I am so hyped up after this. I want to read more. ( )

I am so hyped up after this. I want to read more. ( )

Poor Akihito, kidnapped and doubting if Asami will come after him. Why did Fei Long want Akihito? Loving Asami by proxy? Ended on a cliffhanger. ( )

Bit of a filler, not my fav but still an enjoyable read. ( )

At the end of Volume 3, Asami was shot protecting Takaba. Fei Long was also shot, and escaped taking Takaba to Hong Kong as a hostage. V4 picks up in Hong Kong where Fei Long is recovering, and has just been reminded he has a prisoner. This story is much darker, as Fei Long threatens to sell Takaba into slavery and addiction if he doesn’t obey. Needless to say, there is non-consensual (and explicit) sex in the story. Much of the plot takes place in Hong Kong as we follow Takaba’s sad state and his guilt and remorse over acting impulsively and putting Asami in danger. Meanwhile, Asami, who is still recovering from his wound, is working to get Takaba back – he has a spy in Fei Long’s organization.

There is a lot of action and plot advancement in this book, but also a great deal of character development. Fei Long has a young ward, a small boy, who is instrumental in showing Fei Long has a heart and that Takaba does not deserve to be treated so poorly because of Asami and Fei’s “war.” The main relationship is put on the back burner since Takaba and Asami are separated most of the story, but we learn more about both men and their organizations.

Overall, this was a gripping read that I could not put down. As the last one, it ends on a cliffhanger when Asami and Fei Long meet aboard a casino ship to make an exchange for Takaba. Things do not go as planned… This book also includes one bonus, humorous, Finder story. Takaba’s first photo assignment gets hijacked and he ends up going out to dinner with Asami after, and again has too much to drink! Highly recommended. ( )