Chapter 10
The air at the harbor smelled like salt, oil, and rain.
Cargo cranes loomed over the dark water like silent giants, their long shadows stretching across the shipping containers.
Yumi Sato stepped out of the black SUV and looked around.
Something felt wrong.
Too quiet.
Too empty.
Beside her, one of the syndicate men checked his watch.
"This is the location," he said.
Yumi studied the docks carefully.
The shipment was supposed to arrive ten minutes ago.
But there were no trucks.
No workers.
No movement.
Just rows of metal containers and the distant sound of waves hitting the pier.
Her instincts screamed.
"This doesn't feel right," she said.
One of the men scoffed.
"You worry too much."
But Yumi's eyes were already scanning the rooftops and cranes.
Too many places to hide.
Too many shadows.
"Where's the rest of the escort team?" she asked.
"Delayed," another man replied.
That made her even more uneasy.
Then—
A loud gunshot cracked through the night.
One of the men beside her dropped instantly.
Blood splashed across the concrete.
"AMBUSH!" someone shouted.
Gunfire exploded from every direction.
Bullets slammed into the containers around them, sending sparks flying.
Yumi dove behind a stack of crates just as another shot whizzed past her head.
Her heart pounded.
This was planned.
Men wearing black masks rushed from behind the containers, firing automatic rifles.
Rival gang.
At least ten of them.
Maybe more.
One of the Yakuza guards fell beside her, clutching his chest.
"They knew we were coming," he gasped.
Yumi grabbed the fallen man's gun.
Her mind raced.
This wasn't random.
Someone had set this up.
Then the realization hit her like ice.
Keiko.
Yumi peeked around the crate and fired twice.
One of the attackers dropped.
Another ducked behind a container.
But the enemies kept coming.
"Fall back!" one of the Yakuza men shouted.
There was nowhere to fall back to.
They were surrounded.
A grenade rolled across the concrete.
"MOVE!" Yumi shouted.
The explosion shook the dock.
Smoke and debris filled the air.
Yumi coughed, stumbling out of the cloud.
Her ears rang.
Her vision blurred.
Through the haze, she saw one of the attackers aiming directly at her.
She raised her gun—
Click.
Empty.
Her stomach dropped.
The man smiled behind his mask.
And pulled the trigger.
Across the city…
Ryuji Takeda was in a meeting when his phone vibrated.
He glanced down at the message.
His expression changed instantly.
The room went silent.
Because everyone could feel the shift in the air.
Ryuji stood slowly.
"What is it, boss?" one of his men asked.
His voice was cold.
"The port mission."
"What about it?"
Ryuji's eyes darkened.
"There was no shipment scheduled tonight."
The room froze.
One of the captains frowned.
"Then why was Yumi sent there?"
Ryuji's gaze turned deadly.
"That…"
His voice dropped dangerously low.
"…is exactly what I'm about to find out."
—
Back at the port…
The masked attacker pulled the trigger.
But the gunshot that rang out wasn't his.
The man's eyes widened in shock.
A bullet tore through his shoulder, sending him crashing to the ground.
Heavy footsteps echoed across the dock.
The attackers suddenly froze.
Because everyone recognized the man walking through the smoke.
Ryuji Takeda.
He held a pistol loosely in one hand.
His expression was calm.
But his eyes…
Were terrifying.
Behind him, dozens of black vehicles screeched into the port.
Armed Yakuza soldiers poured out.
The rival gang immediately began to retreat.
But Ryuji didn't even look at them.
His gaze was fixed on one person.
Yumi.
She was standing in the middle of the chaos, breathing heavily, gun still raised even though it was empty.
Their eyes met across the dock.
For a moment neither of them spoke.
Then Ryuji walked toward her.
Slowly.
Dangerously calm.
"You look terrible," he said quietly.
Yumi blinked.
"You're late."
Something flickered across his face.
Relief.
Then anger.
A very controlled anger.
His hand suddenly reached out and grabbed her arm.
"You're injured."
"It's just a scratch."
But Ryuji wasn't listening.
His eyes were already scanning the battlefield.
Calculating.
Someone had set this trap.
Someone had tried to kill her.
And whoever it was…
Had just made a fatal mistake.
Because Ryuji Takeda was not a man who tolerated betrayal.
Especially not when it involved Yumi Sato.
And somewhere inside the city…
Keiko Nakamura had no idea the storm she had just unleashed.