Bloodbound: The Alliance
Chapter 27 - 31

Chapter 27: Chapter 31

"Tell me everything."

I persist in my silence.

"You know why I made sure this meet was completely clandestine?" Agitation flaring in his tone. "It wasn’t for your guards. I’m being followed. I wasn’t sure at first, but then I saw them. Whilst I was hunting for them; I became their prey."

My head lifts.

"I learned the trick of the trade about disappearing. When I was still on the job, I had a network of informants and I knew of undercover operatives embedded into powerful criminal organizations and syndicates as moles. I never understood their theatrics when it was time for them to report back to me. And they took all of these crazy precautions to make sure they weren’t being followed. I was their handler then, it was how it worked. Until it didn’t. They’re all dead now. Let’s just say their paranoia was very warranted."

My pulse hitches. I rip my hands out of my hair. "They know then."

His eyes swell. "Know what?"

"They wanted to know who I was in contact with... the man behind the burner phone. I didn’t tell them anything but clearly they figured it out." I shift closer to him, putting my hand on the bolster of the seat. "If that’s true, you’re already compromised. You got to drop this."

"Never." He tears his gaze away, locking his eyes on the road. "I’m getting close. I tried to go after Botan, but he’s too elusive. You should know that I saw security footage of your kidnapping... though I’m not sure what that was to tell you the truth."

"... What?"

"I was in the line of duty for twenty years. I’ve dealt with countless kidnapping cases...I know how different victims react, whether violent or timid. One emotion is prevalent in every one of them and that’s fear. And I didn’t see an ounce of it when Botan took you."

A foreign feeling strains the cords in my chest. I wait a moment to respond.

I lean forward, enunciating each word carefully. "That man held a gun to my head," I whisper. "You worked on those kinds of cases. I doubt you know how it feels to be the case and be in that position. I did whatever he told me to do so I could survive."

His eyes soften by several degrees, the heat in his gaze extinguished.

"Walk away, Simon, before we both end up dead. Killing me would be just an inconvenience, killing you would be inconsequential. My father is untouchable because they are invincible."

Simon nods angrily, then takes out his phone with one hand on the wheel.

"I thought that once upon a time. But where there is a lack of weakness; vulnerabilities abound. And your father is their only one."

He plays a recording. And it’s my father’s voice speaking with someone I don’t recognise. A harsh-sounding accent, slamming each vowel together.

"I have a proxy in Tokyo to negotiate the Asia Pacific trade expansion. Subsequently, I procured the minister’s signature upon the requisite documentation, thereby granting them unimpeded access to the port facilities, ensuring the seamless transportation of cargo without any disruptions. At a fee, of course."

"I’m not worried about that, Alden. You have a liability."

"She is an asset. You can’t fathom how big. My daughter has agreed to do her duty with a smile and no questions as usual. You know how she is."

A twinge needles my heart, causing it to splinter.

"What about our larger problem? Haru. You know he will kill you as soon as it’s all done."

"As long as I have the Vellum. He can’t touch me."

The call cuts out and only now I feel tears burning down my cheeks.

"I’m sorry. I thought you should know."

"He..." My vision pixelates, everything starting to blend together sickly. "He spoke about me like I was a thing... something he can use. And the Vellum, what is that?"

He raises a shoulder. "I don’t know, but it’s my biggest lead. I’m guessing it’s his insurance policy, clearly something damning that’s keeping Haru Black from killing him. Whatever it is, it’s bad, like biblical proportions kind of bad. I had your father’s phone tapped and all the calls and texts were highly encrypted. Except for the landline in his office, that mistake was my win, but it was the only mistake he made."

Anger is a fog consuming mind. I can’t see anything past it.

"Avara, I know you’re upset—"

"Upset?" I spit out, even more enraged at the poor attempt to dilute my anger. "I’ve been betrayed by the man I love most. I’m not upset." A dangerous resolve grips me. "His lies. His deception has put me and my brothers in the crossfire." I never needed protection from the Yakuza. I needed it from him. My own father. "I don’t know what he’s planning, but I’m going to find out what."

Simon circles back, the expansive park comes into view again.

"What will you do when you learn the truth?"

"I’ll do what I must to protect my brothers. What other leads do you have?"

He looks forward again. "Cold for now. I’ve been tailing mid-level to low ranks in their organization. And even they operate with stealth precision. I know a hacker that can get me in places most people can’t and a few people from the department still take my calls. So I can call in for help when I need it. But for now, I’m keeping my head low until there’s something worth chasing."

He pulls to a stop, then reassembles my phone before returning it.

I suck in a deep breath, wrangling with my emotions. And I shove on my sunglasses.

"You okay, kid?"

"Hell no."

I climb out of the car and I walk back into park, waiting for my neglected guards to find me. And in time, they do, followed by a lecture to not wander off again. They take me home immediately, and on my way there, I receive a call. Luciano.

I sniff, taking a few measured breaths before I answer.

"Lucie," I greet with a faux cheer.

"Hey, just calling to check on things."

"Just admit that you’re missing me," I say jokingly but I’m totally serious.

"That was an admission."

I smile tightly. "How’s the conference going? I thought you’d be back by now?"

"You and me both." He lugs out a loaded breath. "There was something else dad had me take care of, totally boring. Everything for the greater political good. He desires that I serve as his substitute once more and present a favorable impression. He’s planning several moves ahead. You know how he thinks."

Do I?