Shadow Reaper (Shadow #2)(20)

"Ricco," Francesca murmured, "how awful."



"I still can't close my eyes without seeing that sight. When I entered the house I almost stepped on her grandmother's body. They'd nearly sliced her into pieces just outside the door of the small room where she held court. One of the female servants was just to the right of her. She'd been slashed with a sword down her back and was still dying. The other was nearly decapitated. The attacks had come from behind. Two of the boys had lain in wait for the father and servants while Nao and the other one dealt with Akiko and her grandmother. When I got there, the first two were still hacking at the bodies of the servants. I took the swords away, and I killed them. It wasn't easy  – I have the scars on my chest and down my thigh."



He touched the three slashes he kept covered by his clothing at all times, remembering the feel of the blade cutting through his flesh.



"Oh my God, Ricco," Emmanuelle whispered. "You were only fourteen, younger than they were. You took on two riders with swords and managed to stay alive?"



"I had no choice," he said. "Not if I was going to try to save Akiko."



"You're telling me four riders from four of the families in Japan used their abilities to murder innocents?" Stefano asked. His voice was low, but it was a whip. "Which families? Tell me now. I need to hear you confirm that these boys were the sons of the riders on the council."



He had known Stefano would be furious. Breaking the code of a shadow rider was the worst thing one could do. The code of honor was put in place to protect every rider, their families and every innocent human being they came across.



"Three families," Ricco corrected. "You know Nao Yamamoto. His father, Isamu Yamamoto, was head of the council overseeing all riders in Japan at that time. The other two members had sons."



"Ricco." It was a warning. "Stop stalling." Stefano pressed his fingers to the corners of his eyes, putting pressure there.





       
         
       
        

He wasn't stalling so much as trying not to go back to that moment when he stood before the council members, knowing he'd killed their sons and they could do anything to him and no one would know.



"Eiji and Hachiro Saito followed Nao anywhere he went. They were bullies, believing, because their father, Dai Saito, sat on the council in Japan, no one could touch them. They both had swords that night. They were the ones who killed the two servants."



Stefano swept a hand over his face as if trying to sweep away the things his brother told him. "This should have been taken to the International Council. Those men lied about the deaths. Who was the last boy?" Of course he knew. His mother had attended the funerals of the boys, paying their respects to the riders who had lost their children. Mikio Ito was the other council member.



"Kenta Ito, Mikio Ito's son," Ricco confirmed.



"This is a disgrace. A fucking disgrace," Stefano bit out. "The top three families of riders. Council members. Lying to other riders, pulling that shit off because as council members they had the ability to tell a story with emotion that could muddy hearing. Their sons were murderers. Damn it, Ricco, we should have been told."



Ricco's gaze swept the room. His brothers were stunned. Shock showed on Emmanuelle's face. Such a thing was unheard of. Lying to the world of riders. It was a small, closed group, and they counted on honesty. On truth. On honor above all else.



Ricco shook his head slowly. "I couldn't tell you."



Stefano opened his mouth and then snapped it closed. Giovanni got up and took the cut crystal glasses and poured more Scotch, handing them back before seating himself again. He took his time, making certain everyone had a chance to recover from the sheer shock.



"Tell us all of it," Vittorio encouraged. "This is turning my stomach, but we have to know."



"It was Kenta Ito who killed Akiko's father. He painted his face with her father's blood and was dancing around Akiko and Nao. They wanted her to see that her family was dead. Nao had raped Akiko and he cut her to pieces. She was still alive, and Nao told her he was going to kill her little brother and sister. He told her he would violate her sister in front of her before he killed her. Her sister was three years old. Her brother was fifteen months."



Francesca gasped and put a hand to her throat. Stefano immediately drew her close, beneath the protection of his shoulder.



"Power corrupts." Taviano repeated what Stefano had drilled into them from the time they were toddlers. "Clearly those boys believed themselves above everyone else rather than servants of the people."