Wheels of Steel Book 4 (17 page)

“No!” Hideo screamed. “Help!”

Y kicked him in the ass. “Quiet, I said!” He snapped and Hideo began to blubber as Y half dragged him inside. When the door was closed behind them Hideo scampered away, looking around at the old, unused machinery and catwalk. It was obvious that the warehouse was no longer in use but it was still noisy. One large piece of machinery was running, making a terrible grinding noise.

When Hideo realized that the noisy machine was a meat grinder he screamed again in earnest. Yagano was upon him in a few short steps and he raised his fist and brought it down fiercely against Hideo’s face.

“Stop your blubbering.” Yagano reached into his pocket for a switchblade, which he opened with a flick of his wrist. He pressed the tip of the blade against the whimpering man’s neck. “Now strip.”

“What?” Hideo asked. “But why-?”

Yagano’s eyes narrowed as he glared at Hideo. “Because dog’s don’t need cotton polyester blend in their food.”

Hideo’s eyes bulged. “Please, I wasn’t trying to hurt you. It had nothing to do with you! It was just about making money and getting more artists!”

Y paused. “Keep talking.”

Tears were streaming down Hideo’s face. He was old and no match for Yagano who was nearly half his age. He would spill his guts if he could get away from this deadly encounter.

“I just wanted to make sure the label had artists. That’s all. James mentioned that Wheels of Steel and Hidalgo had unreleased music and I told him that we could get it and sign Wheels of Steel and take care of both needs. If we could get the girl it would be a packaged deal.

”But they wouldn’t sign. They know Akita’s music will make them rich and famous even without us!”

When Hideo saw that he now had Yagano’s attention he placed his hands together while on his knees and begged.

“Give me a reason not to kill you—and your begging isn’t it. So you went to my uncle so that he could have me help you?”

Hideo shook his head adamantly. “No! No. Not your uncle but Riyu!”

Yagano frowned. Riyu … his father’s son was involved in this? But why? How would any of this benefit Riyu?

“Riyu came to me right after the accident. He wanted to know the terms of Akita’s will. So I told him about the shares in the company. When he heard that you were getting more shares he went wild!”

Yagano’s teeth clenched as he listened.

“He knew that the label was going to get bigger now that Akita was gone. And he said he wanted in and for you to be out.”

Yagano swallowed back the curse that he was about to shout. “Go on,” he said while giving the cowering man a brief shake.

“We talked about how important the label could be if only we had the music and the artists. It was Riyu’s idea to go to your uncle.”

Yagano’s stomach felt like it was about to cave in. Why would his uncle help Riyu?

“I swear to you that I had nothing to do with going to your uncle and I didn’t approach Riyu. He was the one that came to me!”

Yagano slapped him again, but not as hard as he could have. “You were plotting against me! It doesn’t matter who went to whom! And stop with the begging, I won’t be killing you—at least not today.” He closed his switchblade and pocketed it.

“Thank you! Thank you, Yagano!”

Yagano released him and took a step back when Hideo tried to kiss his shoes. There was nothing more disgusting to him than a weak and cowering man.

“Don’t think just because I’m not going to turn you into dog food that things between us are good. I will leave you with two choices. You may perform
yubitsume
.” Hideo gasped and placed his hands behind his back. “Or you may leave Akita Tom Productions and never return. You have twenty-four hours to decide. I will expect your package or your resignation in my office by this time tomorrow.”

Hideo’s eyes were now rolling in his head in fear.

“And Hideo, if I don’t receive notification then one of my associates will place you in that grinder,” Y stated while gesturing behind him to the noisy piece of machinery.

“Also, if you’re even fantasizing about putting a hit on me, you’re only going to piss off my father.”

Hideo pressed his hands together and shook his head in denial that he had been thinking any such thoughts.

Not being a complete asshole, Yagano drove him back to the garage where his car was parked. The bloody, bruised man with a tear streaked face climbed into his car and sat there crying for a full half an hour after Yagano had left.

Amberly turned in bed sleepily when Y climbed in beside her. She snuggled against him still half asleep.

“Honey, it’s so late. Was the meeting with your uncle awful?”

Y kissed her and held her in his arms. “Not so much. Go back to sleep.” He stroked her hair and kissed her temple.

“I worry about you, honey. Please don’t come home knifed or something,” she muttered sleepily.

Y smiled. “I’ll try not to.”

The next morning Y was checking the messages—most of which were for Sweetheart of Wheels of Steel, when he scowled in confusion.

Two messages were from artists that had heard her hook for Love’s End and wanted her to record a hook for them. The third was from Jerry Flynn of the Bushido Code wanting to know if she’d given his offer any thought.

He shook his head in confusion. What had he missed yesterday? Something had definitely gone down and it better not have messed up what he needed to do for the Yakuza.

Y cursed again about the plight he’d found himself in. He was friends with Wheels of Steel but that didn’t mean that he could expect them to change the course of their lives just because his uncle had made demands on him.

He found Robin just coming down the stairs. Her eyes were on her cellphone where she was checking her messages.

“Morning Y,” she said happily.

“Good morning, Robin. You have some messages. Several people are trying to get in touch with you to sing on their recordings-“

She laughed. “More? I have like seven messages already!” She reached the bottom of the stairs and Y could see that her eyes were alight with excitement. “I can’t believe it! Jason just put the word out that I would be willing to sing hooks and lay down lyrics on tracks. I did not expect things to happen so fast.”

Y hid his concern. He handed her the messages. “And what about the label deal?”

Robin shook her head. “No, I don’t think that’s for me, at least not now. I still want to be free to pursue physical therapy for children.”

Y’s brow drew together. “And you don’t think you can sign with the label and pursue both?”

“Well if I stay unsigned, I can work around my schooling.”

“Come on, lets get some breakfast,” he said and they headed for the kitchen. “Contracts are going to be involved no matter what you do. And you can negotiate with the label so that your needs are met.”

Robin blinked at him and smiled. “That’s right! You’re a shareholder. Maybe I can talk to you about some of my concerns? We can’t seem to get in touch with James or Hideo.”

“Sure, you can talk to me about it.” He said. “Do you know what Jason and Peter’s plans are for Wheels of Steel?”

Robin nodded. “They want to sign.” Y nearly sighed in relief. “Peter’s dad made changes to the original contract so that Wheels of Steel gets to keep ownership of all music made prior to this contract, especially Akita’s last song.”

Y froze and then he ran his hand through his hair but turned to hide his reaction to that unfortunate news. “What do you want for breakfast, Robin?”

“Those soybean things you eat sound good.”

“Natto and eggs coming up.” Y got the rice from the steamer that Amberly had started earlier and Robin busied herself with getting the water heated for the tea and retrieving plates for them. Jason and Peter had already gone to Tokyo to work on the finishing touches for the recording and Belinda and Amberly had gone in with them so that they could work on video production. It left Robin home but she needed to catch up on laundry and if she could find the products she wanted to relax her hair.

Also, even though she said she wouldn’t spend too much money, Robin intended to ask Y to drop her off at the bus station so that she could travel into Tokyo to shop and then she would hitch a ride back with the rest of the gang.

Y moved to the refrigerator for eggs and he and Robin crashed into each other. She nearly dropped the glass container of tea-leaves and they ended up juggling the items in their hands and then laughing when they bypassed a messy accident.

She sat down to get out of his way and then rested her head on her palm and watched him moving about the kitchen as he efficiently made breakfast of rice, natto—the fermented soybean and eggs. Sometimes he also had fruit and miso soup and sometimes there was just cereal. But Robin had long ago stopped thinking it was polite to cook her own meals when they were already going to do it for themselves.

She had to learn that in Japan it was just a matter of politeness for a host to make sure their guest’s needs were met. In these last two weeks Robin had not only gained an appreciation for the Japanese culture but had discovered a new friend in Yagano.

“So do you really think the label would give me enough freedom to stay in school?”

Y had just been pondering how to turn the conversation back around to Akita Tom’s music when Robin asked the question. He had an idea on how he could get his goals met.

“Robin, I can assure you that if you sign with Akita Tom Productions, not only will you have the freedom to finish school but we will help pay for it.”

“What?” Robin exclaimed. “Really?”

Y gave her a crooked smile. “Of course Robin. Let me take a look at the contracts that Peter’s dad prepared for you and I’ll see what I can do for Wheels of Steel as well.”

Robin squealed happily. “Y! You are the best!”

“I do what I can,” he said with a smile that he didn’t really feel.

Y offered to take Robin to the mall if she helped him do the grocery shopping. In that way they spent the day together.

“You know, all of this would be a tax write-off for you if you were signed with the label.” Y said nonchalantly as he watched Robin checking the price tags on some of the clothes that interested her.

“A tax write-off?”

“Sure, and not just that. By signing with the label you’d get an agent, a management company, a stylist, body guards and access to places and events that the normal person couldn’t even dream about.”

“Are you for real?”

Y shrugged. “I assume so. That’s what the label did for Akita. Why wouldn’t they do the same for any artists that signs under them?” He gave her a winning grin. “And if it’s not in the contract I’d negotiate for it.”

Robin returned his smile. “You’re making the label deal sound sweet.” If she could put the things into the contract that she really wanted then signing was a no brainer.

She looked at the price tag of a blouse that interested her and sighed in distress. “Jeez this place is expensive. How much is thirty-six thousand yen?”

“That is roughly three hundred American dollars.”

Her eyes bugged. “Just for a friggin’ shirt?”

“Come on, I’ll take you to the Bazaar.” He flicked the shirt’s material. “You can get this kind of thing when you’re back in the States. The items available at the Bazaar are unique to Asia.”

Robin was all for that idea. “Thanks for hanging with me.” She said. “And for helping me to understand about the label. But I feel like I’m taking you away from your real work.”

“Technically I’m on vacation. I took a few days so that I could help out with the funeral and making sure you guys were comfortable.”

“Well you can go back to work Y. We pretty much know the score by now. As long as I know how to buy a subway ticket to and from Tokyo then I’m good.”

He smiled. “It’s not a problem, Robin. I don’t work a desk job anyways. I was basically the go-to man for Akita and the company.”

“But you also have other … jobs.” Robin said discreetly. She remembered him reminding her that Akita Tom was not the only job that he had with the Yakuza.

He looked at her seriously. “Oh no worries. I get that work done.”

“Good. I don’t want you to get into trouble on our account.”

Y remained silent as he scanned a display of Asian tea sets.

“Why do you think Jason and Peter are so reluctant to allow the label to release Akita’s last song?” He asked.

Robin shrugged. “Hidalgo thinks that the money from the song will go to the label instead of to Wheels of Steel.” Robin was testing the quality of the fabric of a colorful Kimono. She met Y’s eyes. “But truthfully I don’t think Jason cares about the money. He never cares about the money. I guess he can afford not to since he’s never had to struggle with being broke.

“But the real deal is that they don’t want to compromise the integrity of the music. I guess they think that if the label gets hold of it, they will chop it up and try to sell it under as many albums as possible.”

Y thought about that. It was probably the truth—it was the most lucrative thing to do. But Y had loved Akita Tom even more than Jason and Peter and that was the last thing he would want as well.

“Well Jason and Peter will have to distribute the song. They should consider allowing the label to negotiate the distribution and marketing. That way they can keep the music and just pay the label to do those things.”

Robin shrugged and nodded. “Jason says they know how to distribute but just not on a large scale and they don’t have marketing—other than whatever your wife and Belinda do for them.”

Y smiled. He’d set the hook.

“I’ll talk to Jason and Peter about it.” Y said casually. “James and Hideo are probably busy with their other affairs.” He smirked. They were keeping a low profile. Good.

When they returned to the house Robin went upstairs to get the contracts that Jason had shown her the day before. Y went into the office where there was a package sitting on his—formerly Akita’s desk.

He sat down and tore open the thick manila envelope already knowing what the contents contained. A white handkerchief was inside. He pulled it out and noted that it had a small dot of blood staining the otherwise pristine material.

Y unfolded the handkerchief, uncovering the pale tip of a finger. His lip twisted. It figured that Hideo would choose the money option vs. retaining a digit option.

The door to the office opened and Robin bounded in with the contracts in hand.

Y swiftly covered the fingertip with the handkerchief, palming it before slipping it into the center desk drawer.

He smiled and reached for the contracts. “I’ll take a look at these and let you know what I think shortly. Maybe we can have this all settled by the end of the day.”

“That would be great and then we can get back to America and get out of your hair.”

“I rather like you in my hair, Robin.” He winked and she giggled and left him to his business.

As Robin went upstairs to do her hair she thought it was probably shameful to recognize how totally gorgeous Y was. Amberly had made a great catch.

Jason called a few hours later and he sounded exhausted.

“Everything okay, honey?” She asked while checking the time. It was nearly eight o’clock and he and Peter were usually back at the house by now.

“Yes, sorry babe we needed to redo two of the tracks and we ran late. Look, we want to just stay in Tokyo so that we can get started bright and early in the morning. Belinda and Amberly are planning to do the same—if it’s okay.”

He seemed worried and Robin assured him that she had no problem with it. They spent too many hours on the road travelling back and forth to Tokyo. He’d already seen his doctor three times since being in Japan and that along with working in the studio was enough to exhaust anyone.

“Don’t worry about it, babe. Y took me to the mall and then we did the grocery shopping. Also, I let him look at the contracts. He thinks he might have some input on getting us the best deal possible.”

“Really? That’s great—I didn’t realize Y had any say. Look babe, I’m sorry but we’re getting ready to check-in and I’m exhausted. Talk to you in the morning?”

“Yes, baby. You sleep well. I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

A few minutes later there was a knock on her bedroom door.

“Come in,” she said.

Y poked his head into the room. “Amberly just called to say that they were going to be staying in Tokyo.”

“Yeah, Jason just called me.”

“Okay. Well I need to leave for a few hours.” Robin gave him a wide-eyed look.