The Devil Inside Read Online Free Page B

this wild country.
    I park on the street and enter a plain looking doorway with a golden plaque beside it. In English, it says Black Rose . Below it, in Japanese, are the words hostess bar.
    I climb two flights of stairs and enter a dim lounge. A low chill out beat is punctuated by high-pitched laughter. In dark corner booths, businessmen in dark suits and loosened ties sip whisky, surrounded by barely dressed girls who are ten, twenty years their junior.
    We could be in Tokyo right now.
    A woman approaches me. She eyes me up and down, a predatory smile crossing her face. My beaten up appearance doesn’t faze her at all. A true professional, this one. She’s probably calculating how much money she can get out of me tonight. Her greying hair is done up in a severe bun, and she’s wearing too much makeup. This must be Mama-san.
    “Good evening, sir.” She bows and greets me in Japanese. She sounds deceptively cheerful. “Welcome to the Black Dragon. Please allow me to show you to a table.”  
    In my plain dark suit, I look like one of her usual customers. Even in LA, my countrymen come here and buy overpriced drinks just so they can talk to women. It’s talk and touch only; no-one’s getting their dicks wet. Apparently, pussy is more attractive when it’s unattainable.
    As Mama-san ushers me into a dark corner, I pull her aside and whisper into her ear. “I’ll have a Yamazaki whisky. Neat. And tell Masa Takashi that his aniki from Ikebukuro is here to see him.”
    Mama-san stiffens and regards me with wary eyes. She hesitates as I slide into the corner booth. “I’m really very sorry, sir, but Takashi-san is not available right now.” She’s switched to polite Japanese. It irritates   the hell out of me.  
    I respond by speaking crudely. “If he’s here, then he’s fucking available. For your own good, Mama-san, he won’t be happy if he finds out I was here and no-one bothered to tell him.”
    Mama-san’s eyes widen. She recognizes my tone of voice. “I understand. I’ll let him know right away.” She bows in apology and hurries off. Mama-san didn’t get to where she was by being stupid. If she’s working for Masa, then she’s working for the Kuroda Group, and she might figure out that certain people will be asking for him from time to time.
    A hostess appears with my beer. She’s fawning over me and I don’t like it. She pouts as I wave her away in annoyance. I hate this hostess shit. I don’t do artificial. Thoughts of a certain waitress with mesmerizing brown eyes and a body like sin enter my head.
    Down, boy. Adele’s not for you.  
    She’s seen me for the thug that I am.
    There’s a bit of a commotion, then Masa walks in. He’s put on weight since I saw him last. In a good way. He used to be such a lean, hungry looking kid. He’s wearing an expensive grey suit and has dyed his hair red, kept it a bit longish. Masa’s features are delicate, but his feminine looks are deceiving. He can be vicious.  
    There are two heavy-set guys in suits trailing behind Masa. Looks like he’s come up in the world.  
    Masa stops in front of me and bows deeply before sitting down. “ Aniki. ” He still calls me big brother. I’m only a year older than him. It’s a sign of respect. He’s being cautious. One never knows what a visit from me might mean.
    Masa’s eyes go wide as he takes in my appearance. The area around my left eye where that idiot punched me throbs with a dull ache. He can’t hide the expression of shock that unfurls on his face, like a blossoming flower.
    But he stays quiet. Masa’s smart enough to know not to ask.
    I take a sip of my beer. It’s good. Tastes like home. I show Masa a genuine smile, to put him at ease. “So you’re a little boss now, Masa. How’s business?” I speak in Japanese, even though Masa’s English is as good as mine, accent and all. It should be. We were taught by the same American whores.  
    It’s probably why they’ve sent him over to work in