One Thousand Cranes: The Yakuza Path, #3 by Amy Tasukada

Author:Amy Tasukada
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Amy Tasukada
Published: 2017-11-30T00:02:33+00:00

Kurosawa pushed the paper into Nao’s free hand. His eyes darted over the text, and then his brows knitted together.

A chill shot down Aki’s spin. Whatever was on the note couldn’t be good, but if it was reliable information, Kurosawa would’ve brought it up before.

Nao rubbed his thumb along the handle of his briefcase then glanced toward Kurosawa. “Find out more, and we’ll talk about it tonight.”

“I’ll do my best, but—”

“I didn’t ask for your best,” Nao snapped.

Aki had never seen the monster lurking inside Nao emerge outside a boxing ring. But a fire had been lit in his eyes, and a sinister expression washed over his face, leaving no doubt the monster who haunted Nao’s dreams had escaped.

Aki gulped.

Kurosawa took a step back, his face turning pallid. Even the cockiest man would cower when facing that Nao.

“Of course, Father Murata.” Kurosawa bowed. “Forgive the slip of my tongue.”

“It’s not your tongue I have the problem with.”

“I’ll get on this right away.”

Nao shoved the note in Kurosawa’s face. “Don’t come tonight unless you have something to report.”

Kurosawa bowed and left.

Nao’s expression softened, but the glint behind his eyes wasn’t from the Nao Aki knew. Aki always thought Nao restrained the killer inside of him, but perhaps it was the other way around.

“Don’t let Kurosawa get to you,” Nao said. “He’s still a homophobic bastard even if he pretends he isn’t.”

“I, ah—”

“Let’s get going.”

Nao opened the front door and didn’t stop his quick pace until he arrived at the car. Only after putting the briefcase in the trunk did he slow enough for Aki to fulfill his duty and open the door. They got in, and Nao gave a vague set of directions only someone who never drove before would give.

Aki ran his sweaty palms along the steering wheel. Whatever was on the note disturbed Nao so much he did nothing but stare out the window. Maybe someone did see the fight and wrote a note about the incident.

No.

It was silly.

No one had been there. If anything, it was the guy from the gym reporting the blood in Nao’s car.

If anything, the keys to the car were kept alongside the others at headquarters. Aki could deny all knowledge and suggest someone had gotten the keys and shoved Shoda’s body in the trunk.

Then it would be another lie he’d tell Nao. They weren’t supposed to roll off his tongue so easily, especially when thinking of excuses to tell Nao. Aki picked at the stitching on the steering wheel. Nao demanded loyalty above everything else, and if Aki couldn’t keep to the standard, then Nao would find someone to replace him.

“Turn off here,” Nao said.

A cedar forest grew around them, and soon the paved road scattered to gravel as Aki drove up the mountain.

“Park here. We’ll need to walk the rest of the way.”

Aki followed the instructions and came around to open Nao’s door. The glare in his eyes had disappeared, and somehow in the countryside of Kyoto, Nao’s whole appearance brightened.

Nao opened the trunk, and the image of Shoda’s body flashed in Aki’s mind.

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