Chapter 68

Akio POV

"I would never!" I refute, giving rise to an emotion too strong to deny. "You talk of matters you don't know."

"I know more than you think," he counters. "You're loyal to Botan. Even a blind man can see that. But Haru's organization has thrived under the stewardship of Botan. Any threat to him is a threat to Haru but not all dangers are weapons and war."

My eyes cut back into him but I say nothing.

"I suspected… but with what you just said confirms what I didn't want to believe." The back of his head drops against the seat with his face inclined, his back slightly arching as a breath claws through him. "This isn't about betraying Botan. It's about exposing his only vulnerability. Haru knows about her I'm sure but—but," he stammers, stumbling over his pain. "I'm also sure he doesn't know how bad or how deep things are—which is the only reason Haru hasn't had her killed yet."