Hi guys, we have Amy Tasukada stopping by today with her new release One Thousand Cranes, we have a great excerpt and a brilliant giveaway so check out the post and enter the giveaway! <3 ~Pixie~
One Thousand Cranes
Amy Tasukada
When a body goes missing, a young Yakuza’s life hangs in the balance…
Aki Hisona’s latest promotion is a cause for celebration. But because his new job is working as the personal secretary for the Yakuza’s Kyoto-based godfather, it’s also a cause for dangerous envy. He takes an invitation from a friend for congratulatory drinks, but Aki never thought the night would end with a deadly knife fight…
Aki is tasked with disposing of his friend’s corpse, but there’s one problem: the body is missing. As body parts surface around town, it’s only a matter of time before the police piece together the clues. But keeping one step ahead of the cops may not matter if Aki can’t solve the mystery before his cold, unforgiving godfather boss does…
The Yakuza Path: One Thousand Cranes is a pulse-pounding standalone thriller in the ongoing series of Japanese mafia stories. If you like gritty settings, page-turning whodunits, and accurate portrayals of Kyoto traditions, then you’ll love Amy Tasukada’s gripping tale.
Excerpt!
“I’ve been trying to suck up to the ward leader in the red-light district,” Shoda said.
“You think the ward leader will move you there when your apprenticeship is over?”
“I think so, but who the fuck knows. I do everything they want, and I still feel like I haven’t gotten anywhere.”
“It hasn’t gone unnoticed. There have been a few times Father Murata talked about how he wished all the recruits were as dedicated as you.”
Shoda tugged on his ear. “I just gotta spend another six months cleaning toilets. Then probably another doing the same thing at one of the Kyoto wards. I joined the yakuza, not a maid service.”
Aki laughed. “I felt that way, too. It takes time. People have to learn they can trust you before they hand over bigger duties.”
“Is that so?”
“Wherever you go, I wish you the best. You’ll make a name for yourself.”
Even with the good wishes, Shoda’s face remained tight. “It was easier for you.”
The two passed through a narrow alley reeking of rotting fish and piss. The yellow trash bags took up so much space they had to walk single file.
“Maybe if I’d taken it up the ass, too, I would’ve gotten a cushy job answering phones by now,” Shoda said.
“I don’t just answ—”
“So you still have to suck his dick, too? Maybe we could both take turns. The fag might want some variety.”
Aki’s mouth slackened. “Shoda, you’re drunk.”
“And more clearheaded than ever before.”
Shoda snatched a handful of Aki’s chin-length hair and jerked him back. The world spun, and the first of the sun rays blinded Aki. Then Shoda’s fist connected with the side of Aki’s face, and he fell onto the stuffed trash bags.
“Shoda!” Aki cried out while all the hours of training he put in at the boxing gym fluttered away like a paper trapped in a whirlwind.
“B-but we’re friends,” Aki managed to say. “Why? Why are you doing this?”
Shoda grunted and drew his arm back again. “Huh? High school grad can’t figure it out? You think you’re better than the rest of us, don’t you?”
Aki held up his arms, covering his face, but Shoda delivered a blow to his wrist that sent a shock wave of pain throughout Aki’s body. But it didn’t hurt as much as their breaking friendship.
“No! I never thought that,” Aki pleaded.
“I’m going to fuck you up so bad Father Murata won’t want to look at you. You two-toned freak!”
Another punch landed on Aki’s stomach. The beer sloshing in his gut churned up his throat. His thoughts swirled as he slid down the trash bags and vomited. It splashed back onto his white hands.
Shoda kicked him in the ribs. A trail of acid followed the rest of the contents of Aki’s stomach. Even with the copper taste of blood mixing with acid in his mouth, Aki knew the scuffle had to be a misunderstanding. They were best friends. Shoda just got a little hotheaded.
Aki wiped his mouth as Shoda stumbled back. Sure Aki trained on a punching bag, but he never sparred with an actual person, let alone struck his best friend.
“Sho…”
Shoda reached into his pocket. Moonlight glistened off metal.
Aki scrambled to his feet. “Put the knife down!”
Shoda lunged forward, and Aki’s quivering muscles grew hot. His nostrils flared, and he kicked Shoda in the shin. The blade flew to the ground. Aki scooped it up before Shoda could stagger to his feet.
Aki kept his grip on the knife. “Let’s just go back to headquarters and call it even.
” Shoda groaned, then charged.
Aki’s body tensed with the impact. They fell into the trash heap.
Shoda’s hot breath licked at Aki’s ear, and the knife Aki held became slick. Aki tried to pull it back, but it didn’t budge.
“Hiso…” Shoda gurgled.
Aki slid out from under him, and the knife stayed put.
“You okay? Shoda!”
Blood smeared the plastic bags and covered Aki’s hands. Aki sank to his knees and turned Shoda over. The knife stuck out of his gut like Mt. Fuji.
“Stay with me,” Aki pleaded.
Shoda didn’t move, and his eyes stared vacantly back at Aki. He gulped down a breath and pressed his bloody fingers against Shoda’s neck. Aki couldn’t feel anything but his own heart pounding in his ears.
Shoda was dead.
The Yakuza Path Series
(Each can be read as a standalone)
Blood Stained Tea (Book #1)
Better Than Suicide (Book #2)
About Amy
Amy Tasukada lives in a catless home in North Texas. (She enjoys cats but can’t quite make that kind of commitment yet.) As an only child her day dreams kept her entertained, and at age ten she started to put them to paper. Since then her love of writing hasn’t cease. When she’s not chasing after stray cats, she can be found drinking hot tea and filming Japanese street fashion hauls on her Youtube channel.
Website | Youtube | Facebook | Twitter
.
Giveaway!
Win a Backlist Ebook from Amy Tasukada!
Thank you for the excerpt!