Chapter 9

Ryuu grabs my face and I stare into his eyes. "It isn't over yet, little fox."

I tentatively grab his wrists. "Th-there was some information that didn't make any sense?—"

The hovercraft swerves and I'm painfully knocked to the side of the door panel. Ryuu stops himself before he lands on top of me before he shoots his head up to look out the rear window.

We have a tail on us and our driver executes maneuvers that threaten to make me lose the contents of my insides.

I slam into Ryuu when the chasing vehicle crashes into us, attempting to slow us down. But Ryuu's driver is ruthless as he backs up to crash into them once more before escaping. Visible sparks fly behind us as I watch them get smaller in the window.

By the time we make it to Ryuu's club, Wasteland, my bones are weary. Dropping onto his lounge chair in the office, I groan as I roll my shoulders to make sure I'm not worse for wear.

Ryuu speaks into an intercom system he pulls up from his desk, his face stern. The layout of this office isn't that far from the one in the Techwire, I observe as I wait for him to finish whatever communication is happening.

"I've dispatched a few mercenaries to the location. I'll keep you posted if there are any updates."

I sit up abruptly. "What if they moved her?"

He waits a few moments, staring at me. "Then we make different plans. What were you able to uncover?"

I rest my elbows on my knees and let out a breath. "They've been grabbing people for a secret experiment. It looks like they're trying to merge pure human DNA with monster DNA in order to create some sort of bioweapon."

Ryuu steps in front of his desk and leans back, arm crossed, contemplating.

"I could only read a few things as they were downloading, but some of the stuff that ran through the system was in a language I didn't recognize."

"Show me." He straightens as I get myself off the chair and stand in front of him. With a few taps on my cybernetic wrist, a hologram of the screen appears in front of us.

"When I first saw it, I assumed it was an ancient text, long since dead. But why would scientists use it to jot down information about an experiment that's happening now?"

"I'm going to call in a favor," is all he says before he returns behind his desk and taps into his intercom system again. I watch curiously as he speaks in low tones, his brows furrowing with each sentence. Before he can end the call, the door to the office opens and in walks a short and stocky Oni.

His gaze, half covered by a faceplate, gives me a cursory glance before he ignores me completely, speaking directly to Ryuu. "This better be good. I was about to relax in a hot bath. You know how much I like my baths."

I scowl. There's a katana strapped to his back as he crosses his arms, waiting for Ryuu to answer him.

"I need you to take a look at something. The bath can wait. You'll still smell like shit afterwards anyway."

The Oni scoffs but sputters before he mumbles something under his breath.

"Kira, this is Sparky. He's one of my Oni operatives that makes sure business runs smoothly in the Wastelands. The outskirts come with more liabilities than the clubs in the middle of the Nexus."

The oni puffs out his chest. "You got that right. Bunch of scumbags out here willing to do anything if it gives them a small advantage. Unlucky for them, I like to keep Sheila sharpened at all times."

"Sheila?" I quirk an eyebrow.

The oni pats his katana with reverence as he gives me a toothy smile. "My baby and I go way back. We're practically soul mates."

Okay…

I bring up the same screen I showed Ryuu and Sparky rubs his chin as he stares at the image.

"Yeah, this here is draconian," he finally says.

"But why would they write down their notes in draconian?" I wonder aloud. It doesn't make any sense.

"Hell if I know. Alright, if you two are done, I got some fresh beetles waiting to be savored as I take a good hot bath to relax my muscles."

Ryuu doesn't stop him as he leans against his desk once more, his gaze following Sparky's exit.

I startle when blood red eyes appear in the darkness of the doorway until it solidifies into a demon with a wicked, toothy grin. "They've moved the body, Boss. Plans to be en route in the next two hours."

"Do you know the location?"

How can Ryuu be so calm over the fact that they're moving unconscious bodies non consensually across Fortune City!

"I crossed… your men on the way. They plan to intercept while en route. We should be able to secure the product to the delivery point."

I couldn't stay quiet any longer. "What delivery point? The Nexus?"

Ryuu's eyes snap to mine. "Details are handled, little fox. The main objective is to retrieve the heiress. We'll figure the rest out once she's in our possession."

I don't like the sound of this plan. Or rather, the lack of information I'm being given. I begin to pace as the two continue conversing for the next two minutes before the demon melds back into the shadows, casting his last gaze in my direction.

"If not in the Nexus, then where, Ryuu? I need to know."

Without missing a beat, he answers me as he taps a few times on his desk, bringing up a screen, flipping through windows and immediately closing everything down.

"The delivery point will be an abandoned warehouse I own three miles from Chassis Black's home. It borders the territorial lines between Tyger Lilies and the Scavengers."

Two rival gangs, one located in the lower end of Fortune City, while the other toward the upper scale.

"And what if the Tyger Lillies see your men and think to meddle?" My thoughts go back to old Mr. Kreg who owns the butcher shop on Main Street and his daughter Zelia. Tyger Lilies were a menace and barely played by any underground rules, especially ones between other gangs.

"My men will handle it. You need to relax, little fox."

"How can I relax when we've just finished a hovercraft chase! I just need to make sure she's?—"

My eyes blur to the point where I don't see him move, but I feel his hand on my arm, unfolding them. I don't like looking weak in front of a man like Ryuu who might use it against me, but my chaotic emotions and confusion over the past few hours have caught up with me.

"We'll get her back." He pulls me into his chest and I let him, my tears wetting his suit.

"I should have gotten her out while I was there, Ry. I should have broken the damn glass, let hell break loose as I dragged her body back here."

"You wouldn't have made it a yard. That place was under heavy surveillance."

I shove him away and begin to pace. "But I was right there!"

Ryuu growls before he takes a few long strides to grab my upper arms. "And you would have been caught and sold to the next rich prick that wanted a sniff. Don't you understand that? We were in enemy territory. You did what you were supposed to do—you gathered intel. It didn't matter how you felt about it, you completed your mission. Now, I take the next step."

I shake my head and attempt to jerk my arm out of his grasp to no avail. "And what does it matter to you, Ryuu? You couldn't care less about a ‘bratty rich girl' and her family problems and you know it! Why are you even doing all this?"

My back slams into the wall as Ryuu brings his face right up against mine. "Don't let your emotions blind you," he growls.