Wheels of Steel Book 4

  Dinner that night was quiet. Robin was sitting with her arms wrapped around herself, only periodically picking at her meal. Jason had yet to take one bite of the rice and leftover pork and vegetables.

  “They burned his crest off of his wrist,” Robin finally muttered while staring listlessly at the table. Everyone looked at her. “The crest that represents the triad that he’s connected to.”

  Robin took a deep breath. “There’s this man. His name is Riyu,” she began to shake as she told every bit of the story that she knew. At some point during the story Jason took her hand and held it firmly. Peter took her other hand and Belinda lightly rubbed her arm.

  “So … that’s why we were snatched. It wasn’t anything to do with a robbery. It was just to get Yagano’s sokaiya.” Robin had remembered that word—such a pretty word for extortion.

  “The reason that Amberly married Y is because she knew that he’s a good person that’s connected to a bunch of bad people. Akita Tom was the one being extortioned and even he left Y in his will—gave him part of his stock AND his house. So …what does that tell you?”

  Robin looked at each of them. “When we were in the car he told Riyu that he got rid of his stock—he did it so that Riyu couldn’t get it. And that’s why Y got beaten. Whatever happened today it was because Y was trying to protect the studio from Riyu and the Yakuza. So I can’t tell you what to do, but I’m going to sign with the label—as long as they can assure me that Y will remain as part of the company.”

  Jason gave her a sharp look.

  Robin continued. “I know that as long as he’s involved in Akita Tom Productions he will fight for the label and fight for us.”

  Jason looked away and then nodded. “I want to talk to James and Hideo about it.”

  Both James and Hideo arrived at the house the next morning with the contracts.

  Jason looked at them both in concern. “Are you two sure you’re ready to get back to work?” They looked a little rough around the edges. Hideo had two black eyes and James had bruises on his face.

  Thank God the Yakuza hadn’t man-handled Robin like that, Jason thought.

  James smiled in embarrassment. “Can’t let a little thing like that stop progression.” Everyone was in the office gathered around the conference table including Belinda who listened in excitement. Amberly was still at the hospital with her husband.

  Hideo passed out copies of the contract for them to go over. He explained that every detail and stated that each condition that Peter’s father had negotiated had been accepted.

  “What about Yagano?” Robin asked.

  Hideo blanched and then quickly coughed. “Yagano?”

  “Yes, he gave up his stock. Is he still involved with the label?”

  Hideo looked at James whose cheeks reddened.

  James replied, “Yagano is still involved with the label. In fact, we all gave up our shares in the company. Yagano’s idea was to start a limited liability company to hold the stock and that each of us shareholders would be equal partners.”

  Hideo’s straightened his tie and stammered. “I faxed the paper work to be filed during our meeting. Yagano insisted …”

  Robin smiled. “So nothing in this contract changes and Y is still with the label?”

  James wiped sweat from his forehead but he smiled. “Of course my dear. Yagano will be in charge of many aspects of Akita Tom Productions.” Robin looked at Hideo who nodded quickly.

  Robin smiled. “Then hand me the ink pen. I’m signing.”

  Peter and Jason signed their contracts and then after congratulations James and Hideo left.

  Belinda closed the door after them and then turned to face her friends, the broad smile no longer on her face. No one spoke for a long time, but each of them had the same expression. Finally Robin broke the silence.

  “Did y’all notice that Hideo is missing the tip of his pinky finger?”

  When Yagano opened his eyes Amberly was staring at him. She gave him a soft smile that seemed slightly sad.

  “Is the pain any better?” She asked.

  Last night they had given him more painkillers because his burn had began to hurt. The doctor said that it was a good sign. It meant that the nerve damage would be minimal. Instead of being pleased about the news Yagano had cursed that he didn’t give a damn if he had feeling in his goddamned wrist!

  “Still hurts,” he grumbled and sat up. She passed him water and he took a sip and then passed it back to her.

  “Did you stay here all night?” He asked with a frown.

  “No, I got a room at the hotel across the street.”

  “Okay.”

  She studied him silently and he sighed, knowing that he couldn’t put off the inevitable forever.

  “Are you ready to talk about what happened?” She asked.

  “It’s no big secret. What do you want to know?” He asked.

  “Everything. I want to know what you do for … them. I want to know why I had to call your uncle to rescue you. And … I want to know whose finger I found in your desk drawer.”

  Y’s jaw flinched. Damn, he had meant to get rid of that thing but things had become hectic … so she had found it. Yagano studied her to see if she was disgusted, but the only expression she wore was that of disappointment.

  Well, she was his partner and if anyone deserved the truth then she did. Y began at the beginning, filling in the bits that he had left out when he’d first met her. He told her about the racketeering, drug trafficking, weapons, illegal banks and before he was finished tears were rolling down her cheeks.

  “Don’t cry, Amberly, please-”

  “Keep going,” she interrupted. He looked at her sad face and then sighed and continued. He told her of the crimes that he had committed. He could have lied but there was already too many lies between them. If she left him because of this then it was unmei … fate.

  After he finished with that he explained about his life in the Yakuza—forced to do the jobs that others didn’t want. He even explained about the fingertips—although he did not expressly explain whose fingertip she had discovered in his desk drawer.

  “Why to our house? Why did you have it in your possession?” She asked saying the word ‘it’ as if the use of it sullied her.

  “It has to be delivered to the appropriate person. I make those deliveries.”

  Amberly made a gagging sound. “You mean … those envelopes you get in the mail-“

  “No. They are hand delivered.”

  “By Quan? Sweet little Quan?” Quan was their driver as well as Yagano’s Yakuza contact. “Well I want him fired!” She demanded. “I don’t want him around the house.”

  Y gave her a hopeful look. Did that mean that she didn’t intend to leave him? “Whatever you want, Amberly.”

  She sighed. “I want you to end your ties with the Yakuza, Yagano. I mean completely. No more jobs, no more secret phone calls and secret meetings.”

  Yagano’s lips formed a straight line. “My association with the Yakuza ended when my crest was burned from my flesh.”

  Amberly closed her eyes and took a deep breath as if settling her nerves. “I’m sorry they took it off … but I’m happy it’s gone.” She opened her eyes and gave him a pointed look. “I don’t want to be married to someone involved with organized crime.”

  After a moment Y nodded his head. “Understood.” She stared at him and then Y lifted his arm and beckoned her to him. She stood up in a rush and hurried into his arms where she buried her face against his neck and let loose a fountain of pent up emotions in the form of tears.

  “I love you,” she cried. “I love you so much …”

  Yagano stroked her hair and kissed her tears. “I love you too.”

  Epilogue

  The party hosted by Akita Tom Productions marked several great beginnings. It marked the release of the Akita Tom tribute album, the signing of the label’s two new artists Sweetheart and Wheels of Steel, and it marked their departure back to the states. r />
  The star-studded event included musicians and movie stars from all over the world. The venue was top notch and the videos created by Amberly and Belinda were broadcast across large screens scattered throughout each room of the party. The first single, No new to be high was already getting rave reviews and expected to hit the top one hundred chart in Jazz and New Age. It was already number one on the Japanese charts.

  Internet radio was leaking the cuts and there were already other tribute albums popping up trying to cash in on Akita’s fame. Everyone wanted some connection to the sound. People were throwing offers left and right for Sweetheart to sing with them or for Wheels of Steel to produce a song or provide the music for their project. And in the meantime their label was cleaning up on the action—even without Akita’s unreleased music.

  Hidalgo had even agreed that once he released the music that he and Akita had created, he would do it through Akita Tom Productions instead of his own label.

  If there were any hard feelings between anyone it was impossible to tell that night of the big party. Hidalgo did shots with Hideo and James sang along drunkenly to Yagano’s piano playing. Robin took the stage and sang Gives You Hell by the All-American Rejects with Amberly and Belinda singing back-up.

  This time the images uploaded via YouTube were just of people singing, dancing and having fun.

  The next day Yagano drove the group to the airport and for a moment Robin was unsure if she wanted to leave. Japan represented home to her now, as well as new adventures along with promises for an up and coming future. In Japan she had gotten engaged, she had several singing contracts including one to act in one of Japan’s most popular animes. She had found new and old friends and she had learned not to be afraid of every little thing. Because truly, she was pretty bad-ass.

  Before they boarded the flight everyone hugged and kissed their goodbyes. Jason hugged and kissed Amberly and then he caught Yagano in a half handshake, half hug.

  “Thank you for having our backs,” he whispered.

  “No problem, brother.” Y replied.

  Robin smiled at Y and then slipped her hand into his. “Take care of yourself, okay?”

  “You do the same, Robin,” he looked at her and then lowered his eyes, released her hand and turned away.

  Robin felt something tug at her heart at the loss of contact. She turned to Jason and the others who were busy checking their carry-on and she smiled and hurried to catch up with them. It was time to go home and begin the rest of her life!

  As Amberly and Yagano drove toward their home Amberly turned to him. They were holding hands and a weight had lifted from both of their shoulders. The demons of the past had been laid to rest for Amberly—as well as for Yagano.

  “The house is going to be so quiet now,” she said wistfully. “Without Akita there it’s going to feel so different.”

  Yagano nodded grimly. “It’s sad but I think Akita left us the house because he wanted us to keep it alive with memories of him.” He looked at her. “So you don’t want to sell it and move closer to Tokyo?”

  “No,” she replied adamantly. “I love that house. No other house will ever feel as much like home.” Her eyes twinkled at him. “Especially if we can fill it with babies.”

  Yagano smiled happily. “There’s nothing I want more, Amberly.” He glanced at her. “I think we should start making those babies tonight.”

  She giggled and kissed his cheek, ignoring the fading bruises. When they pulled up to the driveway there was a black Lincoln Town car parked there.

  “Who is that?” Amberly asked.

  Y frowned. “I don’t know. Stay in the car.”

  “Y …” She said as he got out, but he closed the door. He headed to the parked Town car and the passenger door opened. His father stepped out.

  Yagano hesitated and then he approached his father not saying anything, waiting for the man that had basically abandoned him to speak.

  Daisuke had changed very little since the last time that Yagano had seen him. His thick moustache was now silver and his thick wavy hair still looked like it belonged on a Hollywood movie star. And yet Yagano could see that stress had caused wrinkles around the man’s eyes although his posture was straight and youthful.

  Powerful men aged differently then the common man who had to stoop for his living, Yagano decided.

  Daisuke glanced at Yagano’s car where Amberly was still waiting.

  “There is no need of your wife to stay in your car. I would just like a few moments of your time.”

  Yagano thought about whether or not he wanted to give his father even a second of his time. Finally he nodded and then returned to his car and leaned in at the passenger side where Amberly had let down the window to listen.

  “Amberly, that’s my father.”

  Amberly studied the older man, seeing a bit of her husband in his stance. He had not bothered to visit and so she had never met him.

  “What does he want?”

  Yagano looked over his shoulder at the man. “I don’t know. But he wants to talk to me for a few minutes.” He looked at her. Can you go inside and give us a few moments? I don’t want him to set foot inside my house.”

  After a brief pause Amberly nodded. “Be careful.”

  She was the second woman to advise him of that today. “I will.”

  Amberly got out of the car and Yagano escorted her to the house. When she was even with the man that had fathered her husband she nodded her head politely and he returned the gesture. And then she was in the house with the door closed after her.

  Yagano turned to regard his father and then he walked to the car. Daisuke gestured for him to get into the backseat and Y decided that there was no reason to decline the request so he climbed inside the luxury car and his father joined him.

  “Yagano-chan, it’s been a long time since we’ve talked,” his father spoke in Japanese

  “Hai,” Y agreed. And then he said no more. This was his father’s party so let him get to the point.

  His father reached into his pocket and withdrew a white handkerchief. He offered it to Yagano whose heart began to rapidly beat. His father wanted yubitsume from him? Yagano gave his father a bold look and then accepted the handkerchief. But it wasn’t flat. Yagano opened it and saw a withering fingertip.

  “Riyu’s.” His father said simply. “He is in your debt.”

  Yagano’s mouth formed a firm line. “Is that what you think?”

  “He tried to take more than he should have. He had no permission to do the things he did. He ran his gang in a dishonorable manner.”

  “Ran?” Yagano asked.

  “He still heads his gang, but now he has a new second in command, one of my men who will watch him carefully.”

  “I see.” But Yagano didn’t. He didn’t care about any of this. The Yakuza and their affairs was no longer a part of his life.

  “I see that there is still much distance between us-“ Daisuke said.

  Yagano’s eyelids hooded as he tried not to allow his anger to rise at the understatement of the decade. “I may be your son, but I am not your family. It was you that created that distinction between Riyu, Anessa and myself,” Anessa being the sister that he hadn’t seen in ten years.

  Daisuke watched him and then nodded slightly, surprising Yagano that he so readily accepted his angry retort.

  “Yori has already told me that I have not been a true father to you. He reminded me that he has been more of a father to you than I have.” Daisuke did not tell Yagano that the punishment Yori received for his words was to be released from his duties as his right hand—and placed as the right hand of Riyu. Perhaps since he thought himself a better father he could do something to make Riyu a better man.

  Daisuke sighed. “When I was young it was hard for me to understand that the world would continue to revolve without me. I thought that by making sure all of your financial needs were met, and ensuring that you were sent to the right schools that it would absolve me of my neglect. I knew t
hat I could not be the father that you deserved. I had another family that I valued—one that I had damaged almost beyond repair due to my indiscretions.

  “I made it up to them by pushing you away. Although … I wanted you in my life more than I can ever express.”

  Yagano just stared at him, resenting his confession at the same time that he was unable to turn away and dismiss it or him.

  “My wife was not someone that I had initially loved. Our arrangement was developed by our parents and cultivated for many years before we eventually married. So when I met your mother and I experienced feelings that were new to me, I was not strong enough to deny them. In the process I hurt the only woman that I truly loved.”

  Daisuke looked down at his hands. “Even though I lost her I never wanted to lose you.”

  Yagano frowned and gave him a what-the-fuck-are-you-talking-about-look.

  “You lost me when you made me enter your house through a side door. You lost me when you turned a blind eye to the abuse that Riyu heaped upon me, and when you stopped coming to my house or sending for me. You lost me, father, when you told me that there was no place in the Yakuza for me because Riyu was already there.” Yagano reached for the door. “We’re through here-“

  “Wait. Son, wait.” Daisuke placed a gentle hand on his arm and seemed to take notice of the bandage still present. “Everything you say is true Yagano. I put Riyu before you because he was the first son and would take over everything. I wanted to appease him because I knew that I had lost his respect. I catered to him and his mother when it came to you, out of a sense of guilt! And yes I was weak and a stupid man. I had no idea that there would come a day when I did not have the love of either son.”

  Daisuke looked down and his face seemed to break. He looked up and met the eyes of Yagano who paused with his father’s hand still on his bandaged arm.

  “Did you want to say sorry, father?” Yagano prompted.

  Daisuke nodded. “Yes, my son.”

  “You could have encouraged a better relationship between Riyu and I. Instead you allowed our animosities to turn into hatred.” He thrust the yubitsume back at his father who accepted it reluctantly.