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“I knew if I called, you wouldn’t pick up.”

“And you came alone.”

“I was told once that the Yakuza work on honor.” Roman flits through my mind. “In fact, that’s more important to you than money or even blood. Am I wrong?”

No one responds.

I swallow hard and clear my throat while looking the Chairman directly in the eye. “I’ll keep this short. For years, I thought my father’s war with you was a gigantic waste of time and resources. I didn’t see you as any great threat compared to some other issues we faced.”

The Chairman’s impassive face betrays his anger with a flicker of his brows, but the longer I talk, the more confident I grow.

After all, I didn’t come here alone.

“To me you were just the scum that kidnapped kids from school because your Gatti masters told you to. But since myfather died, I’ve learned a thing or two about you and the real threat you are to me and my family. I know that you’re not actually the Gatti’s lapdogs. You two have an alliance. An old one at that. And my father knew. All these years, he wasn’t cutting you down to size out of revenge for kidnapping his daughter, he was keeping the pressure on you because he knew that the Gattis couldn’t act without you. Sure, they had enough support that we couldn’t ever crush them fully, but they were at half-mast compared to what would have happened had my father let up on you even for a second. So with you all caught up in defending your territory and your lives, the Gattis couldn’t make any real moves. Until now.”

The Chairman chuckles dryly. “You have a shrewd mind.”

“I am my father’s daughter.”

“Indeed. But given how close you are to the truth, you must also be able to see the future.”

I widen my stance slightly. “Which is?”

“Your father is dead. Your men are scattered. The threat on our territory and our business has dried up, and now we will take what we are owed.” He continues to chuckle, even wheezing slightly as humor takes him. “You come here alone preaching about honor, but you forget honor only exists within our organization. It does not extend to other families, so you, child, are foolish to think we honor agreements with others.”

“Ohh.” I sigh softly. “See, I knew that. Or I suspected that. But before we get into that, I want to tell you why you’re really here. See, all the workshops, trade routes and shipments, staff and cooking houses that you own? They’re mine now. In fact, I’m taking over the drug trade all down the East Coast. So your drug dens are now my drug dens.”

“You lie!” The Chairman’s laughter dries up instantly. “What is this insolence? You think you can stand there and make threats, little girl? For too long we’ve had to live under the Italianthumb, taking hit after hit, but no more. Your father is dead. Your trade is mine!”

Despite my racing heart, I force my voice to remain steady. “You misunderstand. I’m not here to negotiate or threaten. I’m here to inform you of a change that’s happening right as we speak. If you value your life you might want to fall in line and accept that your territory is now my territory.”

“Kill her!” The Chairman screeches suddenly. “Enough of this.”

As guns raise to me, I hold up one hand, but it’s impossible for me to keep my arm from shaking. “By the way? I lied. I didn’t come here alone.”

As soon as the words leave my lips, I hit the ground and lie as flat as I can as an explosion of glass rains down from the roof of the warehouse. Several of Theresa’s men slide down on black ropes with their guns firing openly at the Yakuza men who scramble for cover. I cover my head with my hands and fight the urge to curl into a ball.

My instructions were to lie as flat as possible, so that’s what I’ll do.

The doors at the far end behind me slam open and several more armed men and women pour in like the rushing sea, mowing down anyone and everyone left standing. A couple of the cars behind the Yakuza line explode as stray bullets enter fuel tanks and engines, and the dying splutters of injured men are quickly silenced by those tasked with walking through the bodies and making sure no one is left alive.

Then, silence falls and a hand lightly taps my shoulder. Lowering my hands, I peer upward at one of the captains Theresa assigned to me. He offers me his hand and helps me to my feet.

“Injured?”

“No.” I brush trembling hands down my shirt and skirt. “I’m fine.”

“Are you sure?” He turns me around while checking me over. “Adrenaline can hide things.”

“I’m sure, thank you.”

He doesn’t let me go until he’s satisfied I took zero injuries in the attack, then he remains close to my back as I walk to where the Yakuza Chairman kneels with blood pouring heavily from a shoulder wound.

“You should have taken the deal,” I say, my voice trembling from how hard my heart is beating. The tremble sounds weak but for once, I’m not scared. If anything, this is rather exhilarating. “You’ll die here, and whoever is next in charge will have to fall in line or I’ll keep killing until I find someone smart enough to agree.”

The Chairman spits at me and earns a blow from the butt of a rifle from one of the guards watching him. Then he’s kicked in the back until he falls, and the gunshot ending his life echoes around the warehouse like the clang of a bell.

“It’s over,” I sigh softly, shaking my head. “Wow.”