Mafia Queen

Kenji

Teela's POV

Over the next few months, we continue to bait our trap. With our encouragement, some of the gang members infiltrate Kenji's operations and gain a little trust. A week after his sister turned eighteen, we sprung our trap.

The blindfold comes off, and I blink at the sudden light. Kenji sits across from me with a smirk on his face.

"Well, well. It seems like you want to say something, eh?" he sneers.

I try and talk through the gag but it hinders my words.

I see his smirk widen, he has dimples. He stands and walks towards me, leaning down to whisper in my ear, breath tickling my skin. "Oh, I know exactly who you are. You're the b***h who took out most of my men."

He straightened up and walked behind me, removing the gag. "You've caused me a lot of trouble," his eyes burning with intense hatred. "And now, you're mine."

"Good," I say, definitely.

Kenji chuckles darkly, running his fingers through his hair, "Oh, you think this is funny?" He grabs my chin roughly, forcing me to look at him. "You're in no position to be making jokes. I've got you tied up, remember?" Tightening his grip slightly. "And I can do whatever I want to you." He runs his hand down my neck, stopping to cup my breast. His eyes snap back to mine, "So, no more smart comments," he leans in closer, licking my ear. "Okay?"

"I look straight ahead, not even looking at him. "Do your worst. I'm not afraid."

I hear him laugh, he appears amused by my defiance. He starts to circle me like I'm some kind of prey. "Oh, you're not afraid? We'll se about that. So let's hear what the big bad Mafia Queen has to say. What's going through that reckless head of yours?" He leans against the wall with his arms crossed.

"None of you deserve to live!" I spit at him.

My words unnerved him. I saw a flicker of it before he put the cold mask back on. "You're a cold one, aren't you?" His voice drops dangerous and low. "So, you think you're better than all of us? What are you some kind of hero?" Pushing off the wall, he walks back over to me. "You're just another player in this game. And now, you are at my mercy." His voice drops, "And I don't show mercy."

"I don't recall asking for it. And are you so sure you are the one in charge here?" I reply, my own smirk on my face.

I watched his face go through a range of emotions, it settled into irritation. "Oh, you think you're still in control?" his laugh comes out harshly. "You're tied up, at my mercy. I decide what happens next," his smile falters, "Unless you are trying to provoke me?"

I scoff, "I let you catch me."

His eyebrows shot up, clearly intrigued by my revelation. "You let me catch you? Why would you want to be caught? What's your game? Tell me quickly."

"How else was I supposed to get in? Oh, and whoever tied me up sucks. The most timid of my group could have done a better job. I'm already out of their knots."

"He watches as a drop the ropes to the floor. A bitter smirk crosses his face. "So, you broke free. Impressive. However, you are still in my territory. Though I will agree with you, my men aren't exactly experts at restraints," he looks at me still sitting in the chair not making a move, "So, now that you're free. What's your next move, hero?"

I stare at him with cold eyes, "A good card player never reveals their hand too soon."

He smiles coolly and calculated, "A gambler, I like that. But you are playing against the house. And the house always wins." He leans in and whispers in my ear, "Let's see how long you can last before I get your secrets out of you. Remember I have witnessed your live feeds showing how strong a group of women is. I know your tactics."

"Don't hold your, wait, on second thought, hold your breath. It will make this a lot easier."

His laugh was dangerous and low. Had I been any of our more timid members, it may have scared me. But based on what he is doing, he has no clue who he is messing with.

When he spoke, there was a hint of sarcasm in his voice. "Oh, you're a real piece of work. Fine, I'll play your game. But remember, I'm not known for my patience."

I lowered my head, making him believe he had won. When I looked up, I had a cold glint in my eyes. "I told you. You are not the one in charge here."

His smirk fades and he looks clearly irritated. He steps closer, trying to appear intimidating. I know all the tactics, I've used them myself. His voice drops, and he looks at me darkly. "You think you're running this show? You are in my house, and this is a very dangerous game you have just started playing." He leans in closer, "Watch yourself, you are still at my mercy. And with your current attitude, I'm not feeling very merciful at the moment." He straitens and moves to the window.

I didn't answer him, just stared at him with the same cold, dark eyes I had fixed on him from the start.

He exhales sharply through his nose, and clenches his jaw. "You're enjoying this, aren't you? You think you are so clever. I told you, I've watched how you work. I know how to break you."

"Many have tried, all have failed."

He stomps over to me and leans down, so our noses are almost touching. "Who the f**k do you actually think you are?"

"Your worst nightmare," I say evenly.

His eyebrows shot up, "My worst nightmare, what do you know about my nightmares? I've faced worse than you. But something about you has interested me. Everyone I deal with fears me. You look at me like I am a bug you want to squash. Why should I be afraid of you?"

"Because I can do the one thing no one else can."

He looks at me intrigued, "And what is that? What is this all-powerful thing that only the famed, self-proclaimed Mafia Queen can do?"

"Make you insignificant."

His eyes widened as he processed what I just said. He grabs my arm, a sharp pain shoots through it. "You think you can make me insignificant? I'm Kenji, the head of the Kuroda Clan. Everyone in this city fears me."

"Everyone but me, it would seem, and the members of the Royal Court. We fear no one. The people of this city are told to fear. Like little sheep, they follow what they are told. If they knew the truth, you would lose all your power."

"And what truth is that?" he sneers, tightening his grip on my arm. "That I am just a man? That won't be enough to bring me down, and you know it. This empire was built by all the men before me. Not even a million women could tare it down."

I have him right where I want him. I smiled an even colder smile and leaned closer to him. "I have more pull in this town than you do. If I'm not afraid of you, no one will be."

I see it in his eyes, he wants to laugh, but he thinks back to the other men on the council. How they all went missing and were found dead. It was blamed on the local gangs. But I could see he was trying to connect the dots. When realization hits, he looks at me darkly, "What do you plan to do to me?"

"Oh, my plan is already in motion. I sent my homing signal the second your guys grabbed me. Oh, and by the way, those weren't your guys. They were plants from the gangs loyal to the court. We needed to know where your base of operation was. You're smart enough not to tell everyone. This was the only way."

He had the audacity to look shocked, "Signal? You're telling me that you let yourself be caught just to find my hideout?"

"Once this game started, it had to be finished. You are the last piece that had to fall."

He lets go of me and stumbles backward. "You're bluffing,"

He runs to the door. Yanking it open, he calls out for someone to check the streets. Just like a man. Too stupid to figure out that he's already lost.

He comes back to stand in front of me, "You're going to regret this, this is the last thing you will ever do."

I smiled up at him. "I don't think so. They are already here. By the number of targets on you, I'd say it's our three best marksmen. Or should I say marks women?"

Kenji looks down at his chest and sees the unmistakable lights for a target scope. "Snipers," he sneers. "So you have this place surrounded."

"Give up, we can do this quickly. Keep this going, and we can make this last ten times longer."

"I'd rather die than submit to someone like you," he spat at me.

"Then your wish is my command," I say.

He only sees me nod and then shots ring out. Three rounds hit him square in the chest. His shirt starts to turn red from the blood. When he speaks, his words are grabbled. They hit his chest but in spots that would make him bleed out, not kill him instantly.

"You're a real bastard, you know that? You think you won? You've just prolonged the inevitable. Someone will take my place. They will come for you. And when they do, I hope you suffer a long time before they kill you."

"Funny thing about that, I keep telling you. You are the last, there will be no one else to try and take us down."

"So it was all of you. You all had a hand in killing your own brothers. My sister has no interest in this life, killing me does you no good. At least I die with that comfort."

"Before you take your last breath, know that I take great pleasure in your death. I have been waiting for this for a long time."

"Go to hell," he sneers, still a little fight in him.

"You first," I fired back.

His breathing becomes more ragged and I know it's coming. This death was far too quick, but we didn't have time to play. We need to get the last sister in the seat before the end of the year. I would be able to talk her into stepping up, when I find her.

"You're a monster, someone will avenge me. Someone will always come," he takes in one last shaky breath, "You won't win."

He falls limp and I stare at his still form. "Another one bites the dust," I say triumphantly.

I hear the sounds of our people moving in, taking down his men. I only stare at this man. Of all the brothers, he was the only one who had been a worthy advisory for the court. I feel a shift in the energy in the room and smile, someone is here. I would bet my life on who it is if I didn't need that intact.

"I know you are there. Show yourself. If you think you can kill me, good luck. Not only am I bulletproof, but I've drunk every kind of poison and been bitten by every poisonous snake. I've walked through fire without being burned. There is nothing you can do to me."

A figure steps out of the shadows, I turn to face them and smile. I was right.