Beautiful Dragons

by Matthew James

  Roman frowned. “How many assholes can turn on us?” He looked up at her. “Oh, sorry…”

  Upset but knowing there was nothing more to be done about it, Violet shook it off and moved on. “Too late to worry about that now. Yao started this mess, and we need to bury Madame before she just goes out and hires more men to do her dirty work. If she’s stopped, everything stops.”

  Leaning over the laptop, Roman typed in a series of commands and then hit enter. “Mako’s phone will be permanently unlocked from now on. It’s a part of my Poop Chute Protocol.” He unplugged it and waved away her next question, most likely about the name. “Let’s get movin’. We only have a few more hours of night.”

  “What about Madame?” Violet asked.

  Roman shook his head. “I want to get on the road first. Once we make that call, she’ll be on the move.” He smiled and headed for his closet. “Plus, I think I know where to head.”

  “Where?”

  Roman flung open the door and revealed a large iron safe. Violet knew it was a gun safe. She was relieved to see it too. They didn’t have time go all way back to the estate’s garage and get another car and more weapons. Their current vehicle, the Prius, suited them just fine, anyway. Mako’s men were surely on the run too. What was left of the Gilded Blade wouldn’t be coming after them anytime soon.

  She smiled when the safe opened, seeing that it was stockpiled with guns and matching holsters. Roman handed her two unused Glocks and six magazines. The shoulder holsters fit tightly beneath her jacket and felt awkward, but they’d have to do. She doubted the pistols would stay there for long either way.

  Roman did the same thing and replaced his single shoulder holster with a dual version. He then grabbed a pair of tactical knives and slipped their sheaths onto his belt, earning a smirk from Violet.

  “Copycat,” she said, motioning to the two short swords on her back.

  He shrugged. “Can’t be outgunned by a girl.” He stood and gazed back into the large safe. “Wish we could take the shotguns too,” he glanced back at her, “but gettin’ in and out of wherever we’re goin’ is gonna be impossible with them.”

  “We'll be okay,” she affirmed. Roman looked at her again. “Or, at least, I’ll be okay.”

  He laughed but stopped when Mako’s phone rang. Picking it up, he looked at the number and showed it to Violet. “The Shangri-La Hotel. Ho-ly shit… That’s where I wanted to go!”

  He answered it and put it on speaker but waited for the caller to speak before he did.

  “Hello?” The voice was decidedly female.

  Roman shrugged, unsure of what to say.

  “Mr. Wu, I am getting tired of your insolence!”

  Violet’s face dropped and paled. She recognized the voice. The call went dead. Roman was about to comment on it but saw Violet’s reaction and stayed quiet.

  “What’s wrong?”

  Violet’s hands were shaking. “I…I know who Madame is.”

  “You do—who?”

  The connection the voice’s owner had to the crime world was a unique one and came from a life of killing and heartache. It was also a voice she hadn’t heard in nearly twenty years. It belonged to the woman who was responsible for most of Violet’s training.

  Through tear-filled eyes, she looked at Roman. “It’s the Violet Dragon…the one that came before me. Her name is Kyoko, and she’s...” Violet flopped onto the bed, “…and she’s the most ruthless human being I’ve ever met.” She looked up at Roman. “This is so much worse than I could’ve ever imagined.”

  “And Ms. Cho?” Roman asked. “Where does she come into play?”

  Violet sighed. “I should’ve seen this…” She closed her eyes. “Ms. Cho is Kyoko’s older sister.”

  25

  Tokyo, Japan

  17 Years Ago

  Like always, they walked side-by-side, discussing the intricacies of their craft. They spoke in low murmurs, like two sisters sharing intimate secrets with one another. To the average person, Rio and Kyoko looked like two ordinary locals enjoying each’s company while shopping for new clothes.

  “Above all else,” Kyoko said, “you must never take anyone for granted. We are the perfect example of why this is so.” She glanced over at Rio. “The more you play the part of a Dragon, the more of a chance you have of being discovered.”

  “Train like a Dragon, act like a woman,” Rio stated.

  “Correct.”

  Rio pulled a black leather jacket from a nearby rack. It caught her eye because of the purple accents lining the sleeves and zipper. Kyoko had recently announced her eventual retirement and wanted to spend some alone time with her protégé, her replacement. Together, they drove into the city with the top of their Camaro down and the wind whistling through their hair.

  “It’s perfect,” Kyoko said. “Put it on, Violet.”

  Rio couldn’t help but smile. The woman in front of her was her idol and someone she would forever look up to. From the night Rio broke into their home, Kyoko and Ms. Cho had shown her nothing but love and respect.

  But mostly it was Kyoko.

  “Thank you,” Rio said, slipping into the overpriced garment. Money wasn’t a problem anymore. Her pockets were full of it now, all of it provided by Kyoko.

  Wealth was something Rio had never experienced, nor cared for. All she ever wanted was to survive and be cared for. Now, she had both and was reaping the rewards of what they each provided.

  “Is all this necessary?”

  Kyoko smiled. “Are we to live in filth and not be rewarded for our efforts?”

  “Is that why we exist? Are we supposed to be praised?”

  The elder Dragon’s smile faded. She didn’t respond.

  Rio knew she overstepped herself and bowed slightly. “Forgive me.”

  Kyoko’s hand went to Rio’s face. She lovingly rubbed it, getting a small smile out of Rio. “Someday, sister, you will understand.”

  A chorus of screams tore through the upscale department store, ending Rio and Kyoko’s moment. The trainee reacted like you’d think and flinched in fear. The professional did the opposite, casually glancing toward the front of the store and calmly assessing the situation. Kyoko took Rio’s hand and forced her into the nearest changing room stall. Next, she took the frightened Rio’s face in both of her strong hands and spoke very softly but sternly.

  “Whatever happens here, do not engage.”

  Rio nodded. “Okay.”

  As much as she wanted to help Kyoko, Rio knew she wasn’t ready. There were things that she’d only practiced so far, like taking another’s life. Rio had never killed anyone before. The next chorus of screams coincided with burst of gunfire. Rio was scared, but she couldn’t show Kyoko that. She just stood tall and tried not to think about the lives in the balance only feet away from her.

  Maybe they’re already dead?

  “On the ground, now!”

  Rio breathed a sigh of relief.

  If they’re telling people to get down, then maybe they didn’t actually shoot anyone.

  Kyoko slipped back into the store, leaving Rio alone in the tight confines of the changing room. She wasn’t claustrophobic. However, the unfamiliar, closed-in space still made her uneasy. She would have nowhere to run if she was forced to flee.

  Regardless of how she felt, Rio needed to see her sister in action.

  She climbed the bench, kicking away someone’s discarded, unbought clothes as she did. Slowly, she peeked over the stall and took in the scene.

  From her higher vantage point, Rio could see four armed men at the front of the store, maybe twenty-five or thirty feet away. Two of them had pistols drawn while the other two men held what looked like shotguns. Kyoko would be severely outnumbered and outgunned.

  However, Kyoko was far from helpless.

  Rio expected to see her sister move stealthily from cover to cover, keeping hidden as she stalked her way forward. But, to Rio’s surprise, she did the exact opposite. The beautiful Kyoko was
not only walking down the center aisle, but she was making a show of it.

  From behind, Rio watched as she unzipped her jacket and then tossed her long, black, purple-tipped hair with both hands. It was a sexual display that Rio herself had been practicing. Men were suckers for a beautiful, outgoing woman.

  “Hi there,” Kyoko said, announcing her arrival to the gunmen.

  Four barrels swung towards her but dipped upon seeing her. Her act was working like a charm.

  She continued her charm speak. “I don’t suppose you four could show a girl a good time? There’s so much here that I want but can’t afford.”

  One man stepped forward. He was clearly the leader of the gang. “On the ground, bitch! We aren’t here to finance some shopping spree fantasy.”

  “Fantasy…” she teased. “Speaking of that…”

  The gunmen lowered their weapons even more.

  Bad move, Rio thought, waiting for the inevitable to happen.

  Kyoko stepped toward the group of men again now only feet away. Next, she turned and thrust a hip out to the side, accentuating her curves.

  That’s when she made a subtle, yet, devastating move.

  She ran her hands through her hair one more time and extended her arms high above her head. Even Rio’s heart rate jumped when Kyoko’s shirt lifted and exposed her toned midsection. She couldn’t imagine what the men were feeling. They cautiously surrounded her and moved in for a closer look.

  Just for a moment, Rio felt afraid for Kyoko.

  But her fear was misplaced.

  Kyoko bent her arms over the top of her head, seductively swayed her hips, and slowly slipped her hands into her jacket’s sleeves. Then, she turned—and in one lightning-fast movement, pulled free her favored weapons. The twin, gleaming wakizashi swords were blurs as she slashed them at the two handgun-wielding men. Rio held back her vomit as matching geysers of blood spurted from the matching wrist wounds.

  The Violet Dragon wasn’t done either.

  In one motion, she swiped her blades across the shrieking men’s throats, spun, and flung the swords at the pair with the shotguns. Both of the razor-sharp short swords found their mark, impaling themselves into the gunmen’s chests.

  All four of the robbers dropped to the floor in unison.

  The sequence of attacks only took a couple of seconds. Rio couldn’t even process what she just witnessed. Her mentor’s ferocity was legendary within the family but she’d only ever heard the stories. Until now, she’d never seen any of the Dragons in action for herself—not counting their training routines, of course.

  Knowing that they needed to go before the authorities arrived, Rio bolted from the changing room stall and headed for Kyoko. When she arrived, she stopped and stared at the fallen men. They were all dead, brutally killed by the woman she’d grown to love and respect.

  One after the other, Kyoko stepped up to the two impaled men, gripped the swords’ purple and black hilts, and pulled. With ease, they slipped free of their flesh, making Rio turn and retch. She quickly gathered herself and looked over her shoulder, watching as Kyoko kneeled and wiped away the men’s blood on their clothes. Satisfied, she slid the armaments back into the hidden sheaths.

  Two soft clicks announced that they were properly secured, locked in place. Calmly, and like nothing out of the ordinary had happened, Kyoko held out her hand and nodded to the door.

  “Come, Rio,” she said, “we need to hurry.”

  With a loss for words, Rio silently took her hand and was guided towards the door. “What about the jacket?” she asked, stopping before exiting.

  Kyoko pulled a handful of bills out of her pocket and tossed them into the air. The somewhat comical gesture eased back some of Rio’s anxiety, until the bills fell to the floor, landing atop the four dead men. Kyoko didn’t even seem to mind that over a dozen customers were watching them inside the store.

  Together, they casually strode to the street corner, called for a cab, climbed in, and were whisked away. Rio knew they’d eventually come back for their car, but as of now, they’d use public transportation and keep a low profile.

  She shook, her nerves fried. She reflexively clutched both her hands together in a vice-like grip. Kyoko noticed and placed a gentle hand on top of them.

  “Breathe.”

  She followed her mentor’s instructions and inhaled deeply. It helped some but the normalcy she’d felt while shopping was now gone. She wasn’t sure if that feeling would ever return either. It was like a premonition of things to come.

  “Hey.” Kyoko’s voice was soft.

  “Huh?” Rio asked, not hearing.

  “You okay?”

  Rio shrugged. “Am I supposed to be?”

  Kyoko thought for a moment. “It’s never easy to take the life of another person but, in time, you’ll get used to it.”

  Get used to it? I don’t want to “get used to it.”

  “I know…” Kyoko said, perking up. “How about we get some lunch and attempt to restart the day?”

  It was the first time since entering the House of Dragons that Rio had second-guessed her decision to stay. The coldness and callousness of Kyoko’s temperament was shocking and terrifying. Rio understood that her sisters were killers.

  This was her official introduction into their world.

  It was one of blood and death.

  Is this what I want from my life?

  After hearing the horrors that her sisters had gone up against in the past, some of them being mortally wounded, some dying, Rio knew she couldn’t just pack up and leave. First of all, she knew too much. She became a liability when she told them she wanted to stay. Secondly, she believed in ridding the world of its scum.

  But if I’m going to stay, then I’m going to do it my way.

  Rio decided then and there that she’d play ball with Kyoko until she left for good. Then, she’d assert her dominance and superiority and slowly indoctrinate her ways into the group. The Beautiful Dragons would still be the ultimate clan of female assassins. But Rio would do her best to make sure that they’d fight for a more noble cause than what she had seen thus far.

  Did the men at the store have to die? Rio decided that they didn’t. At worst, Kyoko should’ve incapacitated them. The eldest Dragon didn’t see it that way, though. She killed them without thought. She didn’t struggle with her decision to take their lives. Rio could never do that. She wasn’t a heartless killer…like Kyoko. She never was and never would be.

  It was a promise she intended to keep.

  Rio initially agreed to stay because of her longing for love and camaraderie. She knew she wasn’t the only young girl out there needing it too. She wanted to fight for those girls and rid the world of the people that made a fortune using them for nefarious things.

  Kyoko wasn’t the person she thought she was.

  It broke Rio’s heart, but it also inspired her to be her own person and not live for the unhealthy praise of Kyoko. From what she knew, the other Dragons followed Kyoko’s example but not necessarily her foundational beliefs.

  I will show them the way.

  26

  Tokyo, Japan

  Present Day

  “Her sister!”

  Violet couldn’t blame Roman for being shocked. It was something Violet learned long after Kyoko retired and vanished. Ms. Cho never let on about whether she was still in contact with her or not and Violet knew not to ask about it. But after everything that had unfolded in the last forty-eight hours, it was evident that her Keeper did, in fact, kept in touch, even conspired with Kyoko maybe.

  “Not formally, but yes, she is. From what I know, they met when they were young and became close with one another, surviving some hard times together. Ms. Cho raised her like she was her own sibling.” Her eyes fell. “Kyoko was ruthless. If she learned that behavior from Ms. Cho, I can’t imagine the horrible things going through her head, the beliefs she instilled into a young and malleable girl like Kyoko.”

  They left Roman’
s place and climbed into their borrowed SUV. Roman took his place behind the wheel and got them moving while Violet explained.

  “It was after Jade and Indigo joined us—the twins. Ms. Cho talked with the girls about the importance of family and what associates with it—like trust.”

  “Something you were dying to have,” Roman added.

  “Correct… That’s when she told us about Kyoko and the personal relationship she had with her.” Violet stared out her window. “Like you, I was stunned. I had only known Kyoko for less than a year but Ms. Cho for almost ten when she told me. We never saw Kyoko again, so none of us pushed for more information. It was apparent that Ms. Cho was uncomfortable talking about it.”

  “In this line of work,” Roman said, his words sounding almost sad, “everyone has their secrets. Some are for the better and some for the worse. I still can’t believe that Madame is a former Dragon.” He quickly added, “Regardless of your relationship with her… Aren’t y’all completely against the human traffickin’ thing?”

  If there was anything that could make Violet feel worse than she already did, this discovery was it. It all made sense now. They had spent years fighting the slave trade in Southeast Asia. The Beautiful Dragons had been running in circles all this time. Whenever they took down one group, another seemed to pop up overnight.

  Looking at it now, it was easy to see that it was because of Kyoko’s involvement. There was no doubt in Violet’s mind that Ms. Cho had been keeping Kyoko informed of their actions this whole time.

  “How many years have we wasted?” she asked herself. “The entire war on buying and selling girls has been orchestrated by someone with intimate knowledge of our organization. All Kyoko had to do was contact Ms. Cho and find out when and where we’d hit and make sure we made a dent without taking out an entire arm.”

  “Y’all were her secret army in a roundabout way,” Roman said. “If I were her, I’d have y’all take out my enemies for me. It would certainly mask my intentions and keep my people out of the spotlight. Then, every so often, I’d make sure you succeeded and let you take out a few of my lower-rankin’ guys to make it look legit.”