Revenge was best seasoned with anticipation.

Akane Chang opened the locked metal box his cousin handed him. His favorite weapons lay nestled in dense foam: a combat blade in a scabbard, a sleek Ruger 1911 semi-auto pistol with a box of ammo.

He took the knife out of the box and drew it from its sheath. He waved it back and forth. Blue fire gleamed along its honed edge.

So many good times with that blade…

Akane glanced at his cousin, District Attorney Alan Chang, a man with a lot to lose if his role in helping Akane escape ever came to light. Alan Chang had provided access and intel to members of their crime syndicate, who’d sprung Akane during transport to the county jail after his trial.

“I’m only doing this because I think the family needs you.” Alan wet his lips. “This can’t ever come back on me.”

“Of course, it won’t come back on you.” Akane smiled. “I owe you. And it’s good to have me owe you.”

“What’s your plan?” Pearls of sweat dotted the DA’s forehead and his eyes hadn’t left the blade as Akane played with it.

“Better that you don’t know.” Akane tested the blade’s sharpness on a callous on his thumb. The skin sliced off as easy as butter.

“Well then. Your new ID and some cash are right over there.” Alan pointed a latex-gloved hand toward a wallet resting on the apartment’s side table. “Don’t call me. Don’t contact me.”

“Surprised you didn’t wear a hair net and crime scene booties when you came to visit,” Akane mocked.

Alan stared at him resentfully. “I was never here, you understand?”

Akane didn’t respond. Alan Chang was in a handy position as DA. That position would be even better if he got a judgeship—and while he still wanted something, Akane had leverage on him. Didn’t mean they had to like each other.

“Good luck.” The DA left as silently as he’d come, locking the door.

Akane loaded the Ruger, enjoying the click of the heavy cartridges as he filled the magazine, the smell of gun oil, the solid heft of the pistol in his hand. He’d felt so powerless throughout the trial. No more.

He had a revenge list half a dozen names long. His brother Byron’s name would have been right at the top if someone hadn’t already offed him. Now that Byron was out of the way, that bitch female investigator and her asshole partner who’d testified against him had moved up.

But first he needed to keep his eye on the ball and make sure his position as head of the family was locked down. To that end, he had messages out to the leaders of the Changs’ gambling, drug dealing, and prostitution networks. Once he was in charge on the Big Island, Akane could take all the time he wanted to hunt down those who’d done him wrong.

Akane got up and checked the condo’s refrigerator. Empty but for a bottle of Aloha Shoyu. Nothing in the cupboards but a can of macadamia nuts. He opened it and popped a handful into his mouth while staring out the window at the condo’s view of Waikiki Harbor and the ocean beyond. The clang of wind in rigging and the squeak of boats in their moorings made an odd kind of music. A friend of a friend owned this place, and if he hadn’t been hungry and bored, he wouldn’t have minded being stuck here until he figured out how to get back to the Big Island undetected.

A few minutes later, a coded knock at the door brought Akane to undo the heavy locks to friendlier company than his starchy DA cousin.

Lee Chow, his right-hand man for many years, stood in the doorway with one arm around a brunette, the other around a blonde. “Yo, boss! I brought good times.”

“Nice! Go get comfortable, ladies.” Akane cocked his head, indicating for the women to enter. The women sashayed past Akane into the front room. He tugged Chow inside, out of earshot, and spoke with his back to them. “What do they know about me?”

Chow’s battle-scarred face scrunched in a frown. “The bitches only know that you’re an important dude that wants to party.”

Akane glanced over at the scantily dressed women, whispering and cooing as they took in the apartment’s spectacular downtown view. “Well, they’re right about that. I do want to party.” He grinned, thinking of the surprises he had in store. “Hope you told them about my alternative tastes.”

“Naw, boss. None of my business.” Chow kept his gaze down, respectful. The man had never had a clue about Akane’s jungle hunting ground outside of Volcano Park, a secret he hadn’t shared with anyone but those involved. Having it all come out at trial was humiliating, not something Akane was sure how to turn to his advantage.

But Chow’s vote of confidence by bringing the women was promising.

“Thanks, Lee. You can leave now. Go get us some booze, food, bleach, a big sheet of plastic, and some duct tape.”

Chow whipped his head up, eyes wide.

Akane guffawed at Chow’s stricken expression. “Just kidding. Me and the girls are going to have some fun. Come back soon with enough booze and food, and I might let you join me.” He shoved Chow out and shut the door on his lieutenant’s worried face.