Dearly Beloved (Siren Publishing Allure) by Imari Jade

when the two of them had gotten so close. She distinctly remembered how Setsuko used to turn up her nose every time the younger woman’s name was mentioned. Now they appeared to be as thick as thieves. They had been meeting together on several occasions now, and were always laughing about something. Gina knocked on the door before entering.
    Both women looked up and in her direction.
    “Ah, Gina, you’re right on time,” Setsuko said. “You remember Rika Fukushima. She just moved back to town and she came over to spend some time with me.”
    Rika had come to the house two or three times before, and Gina had made herself scarce so she wouldn’t have to entertain her. Gina knelt down at the small table and placed the tray on top of it. “Yes, it’s nice to see you again. I hope you have been well.” She poured the tea.
    “Yes,” Rika said. “Mother tells me that you are expecting a baby.”
    Mother? Gina rose. “Yes, Eiji and I will become proud parents in December.”
    “I’m planning to throw her a big baby shower, so you’ll have to come,” Setsuko said to Rika.
    She was at the end of her first trimester, and it would be many months before that would happen.
    “You do look radiant,” Rika said to her.
    “Thank you. Tomio and his wife are expecting a baby too, but in September.” Both Setsuko and Rika stopped smiling. I knew it. She’s going to use Rika against Ebony. “Please enjoy your tea.” She took the tray and walked out of the parlor. I knew those two were up to something. She headed for the kitchen.
    “Lunch will be ready soon,” the cook said to her.
    “Good. Mother has a guest. Make sure you set another place.”
    The cook bowed. “Yes, Mrs. Nakamura.”
    Gina left the kitchen and headed up to her room to rest. She wanted to be alert when she sat down to lunch with Setsuko, Rika, Takara, and Haruka. The conversation was bound to be interesting.

    * * * *

    “I have a name for you,” Ushio Kazuto said to Hajime in the meeting room of the Nakamura Group.
    All of the big wigs were there, including his father’s senior advisors, lieutenants, and bodyguards. Tomio sat at his father’s right.
    “Who is it?” his father asked.
    Tomio leaned forward to hear the announcement.
    “Juunta Sawaki,” Ushio said.
    “How come I’m not surprised?” Hajime asked sarcastically.
    It didn’t surprise Tomio either. In fact, he suspected it from the beginning. Juunta Sawaki was an ex-classmate who was always going out of his way to get at Tomio once word got out about the Nakamura mob affiliation. Also, Tomio had stolen a girl or two from him. Juunta was all grown up now. He was a detective on the Tokyo police force and was still fucking with Tomio and his people.
    “Do you have any proof?” Hajime asked.
    Ushio had somehow attained some video footage. He turned on the video recorder and everyone in the room trained their eyes on the screen. Seconds later, they watched a raid on several of their rival groups, and their own organization. Each time the video showed Juunta standing back from the actual raid, accompanied by one of his goons.
    “That’s all the proof I need,” Daiki said. He cracked the knuckles of both hands. “I’ll break his little skinny neck.”
    Some of the other members agreed with the burly bodyguard.
    “Do what you have to do,” Hajime said. He dismissed Daiki’s statement with a wave of his hand. “Do it neatly, and don’t leave any evidence behind.”
    Tomio knew what that meant. Daiki and his friends also had to get rid of the remains, or make Juunta’s untimely death look like an accident.
    “But that won’t stop the raids,” Shabashi Toshio said. “Juunta has already managed to get the approval of the Chief of Police or the commissioner to search our businesses. Juunta’s disappearance would only spur them on.”
    Hajime turned to face his lieutenant. “What you suggest we should do?”
    “Go after the chief and the commissioner too,” Shabashi