Chapter 4 - THE SHADOW OF THE KUROHANA
The penthouse occupied the entire forty-second floor of the glass tower overlooking the dark expanse of Puget Sound.
It was a minimalist masterpiece—hardwood floors, paper screen partitions mixed with floor-to-ceiling modern glass, and low furniture that paid subtle homage to traditional Japanese architecture.
Claire stood near the center of the living room, feeling entirely out of place in her black waitress uniform and practical shoes.
A housekeeper silently brought her a soft, thick robe and a pair of house slippers before vanishing down a side hallway. Gabriel walked toward a long mahogany bar, pouring two fingers of amber liquid into two heavy crystal glasses.
“Drink this,” he said, walking over and offering her a glass. “It’s untampered.”
Claire took the glass, her hand brushing his fingers for a fraction of a second. A strange spark of heat traveled up her arm. She took a sip. The scotch burned pleasantly down her throat, settling the icy terror in her stomach.
“Why did the Kurohana Circle want to force a merger with you?” she asked, setting the glass down on a low side table.
Gabriel stood by the vast glass window, watching the rain-streaked city below. “Because my father left me control of Mercer Maritime. We own twenty percent of the deep-water shipping berths in Seattle and Vancouver. We are the clean pipeline. The Kurohana wants that pipeline to move untracked cargo from Yokohama into the American Midwest.”
“And you refused them,” she said.
“I run a legal business, Miss Bennett,” Gabriel said, turning to look at her. “My father made mistakes in his youth, associating with syndicate bosses to protect his shipping lines. But when I took over seven years ago, I cut those ties. The Kurohana doesn't like being cut out. Their current chairman in Osaka, a man named Kenji Sato, considers my refusal a personal insult.”
Before Claire could respond, the private elevator chimed.
Elias Reed stepped out onto the hardwood floor. His suit jacket was off, revealing a shoulder holster containing a sleek dark firearm. His expression was grim.
“We have a problem,” Elias said in Japanese.
Gabriel’s posture immediately sharpened. “Speak.”
“Pike’s phone didn't just have a local microphone,” Elias explained rapidly. “He was running an open encrypted line back to an offshore server. Someone in Osaka listened to the entire conversation at the restaurant.”
Claire gasped softly. “The Kurohana knows.”
Elias looked at Claire with cold, calculating eyes. “They know a woman at the restaurant translated Gabriel’s orders. They don't know your name yet, but Pike’s SUV driver saw you step into Gabriel’s car. They are already pulling the restaurant’s employment records.”
Gabriel’s eyes flashed with dangerous fire. “Douglas Crane has those records.”
“Crane will sell them out in ten minutes if they offer him enough cash,” Claire said bitterly. “He doesn't have a spine.”
Gabriel walked over to his desk, picking up a secure satellite phone. “Elias, get a team to Crane’s apartment right now. Secure his hard drives and bring him here. If he’s already talked to Sato’s men, secure him anyway.”
“On it,” Elias said, turning back toward the elevator.
“Wait,” Claire called out.
Elias paused, glancing back over his shoulder.
“Crane keeps duplicate employee files in a physical filing cabinet in his private office at the restaurant,” Claire warned. “If someone goes to his house, they’ll miss the paper records at the Monarch Room.”
Gabriel looked at Claire, a look of profound respect deepening in his eyes. “You really are remarkable, Claire.” He turned to Elias. “Take two men to the restaurant first. Clear the manager’s office clean.”
As Elias stepped into the elevator, Gabriel turned back to Claire, walking over until he was standing just inches away from her. The scent of rain, expensive wood, and faint cedar cologne drifted off him.
“You’re in the middle of a war now, Claire,” he said softly, his voice thick with uncharacteristic emotion. “I dragged you into this.”
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“No,” Claire said, looking up into his grey eyes without flinching. “I put my hands over that glass. I chose to speak. I was tired of being invisible, Mr. Mercer.”
Gabriel stared at her, his hand lifting slightly as if to touch her face, before he caught himself and lowered it back to his side. “Call me Gabriel. And I promise you... as long as you are with me, no one will ever make you feel invisible again.”
