Takeshi strolled into the bedroom, finishing the final button on his shirt. He stopped short as when he saw Mary, sleeping soundly. The deep frowns of heavy thought and plotting were smoothed and she looked peaceful for this bit of time. She almost looked as she did when they first met.
'So sweet and shy, but the fire was always there.' He mused as he nestled next to her, kissing her forehead and stroking her cheek. That initial meeting was branded into his mind and would stay there until the moment his life was over.
New York, Eight Years Ago
Takeshi's fingers ran through his mess of hair as he pulled it into a ponytail at the base of his neck. He sat at the bar of the Kitty Kat Club, alternating between checking his watch and tapping his fingers on the surface, noting how Rocco was la
