Saturday. Ito Family Home, Kyoto, Japan.SAMUEL ITO COULD DO with a beer. Plain, unassuming-beer. But his half-brother Sota wouldn't have such low-brow drinks here.Too bad.It would make what came next that much more painful for Sota.Samuel continued to stare out on the ornamental garden surrounding the paved patio area. It was one of the few places in this house he remembered from childhood. The latter years. His father had allowed his first wife, Sota's mother, to remain here after the divorce. Which was probably why Sota assumed he had a right to it. Just like everything else.Samuel slid his hands into his pockets and pressed his forearm against the gun concealed under his jacket. He wanted things to be different, but history had proven time and time again that he wasn't good enough for this family.Well, he was done playing by their rules."You didn't come just to admire the view." Sota stopped next to Samuel, staring out over the garden, the high-rises of Kyoto
NOLAN SLID THE MODIFIED mob holster on then his jacket. Since they couldn't carry guns in Japan, they had a range of back-up tools to serve the purpose of protecting themselves and their clients."What can you tell us about the drone?" Melody's focus was on Theodore, who'd shed his coat and was pacing."It's a toy still. It flies around, takes pictures and fires rubber bullets. It's a concept Doug is dicking around with so it looks like he's trying." Theodore wheeled away from them and strode toward the windows.Melody glanced at Nolan.Rubber bullets were easy enough to swap out for real ones.Why had no one mentioned this?"Guys?" Vaughn turned from the computer, one hand mashing an earpiece to his ear. "There's been a high profile homicide. Someone got shot at their home.""Do they have the shooter in custody?" Nolan asked."Not that I can tell, but I'm listening to them through translating software. It's not perfect.""Go," Melody said. "Take the gear, meet the ot
Saturday. Tech Conference, Kyoto, Japan.YVONNE SAT ON THE floor, her back braced against the bed, and stared at her toes. They still had a tiny bit of polish on them from that spa day Tabby had taken her on the week after Vegas. That was the last time Yvonne had done anything for herself.Her life was work. It was the business. She couldn't be pregnant. She couldn't have a baby.The tests were wrong. They had to be.Why should she trust a drug store test? This was the kind of thing that needed a professional.But that meant doctors, and she'd gone to the same family practice her whole life. Even her doctor in LA was cousins with her doctor in DC. If her physician knew she was pregnant, there would be no keeping that from her family.A sharp knock at her door broke the circle of thought.She briefly considered ignoring it, but Douglas was out there. Probably doing something stupid.Yvonne pushed to her feet, straightened her blouse then opened the door.Melody stoo
Saturday. Private Airport, Kyoto, Japan.FUCKING HELL.Lee's plans were dissolving, and he had no clue why.He eased the bike to a stop outside the fenced off area of the private airport just outside Kyoto. He'd been hard pressed to follow the SUV without getting too close. With any luck the bodyguards hadn't spotted him.The family was supposed to remain at the conference for the duration of the event. Only once that was over were they to leave, at which point Lee's people were supposed to grab them."Fuck. Fuck. Fuck." Lee balled his hands into fists.His plans were blown until he knew where the Kriegers were going.The way his luck was going, they were en route back to the states, and that would really suck. Lee operated mostly on foreign soil. He stayed out of the US, but this job was too big. He couldn't fail.He tipped his head back and sucked in a deep breath.He could be flexible. He knew their habits, their routines. He'd been studying them in preparation
Saturday. Private Jet.NOLAN RELEASED THE CATCH on his seatbelt and stretched."You want to get in on a game of cards?" Vaughn had a deck out and shuffling on the four-person table already.Brenden unfolded his arms and placed one on the table. It was likely all he'd say, but he was in."I'm in," Riley said."Your wife lets you?" Nolan said before he could think better of the question."At least I've got a woman." Riley grinned and braced his forearms on the table.Nolan's mind brought up an image of Yvonne smiling at him. But she wasn't his."When are you two getting hitched?" Vaughn cut the deck, still shuffling.Riley shrugged. "We aren't. At least, not yet.""Bet that drives your mothers crazy.""That's half the fun of it."Vaughn turned his head and looked at Nolan. "In or out?""Out." Nolan wasn't keen on being part of the discussion that would no doubt happen over cards. As much as Douglas Krieger pissed him off, the kid also reminded Nolan a lot of
"I got a phone call that we had an emergency call and I had to go," he said slowly."Before that?"Nolan frowned, trying to recall. That had been a particularly rough morning. The hangover had slowed him down, plus he hadn't wanted to leave.She leaned toward him and lowered her voice. "You seriously don't remember reaching over me to answer my phone?""I answered my phone.""The second time, but the first time you answered my phone." She jabbed her finger at her collar bone. "You spent five minutes arguing with my father about why he was calling you.""Oh, fuck." Nolan rubbed his hand across his face. He was conditioned to wake up from a deep sleep to the sound of his phone. He'd answered more than a few calls without his mind fully engaged. "I am-fuck. I'm sorry."Booze and good sex must have really knocked him out harder than he realized if his memory of that morning was this hazy. Was it possible there was more he didn't recall?"Just stay away from my father if at
Monday. Grimaldi Place, Chevy Chase, MD.YVONNE STARED OUT OF the limo at the old family home her mother had inherited. The place was like a museum. Or a tomb.God, why were they coming here?She knew why.The historic home in Chevy Chase put them within driving distance of contacts in Washington that might help Douglas' problems go away. Mom was also doing her best to transition both Dad and Douglas to living there full-time from their residence in New York.What Yvonne really wanted to do was board a plane and head west. To her real home. Her little condo might not be much, and she didn't spend the time there that she'd like, but it was hers. Away from family where she could breathe. There wouldn't be nosey knocks and well meaning questions if she were there.She'd been sick once during their trek home and it had been on the jet. Everyone had given her a wide berth since then, even Nolan. For which she was grateful.There'd been a point when she'd wanted to undo her
They were the last to arrive as evident by the people sitting around the long table in what Mom liked to call the library. Dad had taken it over as his office and meeting area when they'd inherited the home.Everyone was assembled.Mom and Dad.Theodore, Douglas and herself.Grant and Melody.Two family lawyers and one representing the company.Yvonne wished she wasn't on a first name basis with the last three.She slid into an empty chair next to Melody across from her mother and brothers.The lawyers at the other end of the table eyed the security team. The security team were focused on Dad, who was still looking at Douglas. It was clear that he took after Mom. The things Yvonne's younger brother had gotten away with were not the sort of things that would have been tolerated, even from Theodore. Yvonne had long since given up understanding the imbalanced expectations of her family. Trying to figure that out as a child had hurt her fragile heart. She was wiser now.M