Kenji

Kenji THE SYNDICATE SERIES BOOK 7 CALA RILEY Contents Untitled Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Chapter 27 Epilogue Afterword About the Author Acknowledgments Also by Author Where to Find Us Kenji The Syndicates Series, Book Seven By Cala Riley Copyright @ 2023 by Cala Riley All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the publisher, except brief quotes used for reviews and certain other non-commercial uses, as per copyright laws. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. Cover Design: Books and Moods Editor: My Brother’s Editor Formatting: Wicked Gypsy Designs Mary, thank you for your unwavering support and shouting our name from the roof top. We appreciate you. Chapter One “Rowdy crowd tonight,” Asuka, the bartender, says as he pours the last drink for my tray. I glance back over my shoulder at the group of men at the high rollers’ card table. These men aren’t the kind you take home to mama. They are wealthy and powerful. The kind of men to talk shit over cards but then spill all their secrets over pillow talk. That means that they are also handsy. I’m not even supposed to be serving them, but Shaina called out again. If she’s not careful, I’ll fire her. “They are having fun for sure,” I mumble. Asuka chuckles. “Well, you know where I am if you need backup.” I snort. “When have I ever needed backup?” He doesn’t reply as I walk away. I plaster on my fake smile as I make my way through the tables of men playing various games, from blackjack to poker. Many leer at me as I pass by. I’m not surprised. The uniform for our servers is on the skimpier side. Not only does sex sell, but three floors above us is an exclusive brothel. Our women down on the floor here are only a taste of what they might find if they pay the membership fee to venture upstairs. So instead of my normal black slacks and polo shirt, I’m dressed in a too-small frilly silver skirt and tube top. It accentuates all my curves which naturally means I hate it. I used to love makeup and playing dress-up when I was a kid. Then I grew up and realized the horror in the world. Now, I prefer to stay low key. The less attention I get, the less chance I’ll have to break some perv’s hand. If it wasn’t for Shaina calling off within minutes of her shift starting, I would have called in another girl. It won’t kill me to smile nicely at a few men while dodging their hands. Besides, the tips will be nice. After dropping off a round of drinks, I turn to move toward the next table when I see him. Kenji Ono. He’s tall with eyes almost black. He’s got a scar on the side of his face from some altercation that he never speaks about. All the girls talk about how it makes him look tough. Then there’s the dragon tattoo mixed with koi fish and flowers on his neck. Add it all together, and he’s sex personified. At least, that’s what the girls say. He manages the Currency Casino and hotel for Haruaki Takahashi, head of the Yakuza. Everyone who has a hand in the dark underworld of the Chicago streets knows about them. Haruaki is the dark prince, or at least he used to be. I suppose he would be considered the dark king now. He is known for his ruthlessness on the battlefield. You have a gun? No problem. Haruaki will take a bullet and still manage to kill you with his bare hands. He’s always intimidated me, but now even more so. He doesn’t come into the casino often, but when he married his Irish queen, the whole town received the warning. Fuck with Cliona Takahashi, and you fuck with him personally. I should be thankful he leaves Kenji to handle the business in his place, but Kenji is not much better. While Haruaki walks right into a battle not caring who sees his face, Kenji is the opposite. He’s just as deadly, but he’s smarter about it. I can see the way his eyes take in a room, cataloging each and every person and determining all the possible outcomes of the night. Take now, for instance. He’s staring at me with anger in his eyes. He doesn’t like that I’ve messed up his careful hold over the casino. Sure, things can pop off sometimes, making him have to use force to get things under control, but he likes to maintain a level of authority over the employees. Case in point, me standing here in Shaina’s too-small uniform serving drinks to assholes when what I should be doing is making my rounds and checking on my girls. Not only the ones down here but the ones upstairs. As soon as I’m within range of Kenji, he nods his head to the side. The universal sign that he wants me to follow him. Heaving out a sigh, I do. “What are you doing on the floor tonight?” he asks, his tone deceptively calm. “Shaina called out. Her kid is sick. It was last minute, so rather than waste time trying to find someone to cover her shift, here I am,” I whisper, looking around the room to make sure no one needs my attention. “That’s not your