I had set this plan in motion, booking Ryuji and I seats on a dawn flight to China, just before Ciel notified us that the cartel was going after the Russians.
“Now?” he asked, glancing back over his shoulder to where Leona spoke quietly with Zoya Makarova. After they returned downstairs, the two appeared to be thick as thieves.
“It should take us no longer than two days,” I confirmed with a nod. “We will be back before the meeting with Giulio and the other Italians.”
Time crunches were part of being assassins, but that meeting was important for all of us to attend. Not only did we need to present a show of unity and force to the Italians, standing behind Leona as one, but it was also crucial to gauge what kind of support the Italian footsoldiers would lend to a woman.
The five of us believed in Leona’s ability to run our new syndicate.
But she was also standing against the tradition of generations. That was a reality we needed to be ready to adapt and respond to. As I told Caspian, she would have to accept his proposal to ensure the most favorable outcome.
If Ryu was present at Caspian’s proposal, he would react poorly. His behavior in Los Angeles—his obsession with her—had convinced me of that. I needed to get him out of the way, and then return in time to ensure Leona made the right decision.
“I don’t know…” Ryu responded. I crossed my arms over my chest. Since when did Ryu turn down contracts?
We had to secure this relationship in order to achieve the level of income we needed from the West Coast gun trade. While I might be able to complete this contract by myself with enough time, we were short of it. Ryu had to help me so we could get this done as soon as possible.
“You don’t want to go?”
He shrugged, jaw clenching.
I knew Ryu, just as he knew me. If he was going to push my buttons in relation to Leona to get what he wanted, then I’d do the exact same thing.
I gestured to his swollen face. “Do I want to know what that was about?”
If I pushed him on that injury, which he obviously got in a dispute with Caspian, he’d want to leave. It was typical of Ryu to run. He wore his avoidance like armor—protecting himself from addressing what made him scared.
His hand twitched. “Not your fucking business.”
“Do not make it my business, then,” I responded, voice harder than usual. “Do your job. Securing these shipping routes means completing the contract. Without this relationship, we will be unable to move the product and deliver on our promises.”
Felix was already looking for replenishment. He’d been in touch with me that the supply Kofler had was close to being exhausted. If we didn’t want a drop in sales, which would no doubt reflect poorly on our hostile takeover of Kofler’s trade, we had to get this running smoothly.
Ryu rubbed the back of his neck. “Just you and me?”
I nodded. “Like old times. Quick work, without distractions. It will be cut and dry.”
Leona laughed at something Zoya said, drawing our attention back to the living room. Leona was a beacon, always shining.
I looked away to add, “I will give you a 10 percent bonus. Direct from the funds we collect. Put it toward renovations for the LA club.”
I knew Ryu, and after ten years together, I knew how he always had an escape route planned. His clubs were the income he would rely on should he ever decide to leave the Shadows. In the past, I always allowed him that opportunity. Otherwise, he never would have agreed to stay.
Here, I could use that to encourage him to do this job with me. Ryu never turned down additional income.
“Fine.” His shoulders hunched. Shadows passed over his eyes while he shoved his hands into his pockets. “The house was getting a little crowded, anyway.”
I clapped my hand on his shoulder. Perfect. “We leave at dawn.”
“I’ll be ready.”
I watched as he stepped away, looking down at his phone, likely reaching out to his club manager to notify Alec that he’d be unavailable.
I didn’t love manipulating my brothers, but these things needed to happen. Moves needed to be made. When the game was over, everything would make sense.
I just needed to do one more thing before we were prepared to leave. Leona had agreed to my request to mentor her, and this was something she needed to learn.
“Leona,” I said, clearing my throat.
