by K E Osborn
Ace snorts. “I don’t work for assholes,” he murmurs.
Torque glares at him in warning.
Ishikawa’s lips turn up into a smirk while looking Torque up and down obviously assessing him. “Hmm… debatable, Ace… debatable. But I’ve digressed, this is not why you are here. Discussing Torque’s ability to be an asshole is not on the agenda for today. So, my advice… get to the point.”
His eyes leisurely drift over to glance at me. My muscles tighten as he looks me over. I try not to tense up, but my muscles go taut as I stare at his eyes. They look exactly like the ones I see looking back at me in the mirror every single damn day. A deep intense brown showing a heavy burden mixed with flecks of gold. My stomach twists, but I hold it together. This is what I was taught, this is my way of dealing with stress. My father, the man who gave me life, is standing before me, and I can’t do a damn thing about it—the man who beat my mother, the man who raped her, the man who forced her to flee her country—that’s the asshole standing right in front of me now, and it’s taking every ounce of my training to keep my feet planted firmly in place. My lip turns up infinitesimally as I stare at him, and his brow raises as he watches me evaluating him. His demeanor changes, and he turns toward me a little more.
Ishikawa’s about to say something but Torque quickly intervenes. “We’re here for a reason. We want a trade.” Ishikawa hesitates, he glares at me, but then quickly turns his attention to Torque.
I covertly let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding.
“A trade? What could I possibly offer you?” he asks with hint of humor as he looks back to his goons who are smiling.
Torque stiffens, his body preparing to do a deal with the devil. “Compensation for the guns you took from us and the injuries at the initial shootout, we want you to call off the attempted acquisitions of our gyms, the Andretti gyms, and… the Fox Froyo Bar.”
Ishikawa raises his brow with a sly smile and shakes his head. “Now, why on earth would I do that?”
Torque takes a step forward, Ishikawa’s men tense up, but he waves them back, and they back down as Torque’s now face to face with my father. “You’d call yourself an honorable man, wouldn’t you, Ishikawa?”
He raises his brow and tilts his head. “I try to be.”
“You buy businesses… legitimately. You do things by the book. You are, by all accounts… a good man.”
Ishikawa nods. “Yes, I am.”
My nostrils flare knowing everything Aiko Ishikawa says is only a small version of the truth.
He calls himself a good man, but every villain is a hero in their own eyes.
“Then do the right thing… a trade. One thing for another. Wouldn’t you rather give and take, than take without merit?”
He lets out a small chuckle. “You say take without merit. Like the guns didn’t already belong to me. But, Torque, everything in Chicago belongs to me. Your guns, your gyms, your club… you just don’t understand how it works yet.” Ishikawa glances to me again, his eyes assessing me in a worrisome way as he looks me up and down. “Even your brothers will belong to me, Torque… Ace, Sensei… all of them.” His deep tone filters through the air making the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. “But… for now, I can honor our deal. I will give you some time to adjust to… the new way of life. I will give you some time to come to terms with this… arrangement. Your gyms are yours for the moment, Fox Froyo is no longer on my list of acquisitions, and I keep the guns. This is a show of good faith that we can work together, Torque. That you will come to understand how I work. How this town will come to worship me and the Ishikawa Yakuza. We could be great if we work together… think about it.”
Flaring my nostrils, I glance at Torque who seems about as happy as I am. “The Andretti gyms?” Torque asks through gritted teeth.
Ishikawa groans and rolls his head in frustration. “Fine! Those, too. But the minute we want more guns, Torque, you will answer.”
Torque’s face screws up as he glances to me.
I want to tell him, screw it, tell Ishikawa to fuck off, but I know right now he holds all the cards in this town. So we’re best to let him think we’re playing along while we attempt to come up with ways to fuck him over from below the surface. I subtly nod, and Torque turns back to Ishikawa and dips his head. “Agreed. But don’t come anywhere near the Andretti and my businesses, you hear me?”
Ishikawa lets out a small chuckle. “You’re so demanding for someone who holds no cards. I hear you, Torque, as long as you… hear me?”
Torque nods his head once curtly, then spins signaling for us to leave. Ishikawa continues to chuckle while turning to his car, but not before taking another look at me. I hate how he’s constantly studying me. I have no idea if it’s for intimidation purposes, or if it’s because he sees familiarity in me, or if he simply knows and isn’t letting on.
I have no fucking clue.
What I do know is I don’t want to wait around to find out. I break his gaze and head toward my ride without a beat, my chest feeling heavy like the weight of the world is coming down on me. But I don’t show it on the outside. I’m stern-faced as I slide my helmet over my head and jump on my bike.
Torque starts his engine signaling for us to start ours too, and I rev mine a couple more times than necessary as the vibration of the engine moves through me bringing with it a sense of calm. The energy from my ride always brings forth a sense of Zen, and I love how a simple thing like riding on the open road can calm even the most chaotic of minds.
Chains pulls out followed by Torque, then I hammer down behind him riding middle of the pack. There’s only one thing better than riding your bike, and that’s group riding. And now we’re heading down the highway away from the motherfucking Yakuza and my goddamned blood father. I feel lighter with every rev of my engine, with every turn of the tire as we pass the meeting point and the rest of our club pull out behind us, Trax leading the way. Our entire club riding the way back to the clubhouse in formation.
A stronghold.
A brotherhood.
A true family.
This is what family looks like, this is what real men are made of. Not that shit my blood father calls a family. The Yakuza is all about looking important and gaining prosperity.
That’s not us.
We’re in this together, for each other.
This is the family where I thrive.
This is my home.
Of course, my love for my actual family is strong too, and they are back at the clubhouse, not knowing I’ve just come face to face with Aiko Ishikawa for another time in the space of a few short days. Mother would have a coronary. But I know Father, the man I class as my real father—Hiro—will understand. We may not be blood, but he’s far more a father than Aiko could ever be.
The wind whips at my chest, enveloping me. I feel free, I feel open. I love riding, and for the brief moment you’re on your bike, nothing matters.
Not the war you’re in.
Not the drama your family faces.
Not the woman driving you crazy.
Nothing.
My mind is finally free as I ride feeling the ease of the freedom coursing through me like a tidal wave. It’s only when we round the corner heading back to the clubhouse that the unease of all the burdening situations begin to creep into my soul. The war, the drama, the crazy—it’s all sinking back in, and my muscles tense as we all soar through the open gate and into the compound. Thunderous blasting engines echo around the building as they all roar to a halt and turn off one by one. I take my place, my motor regrettably silencing, the V-twin engine rumbling to eventual tranquility.
Yanking off my helmet, I tilt my ride to the side and kick out the stand as I slide off her and place my helmet on the seat.
Torque steps up to me with a lowered voice. “You good?”
I simply nod as he rests his hand on my shoulder in a sign of support and then squeezes, but says nothing more as he starts walking toward the clubrooms
with Trax and me in tow.
“You know he’s gonna want more guns, right? You know you pretty much agreed to that fucking shit?” Trax calls out.
Torque rolls his shoulders but keeps walking silently as everyone follows behind. I can feel the anger emanating from him, but somehow in true Torque style, he holds it back.
“We’ll find a fuckin’ way to get them the hell out of Dodge before any of that shit happens, Trax. For now, I need them to think I’m playing along but still ballsy enough to get them to stand down on the acquisition of our shit.”
Trax snorts. “Yeah, and Foxy’s store,” he mumbles.
Torque halts, turning around quickly and steps right up to Trax. Torque’s eyes take on a dark, sinister reflection, and his tense muscles and tight fists don’t go unmistaken. Torque’s furious. “Don’t question my fuckin’ decisions. I’m not justifying to you, or any of you, what businesses I discussed with the fuckin’ Yakuza. If it was Mylee’s store on the chopping block, you’d have been in defense mode. So shut the fuck up, right fuckin’ now, brother.”
Trax lunges forward grabbing Torque by his cut, his eyes hard as he glares in his face. I reach out in an attempt to pry the two brothers apart, but they’re both as fucking strong as each other.
“Don’t you say her fucking name, brother,” Trax grunts out almost spitting the words at Torque as I continue to try and pull them apart.
Trax gives Torque a shove, but he doesn’t move, so Trax lets go and walks away with a heavy grunt. Torque straightens out his cut and looks at me.
“You all right?” I ask.
“Yeah, Trax isn’t, though. Only reason I didn’t react and punch his fuckin’ lights out is because of the pain in his eyes. Any other time I would’ve decked the cunt for touching my cut like that.” Torque huffs and turns toward the door.
Tension is rife, and as I take a deep breath, we head inside. I notice Trax’s already at the bar drinking.
Torque rubs the back of his neck looking a little less held together.
“Maybe we need to have Ace look into what happened with Mylee. Maybe then we’ll understand what’s happening with your brother now?” I suggest, and Torque nods.
“See, you’re not just a pretty face, Sensei,” Torque quips with a cocky smirk as he pats me on the back.
What is it with people calling me pretty?
“Leave it with me. We’ll fix Trax up… one way or another,” Torque says over his shoulder as he heads off.
Nodding, I glance up to see Mei and Keiko sitting with Ruby, books spread out and an array of junk food littering the table. I smile as I walk up to them and slide in next to Ruby.
“So, you see, girls, I know English can be boring, but you need to stick it out ‘cause when you find the love of a good book, I swear it can change your life,” Ruby announces proudly as she scrolls through her Kindle pointing out some books to Keiko who’s nodding while taking it all in.
“Did you really go all the way through high school?” Mei asks.
Ruby snorts. “Don’t sound so surprised. I did great in school mainly thanks to the club. I came here at the end of my final year, and they’ve helped me so much. They can be supportive if you let them, and there’s some mega-smart guys here, too. Like Ace, like your brother… these guys are extremely talented.”
I chuckle as they look up to me and smile. “Raiden’s always been smart, haven’t you, big brother?” Mei asks pushing her glasses up her nose.
I chuckle. “I applied myself in my studies and worked hard, just like you girls need to. Especially you, Keiko.”
Keiko groans and nods. “I know, final year, college acceptances… blah, blah… I’m trying, Rai.”
Slumping slightly, I reach out grabbing her hand and give it a squeeze. “I know you are, and Father puts a lot of pressure on you. But it’s only because he wants the best for you. You know that, right?”
She nods with a genuine smile. “I do. I think I want to go into medicine. Maybe?”
I chuckle. “Well, I have a couple of people who can help you with that, Keiko.”
Her eyes brighten as she sits up taller. “Really?”
Ruby laughs. “We’ll have so many club doctors, we won’t know who to call in an emergency.”
I smile. “Really, Keiko, you apply yourself, get the right scores, we can help you get where you need to be.”
She smiles finally looking happier in herself. I’m glad I’ve been able to help her.
“And what about you, Mei? Do you know what you want to be?” Ruby asks, and Mei shrugs.
“I don’t know… maybe an actress? Or play tennis? Or maybe I’ll be a K-pop singing sensation.”
Keiko and I burst out laughing.
“Mei, you’re tone deaf,” Keiko almost yells at her in hysterics.
“True, better work on my forearm then.”
We all chuckle some more. “I think you mean forehand if you’re talking tennis, Mei,” I correct and she sighs exasperatedly.
“Holy cowbells. Okay, I’m forced into the lights of Hollywood then. Guess I can take one for the team. I have the face for it anyway.” She pushes her glasses up her nose again as she giggles, her head bopping from side to side, her pigtails swinging with the movement.
I groan as Ruby pats me on the leg with a genuine smile.
Keiko laughs and closes her textbook. “Aaannnyway, Mom said you were all out on a mission today. Did you kill the bad guys?”
I smirk as Mei’s eyes expand widely behind her black-rimmed glasses.
“No, I did not kill anyone today—”
“Oh, so you have killed someone. I knew it!” Keiko blurts out with a giant smile as she points at me like she’s figured out a big secret.
Mei sits back keeping quiet for once.
“Girls, club business is not your business… you both know this.”
Mei curls up her lip placing her arms on the table and rests her chin on her hands in annoyance. “Boo, you’re no fun. We want all the gory details.”
Smirking, I glance at Ruby who’s sitting back watching me with my sisters. “You want the gory details… fine. I went to see a woman today. She’s feisty and fiery, and… she got me all kinds of worked up when she kissed me. I—”
“Oh God, no, stop! Shut up,” they both say in unison like I knew they would as they both stand up quickly and start packing up their books in a mad rush.
Ruby bursts out laughing as they gather their things. “Oh, I want to hear more. Keep going, Sensei,” Ruby teases.
“Well, I had her pressed against the fence—”
“Stop, for crying out loud,” Keiko yells making everyone look at us. Mei covers her ears and starts to sing very out of key and extremely loudly. They both rush about grabbing their stuff and run off leaving me sitting here with Ruby who’s still laughing to herself.
I sink into the seat. “Little sisters… one way to freak them out is to talk about your love life.”
Ruby squeezes my knee and chuckles. “God love them. Glad you had a good day, though, Sensei. I’m happy you took my advice and are starting to loosen up a little.”
I take a deep breath and tilt my head. “We will see. Ayla, while she is definitely someone I want to get to know… she could be trouble with a capital ‘T.’”
Ruby laughs. “She’s a woman, and she has you in a spin. I can assure you she has capital ‘T’ written all over her.”
I groan. “Exactly what I’m worried about.”
“Sensei, tell me if I’m out of line, but besides Torque, you’re one of the most uptight guys I know. You could do with a little… tension relief, and if this Ayla girl can give it to you, then just go with it. Don’t freak out about it.”
“Don’t freak out about it?”
She nods. “Don’t. Freak. Out. About. It!” she offers succinctly patting my shoulder and stands walking off leaving me on my own to think.
About Ayla.
About Aiko.
About answers that simply are not
coming.
CHAPTER EIGHT
AYLA
The Next Day
After figuring out what was salvageable on Scratch’s ride, I pulled the parts and priced them up. I ran it over with Dad, and he gave me the all clear, and I sent our purchase price over to Sensei, who seemed happy with the deal. So today I’m running past the clubhouse after work to drop off the cash, but first I have to go home to shower and change so I’ll look semi-presentable.
Most women would be anxious going into a biker den, but it doesn’t faze me. Instead, it fascinates me if anything. And seeing Sensei again is only adding to my excitement.
As my truck pulls up to the gate, it slides open with a rickety creak, and I smile waving my hand out the window to the man sitting at the gate. I feel for him. His job must be the most boring of all, but equally the most important—keep the brothers in but everyone else the fuck out.
My truck comes to a grinding halt as I thump on the clutch and step on the parking brake. Glancing around, the compound appears much the same as the last time I was here. Reaching over to the passenger seat, I grab the thick envelope and crack open my door, jumping down from my truck and slamming the door shut behind me.
Heading toward the clubhouse, I look up, and the sky is setting in hues of pinks and aqua, the amber sun still shining through cotton-candy clouds in the summer sky. I smile at how serene the day seems as a gentle breeze wafts through the air making the few leaves on the asphalt rustle and dance along effortlessly. For a place of chaos and carnage, it sure seems quite nice right now.
Smiling as I walk up to the giant building, a couple of dirty-looking bikers are standing by the main door smoking, and they look me up and down as I approach. A wolf whistle leaves one of their mouths, and the other chuckles as I step forward and roll my eyes, but I don’t bother even interacting with them. I’m looking for Scratch or Sensei, whoever I find first.
