Chapter 18

18

It was a busy afternoon at the tattoo shop but the nine hours of sleep I had last night did me good. The steady hum of conversations and the rhythmic sound of tattoo needles filled the space, creating a familiar and comforting backdrop. My shift was running smoothly, and for once, I felt hopeful, a bit rejuvenated, anticipating the next time I saw Noboru.

I was planning on giving him a taste of his own medicine, wearing him out.

That illusion shattered the moment the front door swung open with a forceful slam. Heads turned as a group of men stormed into the shop, their presence commanding immediate attention. At the forefront was my ex, his face set in a scowl that promised trouble.

"Ah shit," Chivonn mumbled behind me, realizing immediately who this was with the way he was focused solely on me.

"Where have you been?" he demanded, his voice echoing through the shop. "I've been looking everywhere for you!"

I froze for a moment, irritated at his audacity and a bit worried and what his move could mean for the shop, the lingering patrons and my coworkers. I recognized the dangerous glint in his eyes and it made my hackles rise. The sight of him almost casually dressed brought a wave of dread, especially with the group of Yakuza members flanking him in similar outfits—like they were out on official business. They were dressed in dark colors, probably to hide the blood more easily, their expressions cold and intimidating.

And I left my knife at home. Dammit!

I shot to my feet, trying to defuse the situation before it escalated further. "Look, this isn't the time or place for this, Kaito," I said, attempting to keep my voice calm and steady. "You need to leave."

My ex's eyes narrowed as he took in the shop's atmosphere, the artwork on the walls, and the concerned faces of my coworkers. "I'm not leaving until I get answers, baby girl," he said, his tone menacing as he leaned on the front counter casually. "You think you can just walk away from me? I've got an offer to settle, if you remember correctly."

The tension in the room escalated rapidly as the guys cast curious glances my way, waiting for me to elaborate. I haven't mentioned anything about the problems regarding my ex to Jake or Sam. Jake's only interaction with him was that one day in the parking lot. My coworkers, sensing the imminent danger, stood up from their stations while a few whimpers came from the lobby.

Chivonn, stepping forward with a determined look, spoke up. "Hey, you can't just barge in here and make demands. This is a place of business, and you need to leave."

The Yakuza members positioned themselves strategically in a half circle around us, their presence a clear intimidation tactic as well as creating a barrier between us and Kaito who began moving toward the front of the shop. The shop's atmosphere turned thick with unease.

Jake, who had been working on a client, stepped in as well, his voice firm. "This isn't the way to handle things. If you don't leave right now, we're calling the police."

Kaito's face twisted with anger behind his men, he was always a jealous prick when he wanted to be but never once considered me when he would flirt with other girls in front of me. Pushing through his barricade of Yakuza members, he leaned in and sneered. "You think you can threaten me, little man? If she doesn't come back to me, I'll make sure everyone here regrets it."

The room fell silent, the weight of his threat hanging heavily in the air. I could see the fear and concern in the eyes of my coworkers, and my heart ached at the thought of them being put in harm's way because of me.

It's always you, Mae, I told myself with disappointment that probably rivaled my parents' . You need to protect them. Take the danger out of the shop and distract him.

"No," I said, stepping between my ex and my coworkers. " Stop it. This is between us. Please, don't involve anyone else, alright?"

He directed his sneer at me, his gaze filled with a mixture of frustration, contempt, and utter desire to win. "You think you can just walk away and leave me hanging? You think you can hide from me by changing your schedule?" he tsked. "I'm not giving you a choice this time. Either you come back to me, or everyone here will suffer."

Kaito's threat was a grim reminder of the dangerous world he was part of, and the reality of his influence was evident in the cold, calculating expressions of the Yakuza members around him. The shop's atmosphere was charged with fear and tension, and I could see that my coworkers were struggling to remain calm. Sam inched toward the back room only to have one of the Kaito's men pull a gun on him, stopping him in place.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you. You might not like the results," he grinned.

Sam held his hands up in surrender and scowled, caught between calling the cops and trying to stay alive.

Jake's tattoo chair creaked and one of the Yakuza members quickly let off a loud shot, ringing in our ears as blood splattered all over the walls and floor. The few female patrons in the lobby screamed as one of the male patron's quickly dialed the authorities, bringing the phone up to his ear, only to have another Yakuza member let off another shot, straight through his head. Brain matter and blood sprayed onto the glass window behind him creating a morbid pattern, streaking down with the pull of gravity.

"Dammit," I gritted out, trying to control my own fears at how far it had escalated in such a short period of time. "Kaito," I growled, warning him.

Kaito flicked his lighter back and forth as he walked toward the entrance casually, the sound of light metal on metal the only thing breaking the tense silence that descended upon the shop. "I hope you guys give the janitor a raise. He's got one hell of a clean up."

Chivonn growled behind me, her voice resolute. "Don't do it, Mae. Don't."

Kaito stood there, leaning casually against the doorframe, a dark grin spreading across his face.

"Mae," he drawled, his voice smooth, almost seductive. "Baby girl. Why don't you come back to me? We can forget all this drama."

Drama? We have two dead bodies in here!

I froze, caught between instinctual fear and the aching thought of this entire shop turning into a massacre. Kaito's dark presence was like a drug, pulling me closer to end this nonsense even as my mind screamed to resist.

"Stop it," I said, forcing my voice to steady. "Tell your men to put their guns away. Now, Kaito."

He smirked and blew a kiss in my direction before signaling to his men to stand down.

Despite the possible threat of death, I couldn't tamp down my growing irritation. "You don't get to just waltz back in and act like everything' s fine."

Chivonn's growl echoed behind me, her protective instincts flaring. "Don't do it, Mae. Don't."

Kaito's smile only widened, his eyes darkening with my continued resistance. "You're still the same girl I fell for. We had something special, didn't we? I've changed, Mae. Can't you see that? Let's just… forget the past. Come back to me," he cooed, tucking his lighter away and opening his arms in expectation.

What do I do? What do I do? How are we going to explain this to the boss?

There was an intensity in his gaze, a mixture of false charm and desperation that made my heart race with unease. Did he really think we could ignore the darker shadows lurking just beneath the surface? He was acting like this was a simple visit instead of a double homicide.

I swallowed hard, trying to keep my resolve. "You think I'm just going to forget everything, Kaito? Your delusion never ceases to amaze me."

His arms fell to his sides. Kaito took a step forward, his expression shifting from playful to serious. "You're overreacting. I want to protect you, Mae. You think these are innocent deaths? I've been following them just as tightly as they have been following you, trying to get into your pants. Just let me in again. I can help you, help your family under my protection. Can't you see we're meant to be together?"

I could feel Chivonn's tension radiating behind me. I couldn't glance back at her, knowing it would weaken my resolve to keep them safe even if it meant I had to temporarily go with the Yakuza .

"Mae," Jake gritted out in a last attempt to stop me.

I took a few deep breaths, ignoring everyone around me, trying to tamp down the lump in my throat.

I'm so sorry for involving you, Jake . He was going to have to live with that death on his consciousness all because of me.

Kaito's face reddened with rage at the lack of response as he glanced behind me. "Who the fuck is this guy? You fucking him, Mae? Is that why he cares about you so much?"

Gah! Did he have to be so obnoxious?

"Let's just go," I reluctantly pleaded. "I'll go with you. Be happy. Just leave everyone out of this."

For a moment, there was a flicker of something wicked in my ex's eyes. He seemed to weigh his options, his anger still palpable but tempered by my agreement to go with him. The Yakuza members remained tense, their hands subtly shifting to their concealed weapons.

Finally, with a wide smile, he bowed and waved his arms to one side dramatically. "Your chariot awaits, Mae. You'll be sitting shotgun with me, of course. Like old times."

I curled my lip in distaste at his performance, rolling my eyes, and walking past him toward the exit.

The chaotic scene at the tattoo shop took a sharp turn for the worse when he grabbed me by the arm and yanked me toward his chest. His grip was unyielding and I fought to not make the situation worse. My coworkers' concerned faces blurred into the background as Kaito leaned toward my ear .

"I knew you'd make the right choice, baby girl," he whispered before planting a kiss on my cheek, making me flinch.

I yanked my arm out of his grasp and he chuckled, following behind me as I continued to the shop's exit. As Kaito and his men exited the shop, the bell over the door rang almost ominously, leaving an uneasy silence in their wake.

When my ex's hand landed on the small of my back, I flinched and he clicked his tongue. "Don't be like that Mae. You know I've always strived to bring you pleasure. There's no need for that kind of response. I've never laid a hand on you."

No, he hasn't. But his very being disgusted me to the point where even his words and lack of respect for my boundaries made me feel violated.

As we reached his waiting car, I felt an inexplicable tug in my chest. It was as if something deep inside me was pulling in another direction, a distant call that felt oddly familiar yet unsettling. The sensation was brief but powerful. I had no time to dwell on it as my ex pushed me into the car and slammed the door with a loud thud.

The interior of the car was stifling, not because of the cramped quarters of his import vehicle. Kaito's face was set in a grim line when he entered the driver's side. With an air of arrogance, he started the engine and pulled away from the shop's parking lot. The cityscape passed in a blur outside the window, the familiar surroundings now feeling alien and menacing.

"Where are we headed?" I asked, doing my best to keep my voice steady, even though a knot of worry twisted in my stomach at the thought of Noboru not finding me at home. I didn't know if he was scheduled to come back, not knowing where he went when he was gone.

Kaito shot me a look. "Wherever I say we're going, Mae. I'm the one in the driver's seat," he chuckled.

Staring out the passenger window, the sounds of Kaito's labored breathing stole my attention. When I turned to look at him, my eyes widened as I realized he was stroking his cock as he drove. I didn't even hear him release the thing from his pants.

"Fuck, having you in here is bringing back a lot of memories, baby," he panted, before hitting the clutch and shifting the car into the next gear.

"What the hell are you doing? Keep your hands on the wheel!" I growled.

He chuckled without a care. "I seem to remember plenty of days racing down the dark streets with your head between my legs. I haven't lost my edge yet." He turned his gaze over to me slowly. "Want to kiss it for old times?"

"Fuck you."

His wicked laugh taunted me as I turned to look out the passenger window once more. He didn't need to know that his cock was far from anything impressive, despite the piercing. Nothing compared to Noboru, not anymore.

The rest of the drive was a blur of mixed emotions. I tried to focus on the details of the route, hoping to find a chance to escape. The tug in my chest persisted, distracting me from focusing on the task at hand.

We arrived at a secluded area on the outskirts of town, my ex parked the car and turned to me with a grin. The area was desolate, surrounded by tall, looming trees and the distant sound of occasional cars in the distance. It was eerily quiet, a stark contrast to the bustling city we had left behind.

"Come on, I want to show you something."

I gave him a suspicious look but didn't respond.

We both got out of his car and he led me to a small, abandoned building, its structure crumbling and overgrown with weeds through the cracks in the concrete. The sight of it only added to the doubt I felt in making this stupid decision. As he ushered me inside, I glanced around, looking for anything that could help me in my predicament—a weapon of opportunity.

"Stop being so paranoid, baby girl," he cooed. "You don't need those skills here. It's just you and me."

I ignored him, my mind racing through possible escape plans. My ex was unpredictable when he got angry, something I always remembered. It was best to think of all the worst-case scenarios now and their solutions. The streets taught me to always stay ahead of the game.

"We're here, Kaito. What exactly did you want to show me? Or was it all a lie to get me out of the shop?"

He scoffed, finding entertainment in my attitude. "Do you remember when we were younger? We'd sneak around town, fucking in places like this. "

"I tried my best to forget until you brought it up," I quipped immediately.

Kaito leaned in closer, his expression a mix of desperation and false charm. "I know we had our issues, but we can fix this. You can still love me, Mae. Just give it another chance."

I crossed my arms, raising an eyebrow. "You really think I'm going to forget everything? You've got a funny way of thinking, Kaito. Aren't you tired of this little game of yours?"

His face fell for a moment, but he quickly recovered. "I can change! I've changed. Just remember the good times we had."

"Good times? You mean the ones filled with chaos and disappointment? Yeah, those are really memorable," I shot back, my tone laced with sarcasm. "It's over, Kaito. You need to get that through your thick skull. I don't know how many ways I need to spell it out for you."

He sighed, frustration flickering in his eyes. "You're just being stubborn. We can?—"

"Stubborn? Or maybe I just value my sanity. There's a difference." I leaned back, meeting his gaze unflinchingly. "This isn't a fairy tale, and I'm not your damsel in distress. I never was and you knew it. It's exactly why you tried to weasel your way back into my neighborhood, spreading your damn drugs around my home. You think I don't know your tactics, Kaito?"

"Suddenly you became your own knight in shining armor, Mae? That little job of yours is getting to your head. It's not going to be enough to take care of your folks, not the way I can," he threw back, trying to hit me where it hurts.

And that was one of the reasons why we began to fall apart. He was petty and juvenile. He just didn't realize I didn't play the same petty game. So when I cut him out of my life, he couldn't think of his next move, not until desperation finally drove him to things like begging me to come back.

"That little job of mine and anything else in my life is none of your damn business," I snapped, jabbing my finger in his chest.

His eyes narrowed, a flicker of something dark and dangerous sparking in them. "You're playing a dangerous game, Mae. You think you can stand on your own? You're still in my world whether you like it or not."

I crossed my arms, defiance surging within me. "I'm in my own world now. I'm done living in your shadow. You're sorely mistaken if you think I'm one of the hoes that hang around your men."

Kaito stepped forward again, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "You know you miss me. You miss the thrill, the rush. Don't pretend like you're above it all, little miss from-the-hood-who-thinks-she's-left-it."

I felt my heart pound, not from fear, but from the undeniable memories that flared to life. "What I miss is something you can never give me. And it has nothing to do with you."

The space inside the abandoned building was dimly lit, with only a flickering street light or two filtering through broken windows. If he truly thought I would fall for his excuse of trying to stir up memories by bringing me to a place like this, he must really think I was stupid.

I looked around for an escape route, Kaito's frustration at my constant rejection intensifying. He began pacing and movements becoming erratic as he began mumbling to himself. It was clear that his mood was quickly shifting. I needed to think quickly.

Suddenly, Kaito's phone rang, breaking the tension between us. He glanced at the screen and frowned before answering it. The conversation was terse, and I could only catch snippets of it, but the tone was threatening and authoritative.

"Yeah, I know. I'm dealing with it," he said into the phone. "Just make sure everything's ready."

The call ended, and he turned back to me, his expression more controlled but still simmering with anger. "We're going to have a little chat about your future," he said coldly. "And if you don't like it, well, I'm sure you can guess what happens next."

I needed a plan, and I needed to act fast. Every second spent in this abandoned building was a step closer to a situation I couldn't control. I glanced around, desperately searching for a broken pipe, or large shards of glass that could fit in my hand.

"No, we're not. We're done here."

My ex's phone call had done little to ease the tension; if anything, it had heightened my anxiety. I needed to keep him distracted long enough to find a way out, but how?

The tug in my chest persisted, pulling at my very core as if trying to guide me toward something unseen. It was almost as if the feeling was trying to reach out to me, but I didn't know how to reach back.

"Is this what you wanted?" Kaito snapped, breaking my train of thought. "To make me suffer? To throw everything away?"

I curled my lip, refusing to continue the pointless conversation or to humor his little hissy fit. He didn't seem to care about my words anyway, his anger overshadowing any semblance of rational conversation.

Suddenly, I heard the distant sound of footsteps approaching, accompanied by the low hum of more vehicles pulling to a stop. Crap, I didn't realize his men were still around. I thought he sent them back to wherever they came from.

My ex's face darkened, and he turned toward the sound with a grim expression. "They're here," he said, his tone laced with menace. "And when they arrive, you'll have to make a choice."

I had to be strategic. I couldn't afford to make any mistakes, especially with the stakes so high. It was all of his goons versus me.

The door to the building creaked open, and a group of darkly clad men entered. Their presence was imposing, their faces hidden behind masks of stoic indifference. The tension in the room was palpable, and Kaito's demeanor shifted from anger to a more calculated aggression.

"We could have used this time better, you know? Fuck and make up or something, like old times," he sighed.

One of the men, a towering figure with a scar across his cheek, approached me. His eyes were cold and assessing, and he seemed to be waiting for instructions. My ex's demeanor was now that of a man in control, orchestrating a scene that had clearly been planned out.

"This is the part where you get on your knees and beg my forgiveness for what I'm about to be forced to do." Kaito's voice was cold and commanding. "I don't know what it is about you to make me continually give you chances when in any other arena, I would have painted the walls in blood by now."

The urgency of the moment was driving me to act, to find a way to break free from the grip of my past and face whatever lay ahead.

The choice was clear: Play the part for a little longer but possibly get trapped at his home, or let him kill me here and now.

But what about my family?