Reckoning - Chapter 12

Ryo disconnected the call, threw his cellphone into the corner of the sofa, and dropped his head into his hands.

Mary.

Why the fuck did she go poke at Kaibara? And why did she go alone? Despite what she might think, she didn’t owe him anything. They were friends, and friends were supposed to have each other’s backs. Friends were supposed to help each—

He chuckled.

She had tried to help; that’s why she’d ended up in a hospital. Just another Kaibara’s victim.

All because of him.

Ryo lifted his head, looking out the window at the darkening sky above Tokyo.

It was all because of him. Everything.

It had all started with him. Kaori and Hideyuki’s cousin died because he’d been unable to kill Kaibara all those years ago. Hideyuki died because he’d been unable to kill Kaibara all those years ago. All the innocents before, after, and in between had died because he’d been unable to kill Kaibara all those years ago. Mary was in the hospital, fighting for her life, for all he knew, because he’d been unable to kill Kaibara all those years ago.

Kaori was determined to go after Kaibara alone because he’d been unable to kill the son of a bitch all those years ago.

Ryo shot to his feet. That was one victim he could prevent, one life he could save.

He checked his Python, grabbed his jacket, stuffed his pockets, visible and hidden, with speedloaders, fished his car keys from under the coffee table, and strode to the door.

Since it had all started with him, it must end with him.

He pulled the door open…And froze.

Because there she was. Makimura Kaori in all her tall, curvy, sexy, mouth-watering splendor, hip cocked, one eyebrow arched.

“Going somewhere?”

He frowned. She sure had the knack for just showing up out of the blue. “What are you doing here?”

She shrugged. “I missed you.”

Ryo suddenly had the epiphany of how others might feel talking to him sometimes when he wasn’t giving away anything, a neutral expression on his face. It sure was disconcerting. That’s why he did it. But it wasn’t fun being on the receiving end. No matter the delectable view.

And it was delectable. His gaze traveled from her short-cropped red hair down to the enormous hazel eyes that didn’t need makeup to suck him in, make him want to drown in them, and pass the small, I-know-a-secret-you-don’t smile on a mouth made for kissing with that fuller, pouty lower lip. Further down onto the spectacular chest currently encased in a tight charcoal T-shirt, over the trim waist encircled by a tactical belt carrying multiple double-stack magazines, over perfectly rounded hips and toned thighs, each cinched by a swivel drop-leg holster—her SIG in the right and a Glock in the left one—down long legs in charcoal cargo pants, to her feet encased in black combat boots, and back up, to once again meet her eyes.

She was grinning. “Do I pass muster?”

He placed his palm over his heart. “If I swung for the other team, I’d go for it.”

Her grin grew. “Still haven’t figured it out, huh?”

“Figured what out?”

“That it doesn’t work.” She placed her palm on his sternum, giving him a push.

He quickly took a step back. Not because of the push, but to hide the full-body shudder at her touch. Before, when she’d pretended to be her cousin, a shy, demure damsel, she’d never touched him like that. Good for him; she hadn’t, he probably wouldn’t have survived.

“What doesn’t work?”

“This stupid shtick of yours.” She stepped forward, over the threshold, and he, against his instinct, against his training, took a step back. And another. And another, until she closed the door behind her, dropping a small black bundle onto the floor beside it. “What’s the matter, Saeba?” she asked with a cheeky smile. “Nervous?”

He stuck his hands into his pockets. “Why would I be nervous?”

Her smile morphed into another grin. “You tell me.”

“Well…” Ryo looked up at the ceiling, searching his brain for something. Anything that wasn’t the truth. “Here you are, geared for war.” He gave her another once-over and swallowed convulsively. Jesus, what she was wearing didn’t leave much to the imagination, did it? And he had a very vivid imagination indeed. “Merely a day after threatening to throw my ass in jail.”

“Nice save.” Kaori grinned, her twinkling eyes telling him she wasn’t buying what he was trying to sell her. “But I didn’t threaten just you.” She was serious in a blink. “Pity, you lot prefer going rogue instead of listening to reason.”

He glowered. “And pity you didn’t bother informing us about Mary.”

“You’re not her immediate family,” she snapped back. “Besides, I didn’t think you’d take my call. You’re angry with me, remember?”

Funny, how he forgot all about anger and resentment when he was looking at her. “Yeah, well, I wouldn’t know it was you, would I? I don’t have your number.”

She hummed, unzipped a pocket on her thigh, and pulled out a thin cellphone. A few strokes on the screen and his own phone, still in the corner of the sofa, chimed with an incoming text message. “You do now.”

“I might block it,” he said, just to be ornery.

She shrugged. “You do that if it makes you feel better.”

“You still could’ve told me, you know,” he said softly. “She’s my friend. She thought she was repaying a debt.”

“You would have gone after him if you knew.” She glared at him. “You are going after him now that you do know.”

He was silent. Of course, he was going after Kaibara. He had to. He had to end this.

“If you’re thinking of going alone, think again.”

He scowled down at her. Without the heels, she was at a familiar height. “Forget it. You’re a cop, you can’t go outside the law.”

She scoffed. “Do you see a badge anywhere?”

No, he couldn’t. And he was looking.

“I’m not a cop tonight,” she said softly, dangerously. “And you’re not going after him alone.”

Ryo straightened, crossing his arms over his chest. “And how will you stop me?”

Kaori mirrored his pose. “I’ll arrest you.”

He arched an eyebrow, realizing he was having fun. “On what charges?”

“Child, please. I can keep you for 48 hours without officially charging you before I have to go to a prosecutor.”

He was definitely having fun. “Humor me.”

She shrugged. “We can start with obstruction of justice and resisting arrest. Then there’s murder, attempted murder, vandalism, assault and battery, breaking and entering, theft, illegal carry and ownership of guns, public lewdness, sexual assault…”

“That’s all you have?” he asked drolly.

A corner of her mouth kicked up. “But since you technically don’t exist,” she continued as if he hadn’t interrupted her, “I can’t officially charge you with anything. I can still lock you up for 48 hours, though. You can ask Mick how that felt. Hey, you might even like it.”

“I’m bigger and stronger than you.”

She grinned. “Really? Remember the mallets.”

He shrugged nonchalantly. Did she really think he was afraid of her mallets? “I could’ve avoided those.”

“I know. Why didn’t you?”

Because he hadn’t wanted to. “Umm—”

“Don’t hurt yourself,” she interrupted and picked up the black bundle she’d dropped earlier. “Take your shirt off.”

He reared back. “Why?”

She smirked. “Relax, Saeba, I’m not here to ravish you. We don’t have time for that.”

“There’s always time for a quickie.” He almost choked. What was he saying? What has gotten into him?

She grinned. “Oh, no. When I finally have my wicked way with you, it won’t be quick.”

When, not if. He swallowed convulsively. Did she mean it? Was she flirting with him? Well, he was the one who started it with the quickie quip, but still. He liked this new development.

“Come on, take your shirt off,” she said, shaking out the bundle, revealing it was a swath of black fabric, “and put this on.”

He took the fabric from her, looked at it. It was a T-shirt but made with a coarse, thick material. “What is this?”

“Body armor.”

“It’s a T-shirt.”

She pulled at the collar of her own. “So is this, but it’s made with ultra-thin, ultra-light aramid fiber. Think Kevlar, but without the bulk, weight, and restricted mobility.”

He lifted the fabric with both hands skeptically. It looked small.

“It’ll fit. It’s in your size. You can thank me later.”

X Y Z

The sleek speedboat cut effortlessly through the choppy waters of Tokyo Bay, its black, carbon-fiber hull blending in with its surroundings as dusk was falling over the city.

Ryo leaned a hip against the helm seat, arms crossed, pretending to sulk for not being allowed at the controls as he observed the helmswoman.

He had to give it to her. Kaori knew her way around the boat, though she hadn’t offered much information on where it had come from and how come she happened to have the keys to it.

The details on the boat might have been fuzzy, but there was nothing fuzzy with his current view. He loved it. She was concentrating on navigating the choppy waves, not paying any attention to him—he wondered if she’d even stop if he happened to fall overboard—giving him time and a plentiful opportunity to watch her.

Which he could never really tire of doing.

But there was a new element to one of his favorite views—her. A steely resolve to the jut of her chin, a resolute determination in her narrowed eyes, an aura of confidence and competence in her posture…A new element for him, but not to her.

This was the true Makimura Kaori.

Not for the first time this evening, he wondered just what an effort it had been for her to suppress the self-confidence that clung to her like a second skin when she’d pretended to be her cousin. How much of an effort had it taken to pretend not to have a clue, to be clumsy, incompetent, and shy, when everything about her obviously screamed competence and self-assurance?

He might’ve fallen for the girl, but he just realized that what he thought he felt for that Kaori was a mere crush, a puppy love of a sort. He’d loved her but felt a little sorry for her at the same time, knowing she never could be his equal, not in age, capabilities, or experience. The girl had captured his interest and his heart, but the woman could own his body and soul. Despite everything, or because of everything, the feelings for the real her were deeper, stronger. A tumultuous mix of tenderness, passion, fire, and ice, both calm and raging, a safe haven and inferno…

He was on foreign, uneven ground. It was equally scary and intriguing.

Because she was his equal. And because, unlike with the girl she’d pretended to be, there were no safeguards with the woman. No promises made to dead friends, no age difference, no secrets or past to hide…

“You could just take a picture!” Kaori yelled over the roar of the wind. “It lasts longer.”

He grinned, thankful to her for pulling him out of his miserable reverie. Nothing could come of it anyway. She was a cop and he was a criminal. She existed and he didn’t. They were oil and water. “I was just enjoying the view.”

She pulled back on the throttle so hard, he lost his balance for a moment. “Oh, really?” she asked slyly. “Now we’re talking.”

“I meant the gear,” he quickly amended. He had to admit it added to the sexiness. The tactical belt, the double-stack magazines, the guns in the swivel drop holsters. A woman who knew how to choose the best gun for her smaller hands knew the best gear for a faster draw.

She shook her head, and despite the darkness, he could see the disappointment on her face, in her eyes. “When will you realize it’s all in your head, Ryo?” she asked softly.

He swallowed. “What is?”

“Or can’t you even tell the difference anymore?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Never mind.” She nodded toward something ahead of them. “There it is.”

Reluctantly, he moved his gaze off her and saw the yacht, gleaming in the halo of its underwater lights. It showed how distracted he’d been by Kaori to not have noticed it sooner. “I see why he sounded so proud of it. It’s quite something.”

“It screams porn star,” she said, “or cartel boss.” She gently pushed on the throttle and maneuvered them closer, the engine letting out merely a near-silent whir. “What the hell?”

Ryo noticed it too. “What’s that smoke?”

“Onboard fire?”

“Maybe fireworks to welcome us. Or maybe not us.” He pointed toward the dinghy haphazardly tied to a side boarding ladder. “There seems to be another guest.”

He jumped onto the boarding platform at the base of the ladder when there was a groan, followed by a huge explosion on the main deck.

“What the fuck?” Ryo quickly grabbed onto the handrails to keep himself from taking a swim.

“Easy there, sailor.” Kaori jumped onto the boarding platform behind him and placed both hands onto his back to steady him. “What happened to assessing your surroundings before jumping anywhere?”

“I wasn’t expecting an explosion so soon.” He glowered at her as she grabbed a thick coil of dark rope off the bow of her boat and quickly fastened it to the ladder with a sleek knot.

She straightened, drew her SIG from her leg holster, and arched an eyebrow at him. “What are you waiting for? An invitation?”

Actually, he’d been distracted by her tight, shapely derriere. “I was waiting for you. I’m a gentleman after all.”

“Since when?”

He rolled his eyes. “Were you always such a pain in the ass?”

She grinned. “Yes.”

“Figures,” he mumbled.

“I’m curious as to why we’re still down here.”

He rolled his eyes again and ran up the ladder, drawing his Python.

Before he could use his gun on the thug with the machine gun waiting for them on the deck, a huge, looming shadow appeared, and the unsuspecting goon dropped like a rock.

“You’re late,” Umibozu growled. “I already took care of all the small fish.”

Ryo looked around at the bodies strewn on the deck and hanging from the railings. “The smoke and the explosion…It was you?!”

Umibozu tsked. “I started having too much fun and blew all my bazooka munitions.”

“What the hell are you doing here?!”

“I’m not doing it for you, you dickhead.” Umibozu glowered at him. “I have a score to settle with Kaibara. And I’m doing it for Mary. She asked for my help last night, and I blew her off.”

“It’s not your fault, Umibozu,” Kaori told him. “She chose to go alone.”

The giant shrugged. “Yeah, well…”

Ryo smirked. “You softie, you.”

“Asshole!”

Ryo looked around again, calculating. “By the way, don’t you think there were a bit too few of them? And where is Kaibara?”

“A useless soldier remains useless,” Kaibara’s voice echoed throughout the ship. “I sent a lot of them on shore leave. Only a select few were left to prepare for your arrival.”

“Where are you?” Ryo growled.

The engines roared to life, and the ship started moving, picking up speed quickly.

“Thank you for boarding my vessel tonight,” Kaibara cackled over the speaker system. “Do you have a particular destination in mind? No? Well, enjoy your trip to hell, then!”