Thank you for leaving your comments and reviewing... 🙏

Part 23

Silence filled the living room as they sipped their coffee.

The sound of Fudo clearing his throat brought the moment to an end. "Lucas said you needed to talk to me."

Riley nodded. "I was assigned here to check up on a lead about a terrorist group but I'm beginning to think that the whole thing was a hoax. I'm certain that I was specifically assigned here for a reason, to which I want to know exactly what."

Fudo didn't respond, choosing instead to look her up and down assessingly.

"What am I dealing with here?"

Still no response. He gave her another one of those assessing looks.

"Riley, I'm afraid it's not that simple," he replied.

"Never is." Lucas said the words so softly Riley doubted she was supposed to hear.

"Fine. Why don't you give me the short version."

Fudo laughed. His laugh was rich and throaty. "You're kidding, right?"

"You wish." There is it again, Lucas' murmured tone. Riley couldn't help smiling.

Fudo raised his cup and took a long drink. He finished his coffee, then set the cup on the table. "The last time we spoke you thought I was pretending to be a Yakuza," he said, standing. "I wasn't."

"Fudo," Riley stood and caught his arm before he could take a step. She heard his sharp intake of breath as he turned around. Or maybe it was hers, as she reacted to the proximity of his stare.

"Riley," Lucas called out.

Fudo's stare traveled from her face to the hand on his arm. Slowly, he pulled away.

"I am a Yakuza," he said. With a look that was enigmatic at best, "and a Kempei Tai," he added the last line in a lower voice.

Is that possible?

"It's unorthodox, but it's possible," he said, reading her thoughts. "We weren't supposed to exist so we had to find ways to fund our selves. Besides how else can we gather intelligence and get close to secret societies if we don't get involved in underground actions? Are you familiar with the Italian SIM?"

"Servizio Informazioni Militari. The Kempei Tai did forge various connections with certain pre-war European Intelligence Services during the 1930s. But the Italian SIM was dismembered after the Second World War."

"Like the KGB?" he asked with a gleam of irony in his eyes.

Riley stared at him and didn't know what to say. Fudo got very serious. "Like the Kempei Tai, they too needed to support themselves."

"The Italian Mafia?" she asked with disbelief.

"Yes," he said shortly.

"Unbelievable," Lucas commented.

Riley gasped and then closed her eyes, trying hard to stay collected. She opened them again. "The CIA," she said for good measure.

"I cannot answer that." Fudo looked worried and she sighed. He can't answer her question but she knows someone who can.

"Look, I think you are a good Agent and very intelligent. Definitely smart enough to realize that you are way over your league."

When Fudo passed her, she looked up. Their eyes locked, and he caught the full brunt of her perplexed annoyance. Clearly, she didn't appreciate his parting response.

…..

Lucas was studying her, his expression weighing. His too observant and surprisingly compassionate eyes said he'd read between the lines anyway. However all he said was, "Are you alright?"

Is she alright? She couldn't help it, she burst out laughing. Her assignment...Thor...Fudo...Lucas...was more than she could take. She laughed so hard, she fell against the wall, her head shaking in negation to his question.

Realizing that he was frowning, she forced herself to stop chortling. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have laughed."

He shook his head, his expression disapproving. "Get your purse. I'm taking you to dinner."

"Dinner?"

"Yes. We both need to eat."

"All right."

Riley was only vaguely aware during dinner. Her whole awareness was consumed with the feeling of anger and betrayal. The couple of times she glanced at Lucas, his expression was grim, disappointment flashed in his green eyes.

Dinner was a failure.

"Lucas,"

He eyed her warily. "Good night."

Incapable of saying another word, she spun on her heel and rushed to her room.

…..

The next morning, Riley woke feeling like she had an empty hole in her chest.

She walked on silent feet into the kitchen, not wanting to wake Lucas. Unfortunately, he was standing near the coffeepot waiting for it to finish brewing when she entered.

"Good morning."

"Is it?" he asked in a flat tone.

She winced. "I'm sorry about last night."

"Are you?"

"Of course."

"Okay. You can make up for it," he informed her with breathtaking arrogance.

"How?"

"I'll think of something," he said.

"Lucas, I need to talk to Thor. Alone."

"Fine. I need to step out and Nina is off today so you can talk here."

For once, he had not stubbornly insisted on getting his own way. "Thank you."

…..

Thor just got out of the shower when his cell phone vibrated. He glanced at the display and fumbled with the buttons and read the text message.

From: Riley

Need to talk. Meet me at Lucas'.