Ghosts (The Syndicates Book 4) by R.G. Angel

Author:R.G. Angel [Angel, R.G.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2023-10-17T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter 12

Jiro

Sitting at the café across from the bar where Valdez’s crew frequented, I tried to enjoy my coffee in peace. However, that tranquility was shattered as Oda slid into the chair across from me with a grin that was nothing short of mischievous.

“Jiro, my friend, in dear need of coffee, huh?” He wiggled his eyebrows, jerking his head toward the cup I was holding. “I guess someone didn’t get much sleep last night.”

I shook my head and took a sip of the burned-out coffee that felt like heaven because I would have rather died than admit it, but I was significantly sleep-deprived, and I was not as young as the grinning idiot in front of me.

Oda leaned over the table. “So, how’s life in caveman land?”

I rolled my eyes, not in the mood for his teasing. “Very funny, Oda.”

He chuckled, leaning back in his chair. “Seriously, dragging Hope out of the club like that? You’ve got that caveman thing down to an art.”

I groaned, rubbing my temples. “Can we not talk about that?”

“Ah, come on,” Oda persisted, his grin widening. “It was quite the show. Had the whole place talking.”

I shot him a glare. “You’re impossible.”

Oda laughed heartily, enjoying my discomfort a little too much. “So, how many of the pack of twelve condoms did you manage to use?”

My face heated up, and I spluttered, nearly choking on my coffee. “What? How the hell do you know about that?”

He leaned in, his voice low and conspiratorial. “Let’s just say I wanted to make sure you were prepared for the night.”

I stared at him in disbelief. “You’re the one who put those condoms in my pocket?”

He winked. “Guilty as charged.”

I shook my head, still trying to wrap my mind around it. “You planned this whole evening, didn’t you? You wanted me to snap.”

Oda shrugged nonchalantly. “Well, let’s just say I nudged fate a bit. Had a hunch you needed a push.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “And what about you? What was your game?”

He leaned back, his expression turning more serious. “Jiro, my friend, you’re a true yakuza. You’re so steeped in your own code and sense of duty that you can’t see happiness even when it smacks you in the face.”

I frowned, his words hitting closer to home than I cared to admit. “What are you talking about?”

He leaned in, his voice low and sincere. “You care about Hope, don’t you? Maybe more than you’re willing to admit. But you’ve built this wall around yourself, thinking you’re protecting her by staying away. I just thought it was time to remind you that sometimes, it’s okay to let go of the warrior facade and let happiness in.”

I sighed, rubbing my temples. Oda had a way of seeing through my defenses, and it was both infuriating and oddly comforting. “You meddled in my personal life, Oda. You had no right.”

He chuckled, not the least bit apologetic. “Ah, but sometimes friends need to meddle, especially when they see a stubborn idiot like you getting in his own way.

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