The Boss [BxB Mafia AU] |✔

40. Invitations

Orenda (n.)
An internal summoning Of personal strength to change fate; the courage to love some one against the obstacles life had set before you

Tanaka went perfectly still as he digested this news, his breathing got even more shakier as he started at Donghae, who was fighting his own shock by revealing his true identity to an old man like Tanaka.

Finally he got up and went towards the door and gripped the handle tight, He knew Tanaka needed some time to pull himself together, but before he opened the door, Donghae looked back at the old man crouched in the shadows

"Do me a favour and stay quiet, it's the only reason why you're still alive Tanaka" said Donghae, his voice carrying easily through the length of the room.

He saw Tanaka look up, at last  Donghae saw him give a small, shaky, grateful nod.

**************

Bright pearly orange sunlight that fell into the room from the French windows was steadily shifting it's hues towards a soft periwinkle twilight outside. Luca was restlessly pacing up and down Jake's room, often glancing at the gold edged envelope that was placed on top of the huge Mahogany work table.

Jake was also looking at it, deep in thought which did nothing to improve Luca's mood. Finally he took it into his hands and tore open the top, spilling the neatly folded paper on to the surface of the table

"The yearly Casino event" scoffed Jake, "they have the nerve to invite me again" he muttered with a smile as he read it calmly.

Luca stopped pacing around and snorted,

"they can't simply ignore you" he grunted sarcastically, "not after all the trouble 'your highness' does not fail to cause every God damned year!"

"it wasn't that much of a scandal last year" muttered Jake, although a slow smile was playing on his lips. Every year since he was 13, these envelopes bearing the invitations to the yearly Casino event at Osaka Bay kept reaching his table... And every year, Jake Maranzano was marked as the public enemy number one for causing any kind of an ultimate disaster... But the plus point was that they never failed to invite him every year despite the colossal loss of revenue for the Hotel.

"it's the chance for me to personally find about some stuff" said Jake studiously, "and get a nice rest too" he added afterthought.

"All the more reason you should NOT go like this without me!" grunted Luca, watching as Jake let the invitation slip from his fingers, onto to rich brown surface of the table. "last year you almost got shot, and lucky I was there with you!"

"I'll have Donghae with me and Falcons this time" said Jake in a quiet voice, "think about it Luca, we can find out about our guest's little hiding place, Takarazuka is not far from Osaka Bay"

"so you are going"

"I am going" said Jake simply

Luca huffed again, "it's dangerous Hyukjae, what if someone tries to attack you again? This thing about LaVerè can wait till you come back safely from Japan"

"No it can't Luca" said Jake with a note of finality in his voice, "whoever called me that day knows more about our family secrets, and I'm not even sure who the hell Ventura is!"

"you are paranoid" said Luca, "if he knows LaVerè, then he is clearly helping our side"

Jake looked doubtful at that, somehow the tiny part of his mind refused to trust anyone, especially an unknown stranger that knows how to tip him off just as Tanaka appeared... It had been clearly planned so well.. And it unnerved him.