20. Chapter 20

Chapter 20

To say I am nervous would be an understatement. The moment we walk into the massive skyscraper's reception with its modern interior, I know just how unprepared I am to meet Chai's father. The fact that I was flirting with his son and got a boner out of it doesn't help either.

The guards standing around bow, saying something in Japanese that I can't quite catch. Judging by the tone and inflection, it sounds like a respectful greeting. Chai dips his head in acknowledgement and says something back. The two women at the reception desk tucked to the side also bow, although we don't even greet them back as we board the closest elevator.

There is a man inside and he bows as well before pressing the display with buttons. He keeps his back to us as we start moving and I use the opportunity to chance a glance Chai's way. His face is schooled into what I imagine is his ‘don't mess with me' mafia heir expression, but for some reason, it looks like he's trying extra hard to maintain it. His shoulders are tense and his jaw is slightly clenched. The biggest giveaway that he's anxious is the way his fingers are fiddling with the cuff of his shirt.

Speaking of shirts, I'm glad he got me that suit. If I'd shown up in my jeans and fake leather jacket, I'm sure they'd have kicked me out the moment they saw me. Everyone downstairs was primly dressed in a suit, including the two women.

We arrive with a ding of the elevator. The door opens, revealing a wide corridor with pastel blue walls and a dark gray carpet. Doors with signs line both sides. We walk to the end of the hall where a glass divider leads to an open area with seating, a massive TV and a bar. It's empty save for the couch near the floor-to-ceiling window, where an older man is reading on a tablet. Two guards watch him from their posts by the wall, and a third one is standing next to the small table where a tumbler and a half-full glass sit.

I recognize him by his long-ish hair, this time tied in a low ponytail. That's Aran. He sees us and bends down, whispering something to the sitting man who has to be Chai's father, Daichi Akiyama.

" Naze okureta? " he says in a thunderous voice that sounds a lot like Chai's. It's similar in timbre, but the pitch is a little lower.

Chai squares his shoulders as his father stands up and glares our way. He replies in Japanese, but it's too fast for me to catch even a single word. His father doesn't seem to like the answer. He throws a couple more snappy words Chai's way and goes quiet. Just as I think that maybe this won't be so bad after all, I meet his intimidating gaze.

" Dare da, kono gaijin ?"

Aran's eyes shift to me as Daichi and I settle into a staring contest, and he leans in, whispering something to the man. Chai's father begins nodding, stopping himself halfway as his scowl turns menacing.

"Kwanchai," he rumbles, punctuating every syllable.

Chai suppresses a shudder, the force of it so great I feel it with my own body. Dipping his head, he puts his hand on my back and presses, forcing me to bow.

"This is Leon Caruso. He's my new bodyguard," he says in English, for which I am grateful.

I wince, not daring to look up as I feel the weight of Daichi's disapproving stare. Oh boy. I've never been good at impressing parents.

"You hired a gaijin ?"

I'm starting to realize that maybe I shouldn't have rushed into accepting this job. Or at least I should've looked into who exactly I was agreeing to work for. But everything kind of happened so fast.

Which should've been a red flag. You know, aside from the one where Chai offered you a freaking residency permit if you agreed to work for him.

"He helped me when I ran into the Nebisu Gang a couple weeks ago. If not for him I'd be in a hospital or dead now."

"And whose fault is that?" Daichi argues, not sounding impressed.

Chai clamps his mouth shut as I'm finally allowed to straighten up. I keep my eyes pinned on the ground or on him, sweat rolling down the side of my head.

"You've seen his file. He's a master of Muay Thai. I can personally vouch for his skills, and besides, Aran wouldn't have approved him if he wasn't a good match."

"I advised Chai against it," a low tenor says. I recognize it from last night as Aran's and have to stifle a laugh. The asshole is throwing Chai right under the bus. We're both goners, I think.

Daichi crosses his big arms. "Clearly, he didn't listen to you."

"Yes. Which is why I thoroughly checked Mr. Caruso's background. While he has no prior experience as a bodyguard, I believe he is a good fit."

They switch to Japanese. I can tell they are discussing me, and if I had to guess, it has to do with my previous job. The one I had to do because Cindy screwed me over royally.

Their heated conversation carries on for maybe ten minutes. I feel like a chicken on a butchering table the whole time. Part of me wants to bolt and say fuck it, and I almost give in, but the two armed guys near Daichi and the one by the elevator quickly convince me I won't make it even halfway across the room before one of them shoots me.

"Leon Caruso," Chai's father says eventually.

A bolt of panic slides down my spine. I clench my hands into fists. "Yes?"

He angles his chin toward the elevator, approaching with the gait of a man who knows I have nowhere to run. "I want to see if you are as good as my son thinks."

"Excuse me?"

He stops in front of me and smirks.

I swallow hard, dread flooding my system . I don't like this. I don't like it one bit.

I look at Chai for help and find him already watching me, his expression a mix of annoyance, concern and frustration.

"Uh, what's going on?" I half-whisper even if the rest can hear me, too .

Chai's father raises his hand and the two guards come over, standing on both my sides as Chai steps away. He gives me an apologetic look. "You got this, Leo."

I'm so confused. I got this? I got what ? But before I can ask, the two men herd me into the elevator, pushing one of the underground sublevel buttons. My insides twist, sending my heart racing.

"Uh, guys, what is going on?" I try, hoping they speak English.

The one on the left peers at me over his shoulder, grinning in mockery. " Wakagashira convinced Kumicho to let you prove yourself," he says as if that explains it all.

I gape at him dumbly. "Who did what? And I need to prove myself?"

He chuckles, seeming even more amused. "Yes."

I want to punch him. "How the fuck do I do that?" I mean, Chai hired me, so isn't that proof enough? They wouldn't have offered me the job if they didn't think I could do it…

The guard points at the elevator button that the other one pressed. "You make a show." He sizes me up, still grinning like a monkey. "In the arena."

The arena ?

We reach our destination, and the doors open to a massive, open-plan room with tatami mats, training equipment and a ring-like enclosure with bench stands on two sides.

Oh, hell no. Don't tell me this is what I think it is.

Thirty seconds later, it becomes clear to me that it is exactly what I fear. The two guards take me to a set of changing rooms stinking of sweat, and hand me a tank top, a pair of shorts and a mouthguard. A further five minutes and I've changed out of my fancyass suit, standing on that ring as the benches fill with muscular men. Half of them are booing while the other half are cheering, the noise and their clapping and stomping fueling me with adrenaline.

The mayhem stops just as I start to soak it up, and Chai, his father, and Aran walk in, taking the central seats. I should be angry. I should strangle Chai the first chance I get. But I'm also already buzzing. Anticipation clutches my stomach, and my body temperature rises as my opponent appears. He is bigger, but I'm not afraid. In fact, I'm fired up.

I've needed an outlet for my energy. I've got too much of it and the club activities at the college are just too civil for me to make any difference. This here though… Despite how fucked up the whole thing is, or the fact that I got dragged into it without any input, this is exactly what I need.

Grabbing the bottle of water someone hands me, I take a big sip, spitting half of it on the floor. I shake my arms and take a deep breath, cutting my gaze to Chai. He pulls on his bottom lip with his teeth, his eyes full of determination and excitement. My cock jumps and I have to adjust myself. He doesn't miss it, crossing his legs and looking like he's fighting one of his own.

I grin like a madman. Kwan-fucking-chai Akiyama . If your old man wants a show, I sure as hell am gonna give him one.