Shadows of Regret

CHAPTER ONE

Ryujin Matsumoto

10 YEARS LATER...

In my world, power is one of the essential tool everyone craves for.

It's the force that drives men to betray their own blood, the thing that makes even the closest bonds expendable.

Power is the most potent weapon, a seductive force that corrupts and consumes. It's the one thing that everyone wants, yet so few can truly possess. Those who do will stop at nothing to keep it, and those who don't will do anything to take it. In this world, power isn't just a tool; it's the lifeblood that fuels everything.

My name is Ryujin Matsumoto, and I am one of the most powerful drug lords in Beverly Hills-and beyond. My reach extends to every corner of the globe, and my name is spoken in hushed tones, more feared than revered.

No one dares to cross me; they know the consequences of disobedience. The mere thought of challenging me sends shivers down the spines of even the bravest men.

But I wasn't always the boss, and it took me a years of blood, sweat, and ruthless ambition to rise to the top. Ten years of making my enemies cower, ensuring that no one even thinks about touching my shipments or stealing what belongs to me.

Ten years ago, before I became the man everyone fears, I was just another foot soldier in the shadows. I was out one night, unwinding at a club, when I met her.

Imani Williams.

She was the most beautiful woman I had ever laid eyes on, and for a few hours, she made me forget the darkness I was steeped in.

We had an incredible time together, something fleeting but unforgettable. I thought that was the end of it-just another night that would fade into memory. But a week later, she found me. She came to me with news that hit me like a freight train: she was pregnant.

I was stunned, completely unprepared for what she was telling me. When she asked, "What do you want us to do?" I panicked.

I lashed out, telling her harshly to do whatever she wanted, that I wasn't ready to be a father. Our conversation quickly escalated into a heated argument, emotions running high until I couldn't take it anymore. I walked out of the restaurant, got into my car, and drove until I was far away from everything.

The truth was, I couldn't tell her why I reacted the way I did. At that time, I was a member of the Silent Strikers, the most dangerous gang in the city.

My father was the boss, a man so ruthless that even the slightest mistake could be fatal. One of the gang's cardinal rules was to never get a woman pregnant. If my father had found out, he wouldn't have hesitated to kill me or the baby, no questions asked. It was a law as unbreakable as any in our world. But now, with him out of the picture and my grip on power unchallenged, those rules no longer apply.

And yet, no matter how far I've come, there's one thing I can't shake-her. The woman who has my heart, the one I can't stop thinking about. I make sure to find her, to see her again.

Because despite everything I've built, all the power I've amassed, she's the one thing I can't forget. And maybe, just maybe, she's the one who can remind me that there's more to life than power.