The Grandmaster's Legacy (HOT Historical Suspense, Box Set)

by Taylor Lee

  She screamed over and over, “You killed Magic, you killed Magic. You murderer!”

  Elena fought him wildly, yelling that they had to go back, she couldn’t leave her horse. Bai held her firmly. Urging Noire to a hard gallop, they rode away from the waterfall, away from Magic. Elena writhed against him, kicking, biting, and scratching. But his arms were a rigid, steely vise. She couldn’t break his lock. No matter how hard she fought, he just gripped her tighter. After several minutes, he slowed his horse to a walk, then stopped, dismounted, and lifted her off Noire. She struggled fiercely, trying to push him away, but he wrapped his arms around her, trapping her against his bare chest. She felt his big hands rubbing her back, heard him murmuring to her in a mix of English, French, and Chinese. Bursting in tears, she heaved against him, sobbing uncontrollably.

  “It is okay, petite fille. You are safe now, Elena. I will protect you. They can not hurt you, cherie. You are with me now. ”

  They stayed like that for several long minutes, until her sobs began to quiet. Elena pressed against him. She wanted his strong arms around her. She needed the comfort of his hard body. He looked slim, lean, when he confronted the bad men. Now without his shirt, she could see the knotted abs, the tight coiled muscles on his chest and arms. She remembered from years ago, that like her father, Bai was a kung fu grandmaster. His body was a lethal weapon. As angry as she was, she wanted him to hold her -- not let her go. She buried her face in his shoulder, breathing in his strong, clean, male smell. With a shuddering sigh, she gave in to the comfort of his strength.

  Bai held her in his arms, murmuring softly. His lips traced the whorl of her ear. “I have you now, Elena. You are with me. They cannot hurt you, non, non. When I have you, cherie, no one can hurt you.”

  Once her sobs quieted to little more than watery gulps of air, Bai lifted her up on Noire. Swinging his leg with an easy motion, he climbed up behind her.

  “Here, little girl, petite fille. Put your head on my shoulder. Let me hold you.”

  He laid her head against his shoulder, brushing the fiery mane of sun-kissed curls off her face. He wiped the sweat and blood off her face and neck with his bandana, trying to avoid the myriad of scrapes and bruises ravaging her body. Even with his careful ministrations, she winced in pain.

  When he shifted in the saddle, her shirt rode up, exposing her bare bottom. The curve of pale, satiny skin beckoned him, but he resisted the urge to indulge. Sliding one hand under her naked thighs, with the other he smoothed the shirt over her tempting curves. Marveling at his restraint, he drew her close to him. He smelled the fear radiating from her, mixed with the odor of fragrant soap. She had an underlying spicy exotic smell he couldn’t place. She twisted her head against him, baring the long pale column of her neck. Her skin was soft, the pulse in her throat pounded anxiously.

  When she nestled against him, a trickle of sweat ran to the valley between her breasts, hidden beneath his shirt. He wasn’t surprised to feel his cock swell. Christ, he had been killing evil men since he was sixteen years old. He learned early the relationship between arousal and battle. Merde, you didn’t want to be around a band of men on a lethal mission. Adrenalin and testosterone were as related as lightening and thunder. In his experience, the brutality of the kill was the best harbinger of how big the storm would be.

  Mon Dieu, he admonished himself, ogling the frightened, half naked girl in his arms. The last thing he should be thinking about is sex. Hmm. Tell that to his cock. He had an urge to taste her, to run his tongue along her beautiful neck, follow the dampness to the top of her shirt, and below. Lick off the sweat, the fear. He rubbed off a drop of the sweaty moisture, smiling when he sucked it from his thumb. Ah, mais oui. She tasted like she smelled. Spicy, exotic, warm and frightened.

  Her breath was raspy. Occasional sobs shook her body. She moaned and grabbed at Bai’s chest as if she was afraid he would somehow disappear. She whispered, “Please, please. Don’t let me go.” She dug her fingernails into his hard chest, then flushed and jerked her hands away.

  He reached down and put his big hand over hers, clasping them tight against him. “Non, non. It is okay, cherie. You may hold me as tightly as you need to. I am here. I will not let you go.”

  She buried her head on his shoulder, then with a sigh, wrapped her arms around his waist, clinging to the strength, the heat of his body. He held her close, prodding Noire to an easy canter, trying not to jar the injured girl.

  As they neared the villa, a group of riders led by Nianzu galloped toward them. With a clatter of hoof beats, they pulled up, staring in horror at the wounded girl in Bai’s arms. Their horses reared back as they formed a circle around Bai.

  “Goddamn, Bai. What happened? Who was it? ” Nianzu’s handsome face was rigid, his voice harsh with concern.

  “They looked like the Dunwoody gang. Four of them – up at the waterfall. You men,” he said, turning to the group with Nianzu, “Go to the waterfall. There are four bodies. Bring them back. We’ll get the sheriff to identify them. Her horse is there, too.” He nodded to Elena and shook his head no and added, “Later.”

  “You killed them, Bai? All of them?” Quitin was the youngest of his men. His eyes glowed with amazed hero worship.

  Bai lifted an eyebrow and nodded, his lips curling slightly.

  Nianzu met his gaze, unspoken questions creasing his brow. “Christ, Bai, is she all right?

  Bai’s voice was grim. “From what I can tell, she has no broken bones, but I don’t know the extent of her injuries. Nianzu, go to the villa as quickly as you can. Tell Wan she’s hurt but she’ll recover. Go to the infirmary. Get Dr. Wong. Meet me at the villa. Go, Nianzu. Go now.”

  Nianzu nodded his terse agreement and took off at a fierce gallop. The rest of the men headed to the waterfall.

  Bai continued to ride with Elena at an easy pace. He didn’t want to jostle her any more than he had to. He had seen her body. She must hurt like hell.

  ~~

  Chapter 4

  Wan Chang and Nianzu met them in the courtyard when Bai rode up. Wan’s normally stern face was pale, strained. His eyes were wide, twisted with a mix of anger and fear. A crowd of servants hovered behind a protective ring of Sing Leon members, peering out in horrified curiosity.

  Bai jumped off his horse, reached up for Elena and lifted her down. He strode to the house carrying her in his arms. Acknowledging the concern on her grandfather’s face, he motioned to Wan Chang. “Wan, let’s get her to her chambers first. I’ll tell you then what happened. Did you get the doctor, Nianzu?”

  “He’s on his way.”

  Wan reached out to grasp Elena’s hand. When she saw her grandfather she burst into tears. But when he reached for her, she buried her head against Bai’s shoulder and clung to him.

  Knowing the anguish Wan must feel, Bai explained “She’s bordering on hysteria, Wan. She has bruises and scrapes, but no broken bones that I know of.”

  Wan’s eyes were dark, fierce. He stole a glance at Bai’s bare torso, then at Elena wearing Bai’s shirt. His face blanched. In a choked whisper he asked the question he most feared.

  “Did they…?’

  Bai shook his head.

  “No, I got there in time. But it was a damn close call.”

  When they got to her chambers, Bai tried to put Elena down on the bed. She resisted, clinging to him, whimpering. “Don’t let me go, please.”

  “Listen to me, Elena. I’m going to lay you in your bed. I will be here beside you. When the doctor arrives, he’ll examine you and tell us what you need. Then we will tend to you, give you something to stop the pain, make you sleep. Oui, cherie?”

  Elena started to cry again, hiding her face in her hands.

  “I’m sorry, Grandfather. I know you are angry with me. “

  “God, no, Elena. I’m not angry, but I am alarmed, upset. Please do what Bai says. Let him put you down so we can see where you’re hurt.”

  Bai unwound her hands. He carefully laid her on the bed,
then sat down beside her on the edge of the bed. Looking over his shoulder, he motioned to Augustina, the household manager. “Bring me a basin of warm water and soap. I also need something I can wrap around her so the doctor can examine her. She is practically naked under my shirt. Have Bolhai go to my chambers and bring me a fresh shirt.” He added to his crisp orders, “Also, please bring Elena a glass of water and bring me a bottle of bourbon and three or four glasses.”

  He turned back to Elena with an encouraging smile. “I don’t know about you, cherie, but bourbon sounds like a good idea to me.”

  Elena stared at him blankly.

  Augustina returned with a short gown that would fit loosely over Elena’s body. She handed Bai a clean shirt. With a questioning lift of her eyebrow, she murmured, “Would you like me to …?”

  Bai gave her a curt nod. “Augustine, please help Elena take off my shirt. Put this chemise on her while I pour Wan a big glass of bourbon.”

  Elena’s eyes widened in fear. She clutched at Bai’s arm. “You…you aren’t going to leave me, are you?”

  Bai stroked her cheek, gently pushing her damp hair off her face. “No, Elena. Your grandfather and I will be over by the window. I wish to give you privacy so that Augustina can help you put on this gown. It will cover you, at least a little, oui?”

  ~~~

  Bai motioned to Wan to join him on the other side of the room. He smoothed on the shirt Augustina gave him then poured two large glasses of bourbon, handing one to Wan.

  Wan’s voice was terse. “Who were they?”

  “I recognized the one they called Jake. A big motherfucker, mean as hell. Red hair, even taller than I am. Probably weighs a third more. If he’s the one I think he is, he rides with Dunwoody. The other’s names were Sam, Pete and Clem. I didn’t recognize any of them.”

  Wan’s face, like his voice, was tight with concern. “An overview, please.”

  Bai nodded. He kept his voice low so that Elena couldn’t hear him.

  “They came up on her after she was swimming. She had on her camisole and her riding pants. But not for long. The rest of her clothes were by the pool. She tried to get away. They shot her horse and wounded it. She shot one guy in the shoulder and got off some decent kung fu strikes. They overpowered her and beat her. They planned to gang rape her, came within minutes of doing so. I shot and killed all four of them. Had to put down her horse. More on that later. I brought her back here. No one followed us.”

  Bai took a sip of bourbon and looked over his shoulder to see if Elena was dressed. He looked back at Wan, who was staring at him, shaking his head.

  “I thought I was a cool son of a bitch, Bai. But that was the goddamn least emotional summary of a fucking nightmare I have ever heard.”

  Bai quirked a brow. “You asked for an overview.”

  ~~~

  “Elena, the doctor will be here any minute. We need to see how badly you are hurt. From what I can tell, you don’t have any broken bones, but we need to make sure you don’t have internal injuries.” Bai sat down on the edge of the bed. He kept his voice low, steady

  “You won’t leave me?” she whispered tremulously.

  “No, cherie, I won’t leave you.”

  Bai rose as Dr. Wong entered. Even though he was twice Bai’s age and a renowned healer, the diminutive man bowed to Bai, touching his hands to his forehead, a gesture of respect for his acknowledged leader. Bai responded with an impatient bow, closer to a nod. He gave a quick overview, detailing what happened and where her most severe injuries were. Dr. Wong began to examine her, paying attention to the injured places Bai pointed out. When he finished, the doctor indicated that she had no broken bones, but severe bruising, scrapes, and cuts.

  Dr. Wong stepped back, shaking his head, his face was pale, strained. He motioned for Bai to join him by the door. Hesitating, dread flickering across his face, he asked in a soft voice, “Was she penetrated?”

  “No.”

  “Are you sure?”

  Bai cast him an impervious glare, annoyed that the doctor questioned him. “When the three men who attacked her dropped their pants, I was five feet away. I killed them before they could rape her.”

  Dr. Wong staggered back, his hands darting to his mouth. “My God! Not only would she have been raped repeatedly, but from the look of the rest of her body, they would have killed her in the process.”

  Bai gave him a curt nod. “That is my assessment, as well.”

  The doctor turned back to Elena. “You are most fortunate, my dear, that Mr. Bai arrived when he did.”

  Dr. Wong gave Bai pain pills for her, as well as ointments to put on her cuts.

  After the doctor left, Bai insisted Elena swallow two of the pills. He washed the cuts on her face, arms, neck and chest, carefully applying the ointment, then turned her over to tend the injuries on her back and legs. His hands were firm, but gentle, schooled by years of tending battlefield injuries. While he worked, he murmured comforting words in French and English. By the time he finished, she drifted into a fitful sleep

  Wan left the room when the doctor arrived, returning as Bai finished dressing her numerous abrasions. Bai took one look at Wan’s pale face and pulled one of the arm chairs over by the bed. He nudged Wan into it.

  “She’s sleeping, Wan. The doctor gave her something to make sure she will sleep at least until morning.”

  With a bleak frown, Wan accepted the glass of bourbon Bai handed him. His voice was gruff. “Bai, the doctor said she would have been raped and killed if you didn’t get there when you did.”

  “He is correct.”

  Wan dropped his head in his hands, then looked up at Bai, unshed tears blurring his eyes. “Bai, I am in your debt for the rest of my life.”

  Bai smiled a grim smile. “You already were.”

  The glimmer of a smile crossed Wan’s stern face. “That’s true.” Seeming to gain control of his ragged emotions, he added, “Our men caught up with Wyatt this side of Stockton. He should be here within hours. I know he will want to talk to you, to hear precisely what happened.”

  Bai refreshed both of their drinks, then sunk down in the chair across from Wan. He noted the bandages, the bruises on Elena’s lovely face and grimaced. “I don’t plan to leave her tonight.”

  Wan breathed a pained sigh. “Good.”

  ~~~

  For the next several hours, Bai sat in the armchair beside her bed watching her sleep. He sipped on his bourbon, occasionally lighting another of his slender Bolivian cigars. Her sleep was restless. Twice she thrashed about, starting to wake. As if in a dream, she cried out, “No, no, please. Oh God, please no.”

  Bai wrapped his arms around her, whispering soft comforting words. He rubbed her arms and back, then pushed her hair from her face, avoiding the bandaged places. Each time, Elena sank back to mercifully drugged oblivion until the terror of her dreams woke her again.

  Bai’s body was tight with emotion as he relived the horrendous events of the afternoon. In addition to his cold fury at the bastards who hurt her, Bai felt rising anger at Elena. He would never forget the terror in her eyes when they stripped her – their hideous glee when they told her how they planned to rape her. He looked at her lovely fragile face covered with bandages and scowled at the thought of the ones all over her beautiful body. He allowed himself to think what would have happened if he had not gone to the waterfall. Before he knew it, his anger at her turned to rage, surpassing even what he felt toward the men who attacked her. He glared at her, lying bruised and battered in the bed, and knew, for the moment at least, he despised her for what she had done.

  ~~~

  Several hours later, Wyatt rushed in, his face was grey with worry, his eyes dark, intense. Bai leapt to his feet and bowed respectfully. Wyatt moved to the bed, jerked down the blankets and ran his hands over Elena’s face and body. Wyatt was a famed horse whisperer. His legendary skills with injured horses worked with people, as well. Without speaking, he touched every bruise, every scrape, and
every scratch on Elena’s battered body. He rolled her from side to side, from front to back. He felt each bone for breaks and tested every rib. She moaned in pain, but slept through his poking and prodding.

  Bai waited until Wyatt seemed satisfied that Elena had no breaks or internal injuries. He poured a large glass of bourbon, handed it to Wyatt, then refilled his and Wan’s glasses. With a flick of his wrist, he signaled to one of the guards at the door. Seconds later, two guards entered carrying an additional chair, two bottles of bourbon, and cigars for the three of them.

  Wyatt sat in the chair next to the bed. His expression was stern. Harsh lines creased his face. He motioned to Bai to sit across from him. His voice was tight, commanding. “Tell me what happened, from the moment you discovered she was gone until now. Do not omit a single detail. I want to know precisely what happened. What they looked like, what they said, what they did. I want to know what she did, what she said, when she cried or screamed or begged them to stop. Above all, I want to know what you did, what you saw, what you said, what you felt. Now. Please. Tell me everything. Now.”

  In his calm clipped speech, Bai recounted the horrors of the afternoon. He did not spare Wyatt. He continued to speak even when Wyatt buried his head in his hands, his face ravaged with pain, listening to detail after gruesome detail. Bai understood Wyatt’s intent. He hadn’t been there to help his daughter, but he needed to know what she went through. He needed to know what he would have done if he had been there.

  No one spoke for several long moments after Bai finished speaking. Wan broke the silence.

  “Why the hell were you smoking a cigarette when you confronted them? Why didn’t you keep your other hand free to draw another gun or knife if you needed it?”

  Wyatt took a puff off his cigar and looked at Bai with a rueful grin. “I can tell you why, Wan. When those assholes saw this tall, ruthless son of a bitch coolly walk up to four armed men and take a drag off his cigarette, they knew in their guts they were dead men.”