried to." I explained and he grinned and nodded.
"I wanted so many great things for us as kids, even if I didn't know how I would get it for the both of us." he said. I just shrugged.
"I'd say we are both doing great things now." I replied. His jaw tensed some and he nodded.
"How many times did Kanan rape you in return for his silence of not telling me about your job?" he asked dryly and I tensed. He dragged me through the city for that.
"Too many times to count honestly." I answered. He nodded looking down grazing the tip of his nose with his thumb as his stance seemed to crumble some.
"Come with me." he replied and turned and walked past me. I watched him confused before looking at Clay who was just standing by the car watching. I shook my head and followed behind my brother. Clay followed behind me now and we walked toward the ware house. James opened the door and moved inside and I followed behind him. This place wasn't very large, so the second I walked in, my walking slowed as I saw none other than Kanan himself sitting on a chair his hands cuffed behind the chair and his ankles chained together. The side of his face was cut and his nose was bleeding and a gag was in his mouth. He was in only boxers and a tank. I looked at James who just stared at the man with a straight face. He was unreadable as he just reached into his hoody pocket to pull out a pair of black gloves and slowly he just handed them to me without even looking at me.
I blinked and automatically reached to take them and he pulled out another pair and slowly we began to slide them on, first left then right. Kanan just glared at us. He was never one to beg or to curse at someone before attacking. But when confined, I see he couldn't do much else except watch. Now it was very clear of what was going to happen.
As James removed his hoody, I slid off my jacket and we just let them fall onto the ground. His gun remained behind his back as my guns remained in their holsters. Now I was just as unreadable as my brother as he now turned to look behind him. I turned as well to see Clay opening his jacket to remove two long chef knives, a vicious smirk playing on his face as we approached each other. Clay removed the first knife and handed it to me and then the second and handed it to James. We stared at the large knives for a moment before looking at each other.
"I want us to start over… starting with this." he said motioning his head at Kanan. I looked over at the man who was struggling a bit as he knew what was to come. Kanan was a survivor. I could imagine this isn't how he wanted to go out. I looked at my brother once again thinking this was very out of character of him, but the dark look in his face somewhat matched mine when deciding to do something very heinous to someone. Even now we are still the same. Did I trust his words entirely? No. But I guess he as time to prove himself.
Slowly I nodded and he did the same.
"You want first cut?" I asked. He looked at the knife in his hand and then over at Kanan with disgust before looking at me.
"Let's do it together." he said. My eyes flexed in shock at his words and for once I was looking up at him with excitement as he gave a dark smirk in reply. Together the two of us faced Kanan approaching him leaving Clay behind to smirk sadistically as he watches us, the shadows of our bodies showing on the wall behind him of knives being held up before quickly stabbing downward then up again then down again. All anyone could hear was harsh grunts and yelling fill the dimly lit room.