And with movements that were not wholly his own, he kicked off the ground and burst through the wall to left, creating an escape route for his pack as he turned and yelled for everyone to follow him.

They found themselves in a wide boardroom, with a large table surrounded by very comfortable looking brown faux leather chairs. The room looked out over the city through broad glass walls. From this height, the city of Los Angeles spread out below them with the few tall towers of the city clustered around this one.

William picked up the table and as the group flooded into the room from the hole he had made in the wall, he shoved the table against the hole, barricading it as best he could.

"Well, that might hold for a minute or two. Now what?" Malik asked.

"The doors," Charles pointed out, "might be our only option."

Amanda was already moving towards the large double doors at the end of the room. She pulled open the dark brown doors and was met with a solid wall of steel. She turned around and shrugged her shoulders, "I don't think we'll be getting out that way."

As if in answer, gunfire started tearing through the walls of the boardroom. The werewolves dove to the ground and pressed themselves against the walls of the boardroom, as bullets ripped through plaster, concrete and glass.

Simon trudged through the sewers under the city.

He had a rough map of the sewer system and had gotten them lost at least twice in this ruined, done and redone sewer system of greater L.A. How did anyone find anything down here?

He found himself thinking back to the events that had led him to this position and this place, at this time of day. He should be sleeping, he should be in another country, he should be anywhere other than here. But the death of his friend, Alessandro, demanded justice. He knew he needed help doing so, so he allied himself with a rival House to bring down House Dukart, this was going to paint a target on his back with the Duces, which was as good of a death sentence as any vampire could ask for. If they want me so bad, they can come down here and get me.

It had taken a lot of work and considerable risk to his people to get where they were now, especially considering that Silvia had almost fallen completely under that idiot Seth's compulsion. It was a risk that he would rather have not had to put her through, but she had insisted. Her strength, and age over Seth had given her the advantage that she had needed. Still, The Dukart House ability of compulsion is formidable and House Ghatti's gifts gave her little protection from it, all she had was her own experience and tenacity to protect her, this time at least, it had been enough.

The meeting last night with Fumiko had not been as pleasant as he would have liked, but not as rough as he feared either.

"What is this, Simon? What are you telling me with all these numbers and figures that you have collected?"

Fumiko Nakahara, Head of House Himura, was pale as white porcelain and twice as beautiful as any woman he had laid eyes on. Her Japanese heritage was on full display as she had draped herself sensually in a red kimono, intricately embroidered with white and red flowers, outlined in black boarders, with matching white crane's taking flight on either sleeve perfectly mirroring each other. The kimono itself shimmered in the soft lantern and candle light of her office.

The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

Simon knew that Fumiko knew exactly what she was looking at. Still, the question might be a test for him specifically? Or it was a question as to what he might propose she do with the information that he had stolen from House Dukart and was now giving to her.

"It shows that House Dukart has been taking more and more territory and funds from House Brandt." Fumiko was about to interrupt but Simon spoke quickly to politely interject before she could speak, "It also shows that they have been encroaching upon and doing business within the known boarders of House Himura's territory, specifically along the wharf and piers of the Marina Del Rey, and the Los Angeles River."

Fumiko face could have been carved from glass. She was expressionless as her deep eyes slid over the figures and reports that Simon had provided.

After long moments of silence, she said, "Is this the evidence you sought when you first offered your alliance with us? Is this the excuse you needed to kill Kenneth?"

Simon answered, "I know he killed Alessandro. I didn't need any other evidence. But for your help, I know you needed more. Here is that proof you needed so you can act without worry of retribution from the Duces."

A soft smile touched Fumiko's red lips, "So you think this proof is all you needed to procure my House's aid? That this alone is worth going to war with a rival House whose strength has been growing almost without check these last several months?"

"I would think that the growing strength of House Dukart would warrant a show of force from the other two remaining Houses in California to balance House Dukart from growing too strong."

"I have many tools at my disposal for checking and teaching lessons to House Dukart from entering and trying to annex my territory, the Duces know this. What you ask for is vengeance, this evidence isn't enough to cause me or my people to go to war." She folded her hands in her lap as she gazed up at the tall vampire facing her, "that, and I have known of these transgressions for a long while. Retribution for these missteps is already planned and underway."

Simon felt at a complete loss. He had risked his people and gone through a lot of trouble to procure the aid of House Himura, only to be told at the eleventh hour that it wasn't good enough.

"So, I'm on my own then? Our bargain is null and void?" Simon did his best to keep the irritation out of his voice. He did not fully succeed.

Fumiko serenely shifted in her seat, ignoring the tone in the other vampire's voice, "Our bargain was that you could kill Kenneth. I have not gotten in your way. Being that you and your House are in the state that it is in, you of all people should understand and appreciate the full wrath of the Duces and why House Himura would want to avoid that at all costs."

Simon had heard about enough. He turned to walk out.

"I don't remember giving you permission to leave, just yet, Simon of House Ghatti."

Simon felt a strong pull to stop moving. He fought through that feeling and took another step towards the door, before he turned and faced the Head of House Himura.

Fumiko wore that same gentle smile upon her delicate lips, "I knew you were strong, but seeing it demonstrated makes me smile, and makes me wonder if you can in fact take on Kenneth, the man who, if you are correct, killed his much older Head of House, Alessandro."

Simon spoke softly, "When I was brought to Alessandro's office, he was already dead. No one there could have done it except Kenneth. He must have taken Alessandro by surprise; an advantage he won't have with me."

Fumiko nodded once and lifted her hand to gesture softly towards him, "I can't support you in the known plot to kill another Head of House. If the Duces had found anything untoward in the death of Alessandro, they would have removed Kenneth themselves. As such, it will fall to you. I can only offer you the umbrella of immunity. From this moment on, regardless of your actions, you act under the name and protection of House Himura. For the sole task of killing Kenneth Pacifico and ridding House Dukart of an illegitimate Head of House."

"You offer protection, but no aid, I understand," Simon stated.

Fumiko nodded softly, "of course, my dear Simon. If you fail, House Dukart will also look for revenge, and if House Himura was directly involved, then they would be right to come after me and my House in force."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.