God of Mischief (Light of Obsession #2)

Chapter 16

Yuto

I got the confirmation I needed, Amelie really is the one from back then. She was the little girl who was kidnapped.

Amelie has information on a threat to the Yakuza, she just doesn't know she has it. The things she saw back then are the key to finding that mans base.

I just need her to tell me what she saw, without coming off as suspicious.

It was supposed to be easy, get close to her and become friends to get information. Not become so fucking obsessed with her, all I can think of at any waking moment is her.

It's fine, because if my plan goes right, she'll tell me the information without ever knowing what it was used for.

I've even gone far enough to work with a guy in the Serpents; Theo. The fucking Serpents. That's how desperate I am for this.

I hate Theo, and Theo hates me. But we have a common goal, his family was wronged by the man I'm after, so we both want him dead.

I stared out of the rain-speckled window, the evening haze wrapping around the city like a shroud. Neon lights glowed vibrantly amidst the downpour, casting lurid reflections in puddles on the sidewalk below. It was a strange contrast to the turmoil churning inside me. Everything seemed so clear from a distance, yet so hopelessly tangled when I was deep in it. The weight of my obsession with Amelie pressed down on me like a lead vest, stifling me, binding me to a path I wasn't sure I wanted to take anymore.

I rubbed the back of my neck, feeling the tension knot there. I thought back to the very first day I'd met Amelie in person. She had worn a short dress, her hair cascading in waves, and her laughter bubbled like a melody that sang to his bones. The telltale signs of her trauma were there, subtle and haunting; a look, a stutter, the way her eyes darted around when too many voices converged. There was an innocence in her that felt sacred to me. Did I really want to use her as a pawn?

I shook my head, mentally scolding myself for my weakness as I turned towards the small, dimly lit table in the corner of my apartment. It was a makeshift sanctuary cluttered with files, photographs, and crumpled paper—a chaotic map of his plans and their unraveling. I swallowed hard; the clock was ticking.

The Serpents were a different breed—a ravenous vipers' nest filled with deceit and betrayal. Their allegiance was as slippery as the rain outside. I had fought against them before, taking down one of their low-level operations several months ago, and now I had to turn to one of their own for help. And the irony chafed against my resolve. I hadn't just learned to hate Theo; I had lived it. I had seen first-hand what the Serpents were capable of—their brutal tactics to instigate fear and exert control in the underground. Yet somehow, their goals aligned.

I checked the time again; it was almost time to meet the man. I grabbed my jacket and slipped on a pair of shoes, mentally revisiting every detail of his plan, keeping in mind to remain composed. There was no room for error—a single slip of the tongue could turn this into a game of chess where he was already down several pieces.

The rain intensified as he made his way through the slick streets, the smell of damp asphalt filling the air, mixing with the faint scent of fried food from nearby vendors. As I approached the old meeting place, a dingy bar that was more shadows than substance, my heart quickened. It was a haven and a hell—a spot where untrustworthy deals went down, where blood could be spilled if the wrong word was spoken.

Inside, the low murmur of voices mingled with the clinking of glasses. I spotted Theo immediately, leaning against the bar, clad in leather, an air of cocky nonchalance about him. My immediate instinct was to bristle at the sight of him. Theo was everything Yuto wanted to distance himself from: a fucking asshole.

"Yuto," Theo greeted 'e, his tone laden with feigned casualness. "You're looking a bit under the weather."

I narrowed my eyes. "Cut the crap, Theo. We both know why we're here."

Theo straightened, his smile fading just a notch, replaced by a calculating expression that peered into my very core. "You want information, and I want action. You think we can play this game without messing things up?"

"I'm not here to play games," I stated firmly. "I need the location of that man's base. You know, the one we talked about?"

I watched as Theo leaned back, weighing the implications with an exaggerated facade of calmness. "It's not that simple, you know. The Yakuza has its eyes everywhere, and walking blind into the lion's den isn't wise. You might be on your own out there."

"I have my own reasons," I insisted, focusing on regaining control of the conversation. "Amelie's involved. She's the key to getting what we need. Everything hinges on her."

At the mention of Amelie, there was a flicker of interest in Theo's eyes, mixed with contempt. "That girl? You really think she can help us? She's just a ghost haunted by her past."

"That ghost holds the key," I replied, feeling the urge to defend her stirring within him. "What she remembers could link us to the bastard who has been inflicting pain on both our families."

"Use her however you see fit. But like I said, tread carefully," Theo warned, leaning forward, lowering his voice so only I could hear. "She may not even know what she saw, let alone remember it. The mind plays cruel tricks, especially on those who suffered."

I clenched my jaw, forcing myself to stay calm as he contemplated the implications of Theo's words. I looked into the Serpent's eyes, searching for vulnerability, empathy, or even an ounce of understanding. Yet all I found was cold calculation.

"You're not the only one who has lost—"

"Don't give me that sob story," Theo cut me off sharply, standing tall and asserting his presence. "I lost people too, Yuto. We're all stained in one way or another. But we can't play the hero, or we'll all end up rotting in the ground. Keep your focus."

Running a hand through my hair, I released a breath I didn't realize I was holding. "Fine. I'll keep my head in the game. If we're both after this bastard, let's make it even. What do you want?"

Theo's lips curved into a knowing smirk, eyes glinting with mischief. "Simple. We find out where his base is, and we both get what we want. But be warned: the moment this goes south, I won't hesitate to pull out on you."

A shiver ran down my spine at that acknowledgment; I knew what Theo implied. Here they were, two men staked on revenge, each clinging to their own selfish desires while dancing on a precipice of mutual distrust. But deep down, I understood the stakes were higher than simply their vendetta; the life of innocent people hung in the balance.

"Deal," I nodded, locking eyes with Theo as they exchanged a knowing understanding—a shared desperation uniting us, albeit tenuously.

As we began to discuss the finer details of the plan, I couldn't shake the feeling that he was playing with fire. In the flames danced deep shadows of betrayal and greed, whispers of safeguard and ruin curling with the smoke, primed for a conflagration that might engulf us both. Would I protect Amelie at all costs? Or was I merely another player in the endless game of survival played on the streets of the city, like pieces on this dark chessboard where every move could spell disaster?

But the rain still poured outside, and I would need to embrace the storm if I wanted to protect her.

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A/N:
and there you have ittt! That's why Yuto approached Amelie at all.
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