Page 57 of Wrathful King

All four members had to agree unanimously on the leader of the Takahashi crime organization.

The fucking vote couldn’t have come at a worse time.

I kept checking my phone for any updates on Reina. I wished I could have brought her with me, but I knew the way of this world. Wives, daughters, and mistresses of the Yakuza were not considered vital to the organization; therefore, they held no standing.

I lingered by the senior guards outside the Yakuza headquarters in Tokyo and typed a message to Romero and Dante.

How is Reina? Any update?

Dante’s reply came before Romero’s.

It’s been ten minutes. Stop being a paranoid freak.

The head of Yamaguchi-gumi nodded his greeting as he passed me.

The next message was from Romero.

No change. Ignore your idiot brother.

Romero had a sense of humor. Who knew?

I collected myself, wiping my expression clear, and walked into the office.

Each syndicate head was seated around the desk and, to my surprise, the head chair behind the desk was left empty. My eyes traveled over the four men.

“The main seat is saved for you,” Yamaguchi declared. As I moved to take the seat, placing my phone faceup next to my glass of water, he addressed everyone in the room. “It’s time we bring the true blood—a young, competent blood—as the head of the Yakuza. Itsuki Takahashi has proven time and again to be incompetent.”

My phone lit up, and I read the message that flashed across the screen.

Had to sedate her again. Nightmare.

The message was from Romero.

Be careful to only give her the minimum dose.

“Are we boring you?” Sumiyoshi sneered.

I put my phone away and met his eyes. “No, but my wife is sick, and she is my priority.”

A heartbeat passed before a soft murmur filled the room. “We heard what happened. Our deepest wishes for a swift recovery.”

I nodded my thanks. “You can appreciate my urgency to return home to her.”

The four of them nodded in unison. “Okay, then let’s get straight to business,” Yamaguchi continued. “We propose to eliminate Itsuki and have you take his place. You have brought in the most deals, money, and success to our organization. All your cousin succeeded in was losing them.” He paused for effect. “Those in favor of Amon Takahashi”—they never did acknowledge my Italian background—“becoming the next leader of the Yakuza, raise your hand.”

Kudo-kai was the first one who lifted his palm. Sumiyoshi followed. Inagawa kept watching me suspiciously. He’d always been wary of anyone outside his immediate circle. Murmurs started, but I didn’t bother listening, keeping my gaze locked on Inagawa. The vote to switch from my cousin to me would have to be unanimous. His gaze darted to the first twoYesvotes, then returned to me. Maybe it was the fact he saw that I didn’t give a shit, or maybe it was something else entirely, but he raised his hand too.

“You have my vote,” Yamaguchi announced, putting his hand up. It wasn’t as if they could keep Itsuki at the helm. He was dead in the bunker without any chance of resurrection. “You will lead the Yakuza.”

It didn’t come as a surprise really, but it was unprecedented. The voting to replace the Yakuza leader had never been done in the history of the organization, but knowing my cousin’s incompetence, a unanimous vote was the only way.

“Please join me in welcoming the new Yakuza leader,” Yamaguchi announced. “Amon Takahashi.”

The tattoo artist already waited out front. It was time to follow my ojisan’s tradition and sit for the inscription of the kanji symbol that represented our syndicate. The same symbol that my wife wore around her neck.

The other leaders trickled out when the meeting was over, and when my tattoo was finished, I hauled ass out of there. Reina needed me more than these men did.

My phone buzzed again.