Episode 15
Japanese Castle San Jose
The steady rhythm of footsteps echoed through the narrow hallway, growing louder. The dim light from the lanterns lining the walls flickered, casting long shadows on the wooden floors. They led to the Karate room, a sacred space within the castle, where the scent of ancient wood and sweat lingered in the air. Inside, the sound of swift, practiced movements filled the silence as an elderly man, Rezaki, stood poised in his stance, his bodyguard at attention beside him. His movements were slow but precise, each strike in the air a testament to years of training and mastery.
From behind him, a voice broke the rhythm of the practice. "Rezaki, let me."
Nathan's voice cut through the stillness, calm but with a hint of urgency.
Rezaki paused, one arm raised in mid-air, and turned slowly, eyes narrowing slightly as he regarded the younger man. "Have you done what Mark failed to do?" he asked, his voice a low rasp, almost lost in the resonant silence.
The entire room seemed to freeze, the stillness heavy, as the faint sound of a koto played from a distant room, its strings plucked with delicate precision. The music wrapped around them, a strange contrast to the silence that hung thick in the air.
Nathan swallowed, his fingers twitching at his side as he looked down, avoiding the old man's piercing gaze. "No," he replied quietly. "Ethan is smart. He knows what he's doing. He marked my location... that's why I didn't kill him. But I gave him the worst blow of his life."
Rezaki's breath hitched ever so slightly as he processed Nathan's words. He stared at Nathan with unwavering eyes, as if measuring the weight of the excuse. The silence stretched.
With a sigh, Rezaki reached into his pocket, pulling out a crumpled photograph. The image was of Ethan and Julian, their faces inches apart, locked in a kiss inside a car. The picture fluttered in the air as Rezaki dropped it onto the wooden table with a dismissive flick of his wrist. The faintest hint of a smile crept up on his lips.
"Are you able to get this done?" Rezaki asked, his voice calm, but laced with a quiet fury.
Nathan's hand clenched into a fist, and he quickly nodded. "Of course, Rezaki."
The old man raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced. Without another word, he pulled a lighter from his pocket and flicked it open. The flame caught quickly as he set the photograph alight.
Nathan watched, his throat tightening. "Nathan," Rezaki's voice was low, commanding.
Nathan stepped forward, though every inch of his body screamed for him to back away. Fear clawed at his chest. He could feel the heat from the flame, but it was nothing compared to the intensity in the old man's eyes.
"Yes, boss?" Nathan's voice faltered slightly.
"Come closer."
Nathan hesitated, but the words seemed to command him. He took a reluctant step forward, but before he could take another, Rezaki struck.
A wild, unexpected punch slammed into his stomach, knocking the breath out of him. Nathan staggered back, his eyes wide with shock, his mouth opening to say something, but no words came out.
"Don't you dare show up here again without killing Ethan," Rezaki growled, his voice cold as ice.
Nathan struggled to regain his composure, his chest heaving with each breath. He looked up at the old man, determination warring with fear in his eyes.
"I... I will," he gasped, his voice barely audible.
"Now get out of my sight."
Nathan stumbled backward, scrambling for the door, his mind racing. He was too shaken to form a coherent thought as he fled the room, leaving behind a trail of uncertainty.
As the door slammed shut, Rezaki turned to one of his men, a silent figure standing in the corner of the room.
"Roz."
The man stepped forward without hesitation, his posture rigid.
"Yes, boss?"
"The Montenegros will stop at nothing until they cover Virginia City. It's time to end the Cruise." Rezaki's eyes narrowed as he looked over at Roz, handing him a long, thin sword. "I want you to kill Ethan if Nathan fails the mission."
Roz took the sword, his face expressionless, but his eyes gleamed with cold readiness.
"At your service, boss," he replied, bowing slightly before exiting the room without another word.
---
Back in Virginia, Ethan's eyes were glued to the letter Rose had left behind before her tragic end. The paper felt cold in his hands, as if it had absorbed the weight of her loss. Every word seemed to burn in his mind, and the more he read, the more the pieces of the puzzle seemed to slip further out of his grasp. His fingers trembled as he reached for the edge of the desk, his heart heavy with unanswered questions.
Suddenly, a loud knock on the door startled him. Ethan quickly stuffed the papers back into the cupboard, his mind racing.
The door creaked open, and Julian stepped in, her eyes immediately narrowing in suspicion. "Ethan, what are you doing in Dad's room?"
Ethan stiffened, his pulse quickening. "Ah, nothing," he stammered, forcing a smile. "Just… uh… checking some things."
Julian's gaze softened but remained questioning. "I know you, Ethan. You're always finding a way to dig deeper into things. I don't know if that's a good idea."
Ethan moved closer, his face serious, yet his hands reached for her, pulling her gently towards him. His lips brushed against hers, and Julian's eyes widened in surprise before she gave in, her arms wrapping around him.
The kiss was tender at first, the world outside the room seeming to fall away. For a moment, nothing mattered but the warmth between them, the connection that had grown deeper than either of them expected.
But just as the moment deepened, the door swung open again.
Maxwell stood in the doorway, his face drawn and tired, a mixture of frustration and worry in his eyes.
"Ethan. Julian." His voice was low but filled with authority. "Dad's sick. I thought you two were supposed to be concerned, but no. You're concerned about yourselves. Dad's out there, fighting for his life."
The weight of his words hung in the air as both Ethan and Julian fell silent, their faces betraying a mix of guilt and unease. Maxwell's eyes briefly flicked between them, lingering on Ethan, but the younger man didn't respond. His face remained unreadable, as if the weight of the situation didn't quite reach him.
Maxwell didn't wait for a response. He turned sharply and walked out, leaving the room colder than before.
Julian bit her lip, glancing at Ethan.
But Ethan didn't respond. His eyes, cold and distant with no sign of guilt.
She moved closer, her voice hesitant. "Ethan... are you alright? You haven't said anything."
His hand clenched the arm of the chair as he rose to his feet. His eyes, once calm, now had a wild edge to them. He looked at her, his expression unreadable, yet there was something dark in his gaze.
" Ethan you…" Julian's breath caught in her throat, her eyes wide with disbelief.
Ethan's gaze turned cold. "What? Are you surprised?"
Julian took a step back, her legs giving way beneath her. She collapsed to the ground, her eyes staring at him, unable to find her voice. There was nothing but bewilderment in her face as she tried to understand the person she thought she knew.