[Thomas Caine #1] Tokyo Black Read Online Free

the loud beats of dance music overrode all other sound. The bass washed over his body like an ocean wave, penetrating him to the core, shaking his bowels and organs. Mark stood motionless in the corner next to the door, waiting in the darkness.
    He didn’t flinch when the door opened, even though he could neither hear nor see anyone approach. Two shadowy figures appeared: Kandi and Lau. Should have paid more for the lap dance, you cheap bastard!
    Mark let Lau walk past him before emerging from his corner. He slid his body between the short, pudgy man and Kandi. Before either Lau or the dancer could react, Mark lifted his right foot and stomped down hard on the inside of Lau’s knee. With a surprised grunt, Lau lurched forward and tripped. He landed face first on the plush velvet couch that dominated the room.
    “Take a seat, partner.”
     Mark kept his back neutral, not wanting to give Kandi an opportunity to betray him. He turned and saw that the petite brunette in purple lingerie hadn’t even entered the room. Mark held up a wad of bills. “Thank you,” he said. There was no warmth in his voice.
    Kandi blinked as a barrage of green lasers flashed over their faces through the open door. She took one look at Mark’s cold, hard eyes, grabbed the money, and hurried off. He swung back to face Lau.
    He shut the door to the room, muting the music outside. Lau gasped and groaned as he pulled himself up to a seated position on the couch. Mark pulled aside a curtain, letting a crack of light into the room. When Lau saw his face, the look of confused anger melted away, replaced by an almost supernatural calm.
    “Waters. I knew you come looking for me.”
    “I was worried about you, friend. Had a little run-in with the Royal Police this morning. Figured if they were after me, they might come looking for you.” Mark gestured with his hands, and looked around the room. “But, obviously you’re not too concerned. Not enough to stop chasing underage tail, anyway.”
    Lau spat on the floor in front of Mark. “You still don’t get it, stupid farrang! I not your friend. I was your partner. I with you to make money!”
    Mark lurched forward and grabbed Lau by the lapels of his colorful shirt.
    “We were making money, you stupid bastard! What the hell did you do?”
    Lau glared at him. “We making peanuts. You wasting my time. You too scared to take the next step, so I take it for you!”
    Mark slammed his fist into Lau’s gut and dropped the coughing, sputtering man to the ground.
    “Why are the Royal Police all over this? Why are they so worked up over a bunch of counterfeit purses and designer jeans?”
    Lau wiped his mouth with his arm and glared up at Mark.
    “Not jeans, asshole. Not this time. Something bigger. Your bribe too small now. You no longer protected.”
    Mark took a step towards Lau’s prostrate body. He kept his voice low, but even with the thumping music outside, his words cut through the room like a blade of ice.
    “Drugs?”
    Lau laughed, a short, pained bark, and propped himself up to a sitting position on the floor.
    “Not drugs. Guns.”
    Does it matter? Mark wondered. He knew both charges carried the death penalty.
    “How did the police find them?”
    Lau shrugged. “I tell them, of course. I change the shipment. I inform Chief Battang of the new arrangement. He get to make big arrest for gun smuggling.  Now that you out of picture, he get bigger cut for future shipments.”
    Mark stared at the man in shock. “You told him? You burned an entire shipment of guns just to sell me out?”
    “Could have burned two … three, fuck it! Money well spent. You think too small. We have the contacts; we have boat. The police are in our pocket. We making pennies when we could have big score! Drugs, guns, women! This my operation now. Consider this your retirement!”
    In the space of a heartbeat, between the pulses of laser light, Mark’s anger burned into white-hot fury. His mouth twisted in a silent