Gina Takes Bangkok (The Femme Vendettas) by S. M. Stelmack Read Free Book Online

abortionists. Old Khmer Rouge war criminals. She was drawn to whatever was twisted—and wrong.”
    Vincenzo noticed Gina squirm in her seat. She always did have a hard time with tales of ugliness. “And you’re telling me this why?”
    Jarun looked him square in the eye. “Because I know John Wakai. I’m not a member of any gang. Make my living as an independent enforcer. But I’m loyal to him, and I’m not going to betray him no matter what you do to me. His sister, though, that’s another story. I bet you anything she’s behind why John turned on his boss. Kill her and you’ll be doing everyone a favor.”
    From the blaze in the man’s eyes, he clearly believed what he said. Vincenzo glanced over at Kannon who stood off to one side with Ryota.
    “The phone message Wakai left for Jarun mentioned that a woman named Victoria botched up Tasanee’s kidnapping,” Kannon confirmed.
    Interesting. Vincenzo resumed his conversation. “And how close are Wakai and Victoria?”
    Jarun twisted his mouth in disgust. “Very close. That’s the problem. She’s had her hooks in him ever since their mother died. He feels responsible for her, and she uses that to manipulate and corrupt him. She’ll know where Mr. Montri is being kept. We can both save our friends.”
    “You’re asking me to forgive Wakai?”
    “Exile him,” Jarun proposed. “He’s in a wheelchair. A cripple. No friend in the world except me. Isn’t that enough punishment?”
    Hardly. It didn’t matter if he pardoned Wakai. His fate would be decided by another. “I can’t promise what Alak will do when he gets free, but tell us where to find Victoria and both you and Wakai will have my mercy, for what it’s worth. That’s the deal we can make. Take one step out of line....”
    “I accept, and I swear I’ll do everything I possibly can.” Jarun raised his hands high in a prayer pose and bowed to his waist. “Thank you, Mr. Zaffini.”
    Vincenzo’s fingers curled a little more tightly around the head of his cane. “Seeing as we’re now friends, I think we should start with you telling me a little bit about the man in my hold. Strange scars, filed teeth—I’d have thought that I would have heard of any gang like that. Especially one with the muscle to ambush Alak. Tell me what you know about them.”
    “When Victoria was a teenager she made friends with that man’s gang,” explained Jarun. “Back then, there were just a few of them in the slums, but their organization extends into the wilderness areas of Cambodia. For years she’s had ties to them, and it was their group that raised a small army to help Wakai. Came across the border to help him take Mr. Montri and kill his inner circle.”
    No wonder nobody had seen the plot coming. This was yet another invasion of ruthless foreigners into Bangkok, aided by the treachery of his friend’s most trusted strategist and advisor. Vincenzo suddenly felt tired. Had he and Alak accomplished nothing in life? Could it really all fall to ruin so easily? “And what was your part in the betrayal, Jarun?”
    “Nothing. It came from out of the blue. Like I said, John and I are close friends, but it was sudden, and I had no part of it. I swear to you I tried to talk him out of it.”
    Vincenzo knew in his gut that the man was telling the truth. In this business, however, you’d been a fool to say it. “I’m not certain you’re as innocent as you claim, Jarun, though in the end I don’t suppose it makes a difference. We have a deal, and I think we’re done here. At least for now.”
    Ryota escorted Jarun out, and Kannon made to follow them. Oh, no. Vincenzo wasn’t quite finished with Alak’s man. “Kannon, a word. What did you think of my daughter’s handling of Jarun?”
    Kannon didn’t pull punches. “I think he’ll either flee or betray us the moment he gets a chance.”
    Gina made an indignant squeak. “And go where? There’s nowhere in the city he could hide from us, and you think