by Taylor Lee
She refused to answer him, not sure if she spoke she would be able to control her emotions. She was desperate not to cry. When she didn’t respond, Bai was silent, waiting for her answer. Finally, she gave in and looked up at him.
His eyes were hard, narrow. His expression demanded her response. “Elena, I asked you a question, an important question. Please answer me.”
Elena was quiet for another long moment. She looked down at her hands then nodded and whispered, “Yes.’
“Good. You and I will talk later about specifics.” He paused and added, “You may go now, Elena.” He stood and bowed slightly while holding her gaze. “Thank you for coming.”
She stood up, trying to steady herself, then turned and ran from the room.
~~~
Bai sat down. His stern expression said it all. Any semblance of congeniality was gone. “Now that we’ve resolved that issue, can we please discuss the hell we are up against? I presume you want to be part of this discussion, Wyatt?”
“Indeed. I am entrusting you with the life of my daughter. I need to know you are up to the task.”
Bai nodded with a tight smile that, like Wyatt’s, didn’t reach his eyes.
“Indeed. Shall we get specific?”
Wyatt nodded.
Bai’s voice was laced with steel. “We’re in a dangerous situation, Wyatt, and Elena is right in the middle of it.”
~~
Chapter 22
“As you know, Wyatt, for the past two years, I have attempted to convince six smaller California Tongs to join with me to form an alliance I am calling the Brotherhood. The incident at the saloon dramatically compromised that effort.
“Before the incident, I managed to persuade the Tong leaders to attend a conclave – the first step to create the Brotherhood. The conclave is scheduled for tomorrow evening. That was before the ‘change in leadership’ at the Rongue Ri. To put it more succinctly, before I killed their leader, Wichi Fan. We now need to rethink our strategy in the light of the uncertainty of what the new leadership of the Rongue Ri will bring. Critical to my planning was and is that we prevent a Tong war. Or at the least if there is a war, that we keep it between the Rongue Ri and the Sing Leon. My killing Wichi Fan has made that war more likely.
“Do you have questions to this point, Wyatt?”
“Yes, I do. But before you continue, please know that I am grievously disappointed with Elena. I apologize on behalf of my daughter …”
“Wyatt, that is not necessary. Nianzu is as guilty as Elena for misjudgment. Neither of them intended for the incident to happen. Both of them fought bravely and well. It is done. We need to move forward.”
“As usual, Bai, you are gracious, but we both know that Nianzu and Elena would have been killed if you and your men did not arrive when you did.”
“Unfortunately, that is true, Wyatt.” Bai continued with an ironic grin, “One thing we can be grateful for is the importance of meeting carnal needs. If my men and I had not stopped in to visit Madam Couchette…Enough said.”
Wyatt nodded appreciatively. “Bai, who is now heading up the Rongue Ri?”
“His name is Feng Zhang. He was a close confidant of Wichi Fan’s and a long time foe of Wan Chang.”
“Is there a chance that he will be willing to consider a new path?”
Wan stepped in. “Let me answer that question, Wyatt. We can always hope for redemption, but twenty years ago I killed Feng Zhang’s father, Lui Zhang, in a death match. To sharpen the wound, the match was fought over a woman. Unfortunately, she was Feng’s mother. In summary, if we thought that Wichi Fan hated the Sing Leon and me personally, Feng’s hatred is exponentially more acute.”
Wyatt said with a quirk of his brow. “I see.”
Bai said, “It won’t surprise you, Wyatt, to know that we have highly placed informants in the Rongue Ri and in each of the six minor Tongs, as well. I know from our informants that my killing Wichi Fan will be used as the rationale for what Wan and I have fought hard to avoid and that is an all out Tong war in California. Now they have two reasons to bring down the Sing Leon --Wan Chang and me.”
“What are your next steps, Bai?”
“We will have the conclave tomorrow evening, as we planned. That presumes all six leaders still agree to come. Feng has personally threatened each of the leaders if they join the Brotherhood. His threats make the chances for success at the conclave minimal at best.
“It is critical that we do not waver or appear to be pulling back. Let’s assume that the meeting to form the Brotherhood ends in a stalemate. There is too much potential for outright war for the minor leaders to agree to go against either the Rongue or us at this point. They are as concerned about Feng Zhang as we are.
“My proposal—and this is confidential among the four of us—is that following the meeting with the six Tongs, I set up a one-on-one meeting with Feng Zhang. I have never met Feng. I need to size him up personally. I need to know who I will be fighting if a war between us does break out. And there is at least a small chance that he might see the wisdom of the Brotherhood. That’s unlikely, I know. Either way, in my view, the meeting is worth the risk.
“In the current environment the most vicious, violent, and savage Tong wins. At this point that is the Sing Leon. The personification of the violent supremacy of the Sing Leon is me, the Frenchman.”
Wan, Wyatt, and Nianzu saw the look in Bai’s eyes and agreed.
In the event there was a question, Bai continued.
“Wyatt, you and Wan understand the importance of my putting down a personal marker with Feng. He needs to look in my eyes and know that war with the Sing Leon will decimate the Rongue Ri. He also needs to understand that I will make it my personal mission to add his head to my trophies along with Wichi Fan’s and the seven other Rongue Ri leaders who have met a similar fate at my hands.”
Wyatt shook his head in agreement, then probed, “How will you ensure your safety, Bai?”
“That will be the focus of our discussion after the conclave. In my view, it is essential that I meet Feng and equally essential that I survive the meeting.”
All three men murmured in agreement. It was clear they saw the importance of such a meeting as well as the risks.
“Nianzu, Watso, Gui, and I will be working most of today and tomorrow on the conclave. But I want to begin planning my meeting with Feng. Wyatt, I will be honored to have you join Wan, Nianzu, and me. You’ve had a few high stakes meetings of your own,” he said with a smile. “Your input will be valuable.”
“It’ll be my privilege. Thanks, Bai, for taking me into your confidence. I am more impressed than ever with your leadership. You are worthy of my trust.”
Bai nodded. “I sincerely hope so, Wyatt.”
Wan and Nianzu got up to leave. Wyatt stayed seated. “I’ll meet you in your office in a minute, Wan.”
Wan looked from Bai to Wyatt and nodded. Pushing Nianzu out the door in front of him, he closed the door behind him.
~~~
Wyatt took out a cigarette, lit it, and took a deep drag. He leaned back in his chair, gazing at Bai through half closed eyes. Bai sat impassively, waiting for Wyatt to speak. The only giveaway to the turmoil Bai was feeling was a slight flush on his cheeks, but as throughout the previous conversation, his face was impassive, his manner elegant and cool.
“I want to discuss your relationship with Elena.”
“Such as it is.”
Wyatt smiled, “Let me qualify that. Your relationship as it pertains to her security.”
Bai nodded. “Thank you for the qualification. Agreed.”
Wyatt paused for a moment and then continued. “Elena is my only daughter, Bai.”
“I am aware of that. Please speak freely.”
“I intend to.”Wyatt took another long drag off his cigarette.
“I understand that you need to know that Elena will do what you tell her to do. I also understand why you handled the earlier conversation with her the way that yo
u did.” He paused and then looking hard at Bai, he continued. “Elena can be headstrong, feisty.”
Bai lifted an eyebrow and nodded, a slight glimmer of a smile crossed his eyes and then disappeared as quickly as it came.
Wyatt continued. “She is also young, inexperienced, and vulnerable. Unlike you, Bai, she has lived a sheltered life surrounded by a tight group of people who adore and protect her. That was necessary because of who I am and, to some extent, because of who Wan is. Elena didn’t ask to be born to a father who has as many enemies as I do, or that your father and you have. When she left our Wyoming ranch, she assumed she would have more freedom, less restrictions. Unfortunately, the circumstances here make that impossible. She is more restricted, not less. I hope that you will consider this as you design your list of rules she must follow.”
Bai’s expression tightened and the slight flush on his face deepened.
“You are speaking freely, Wyatt. Permit me to do the same. Since we are tallying Elena’s personality traits, I will add that she is obnoxious, spoiled, disobedient, and insolent. The only rules I will design are ones that will protect her if she chooses to obey them, which to date she has been unwilling to do. If you think I was being too hard on her earlier, I am sorry. If her past behavior is any indication, the only way I am going to be able to protect her completely is if I tie her to a post, blindfold and gag her so I don’t have to listen to her stream of insults.”
“I trust that won’t be necessary, Bai,” Wyatt drawled. “As to her being obnoxious, spoiled, and insolent -- all of those things are likely true to some extent. You seem to have triggered a side of Elena I know exists, but rarely see. I regret you have missed the side of her that is loving, bright, wise, and delightful. I hope that at some point you will be able to see the Elena those of us who love her deeply, see and cherish. ”
The flush on Bai’s face told him he had struck home. Wyatt stood up and walked to the door.
“One final point. Bai.” A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, but his eyes held a warning. ”We agree that under the circumstances, there is a need for control and perhaps even occasional discipline. But, please, do not hurt her.”
Bai nodded and said with an impish grin, “May I presume you wouldn’t object to the blindfold and gag?”
Wyatt smiled.
“Just remember, Bai. She is my daughter, my only daughter.”
“How could I forget?”
Wyatt walked to the door, then turned back, his expression open, pleasant. “Wan told me there is a small lake about a mile from the villa. I plan to take my wife and daughter riding, then for a swim and a picnic. If you can break away from your meetings, you are welcome to join us.”
“Thank you for the invitation. I fear I would put a damper on what sounds like a pleasant afternoon. Enjoy yourselves. Please give my regards to Lei.”
“I will. If you change your mind, we plan to leave around eleven o’clock.”
~~~
Wyatt closed the door behind him and headed down the hallway to Wan’s office. He poked his head in the doorway and said, “One question, Wan. How did you keep from killing me when I went after Lei?”
Wan looked up and puffed on his cigar. The corner of his lip lifted slightly.
“I tried, remember? You killed the guy I sent.”
“Hmm, so I did, so I did.”
Wyatt chuckled and went to find Lei and Elena.
~~
Chapter 23
After Wyatt left, Bai sent word to Elena that he wanted to speak with her. He wanted to talk to her before Wyatt did. She needed to understand that he was in charge of her. She needed to do what he told her to do, not because Wyatt said she should, but because he did.
When she knocked on the door, he told her to come in. She stood in the doorway, proud and angry, her shoulders squared, her head held high. Her expression was pinched, guarded. And, hell, she was so goddamn beautiful. He motioned to her to sit in the chair in front of his desk. Neither one of them spoke. There was too much between them to ignore the tension -- it filled the room. Bai pushed down a haunting memory of holding her in the garden, but refused to acknowledge anything except the anger he felt toward her.
“Elena, neither one of us wants to be here. If I had my wish and your father and grandfather agreed with my recommendations, you would be packing your things, preparing to go back to Wyoming with Lei and Wyatt.”
Her face flushed. He knew how angry she was, but he also saw tears well up in her eyes. He looked away. He assumed they were angry tears. It didn’t matter. Even now, he knew he wouldn’t be able to resist her if she started to cry.
“We have had this conversation many times. I refuse to lay out my rules and expectations of you. You are aware of the conditions I have for you if you stay.
I will only say that if you leave this place once without my permission or without me with you, you will be on the next train to Cheyenne – after I have spanked your bare ass so hard you won’t sit down for a week.”
He ignored the flash of anger in her eyes and held up his hand to stop her from speaking.
“I won’t ask you if you understand or if you agree, because I know you don’t. But we will play out this little charade because Wyatt and Wan have asked us to. Then, when you waltz off to your next dangerous outrageous escapade, presuming you don’t get killed or raped in the process, I will spank you to within an inch of your life, and personally put you on the train to Cheyenne. Again, I won’t ask you if you understand or agree. Your word is of no value.”
Elena jumped to her feet. Bai stood up, as well. They glared at one another. He saw that the tears in her eyes were angry ones. She shook her head and turned to leave the room.
“Elena, one more thing before you go.”
She looked back at him, her hand on the door handle.
“There is one more conversation we are going to have. We are going to have it now. It is the conversation about your wanting me to fuck you.”
Her eyes widened with surprise.
Barely able to speak, she stuttered in disbelief, “What are you talking about? My God, what are you saying?”
“Fillette, you have not had as much experience as you like to pretend you have -- but I have, and I know a woman who is begging to be fucked.”
Elena was shaking. She leaned back against the door to keep her balance. Her face was pale, her eyes wide with shock.
Bai brushed aside her attempt to speak with a dismissive wave of his hand.
“I will say this as clearly as I can so that even you will understand. Those men out there – panting at your feet, begging for the crumbs you throw them -- are boys, pathetic boys. I, on the other hand, ma petite fille, am not a boy. I am a man. A word of warning. If you want to play games with men, then be sure you know what you are doing and what you want.”
Bai walked around his desk and stood next to her. He reached down and twisted the hair at the back of her head in his fist. He lifted her face up next to his, as though he was going to kiss her. Instead, he held her close, looking in her eyes. His voice was soft, menacing.
“You may think you are up to playing games with me, little girl, but know this. The next time we play, I make the rules. And, cherie, that is one game we are going to finish.”
He released her and walked back behind his desk and stood looking out the window with his back to her.
She stood for a long moment at the door, her lips trembling, her face flushed, then turned and left the room, running to her chambers as fast as her shaking legs would allow.
~~~
Wyatt sat by the pond, leaning up against a tree smoking a cigarette, his arm around Lei. A light breeze cooled the mid afternoon sun. The fragrance of wild flowers and distant firs added to the calm beauty of the sheltered rise. Sunlight cut through the shadows of the trees and sparkled on the still blue waters of the pond. The only noise was the occasional chatter of the finches and the buzz of dragon flies flickering across the surface of the pond.<
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Elena sat apart. She wrapped her arms tightly around her legs and rested her face on her knees. The troubled look on her face, the muscles straining her neck, contrasted sharply with the idyllic setting. No one spoke since they finished their lunch. To Elena’s surprise, neither Lei nor her father raised any of the issues they were facing. They seemed to want to give her the opportunity to open the conversation.
When she did not, Wyatt broke the ice. He took a drag off his cigarette and leaned down and kissed Lei. He said with a soft chuckle, “Does what Elena is going through feel familiar to you, baby?’
She smiled and kissed him back. “You know it does. Damn, you men are impossible!”
“We are? Holy Christ, look at what I’ve put up with for fifteen years. Women!” He lifted her chin to look into her eyes, adding, “Darlin,’ for all the trouble you’ve caused me, I wouldn’t trade you in for anything.”
She punched him playfully on the arm. “I’ll show you trouble -- later.”
Elena looked up and smiled at their affectionate banter. She thought about the many times she had watched the two of them arguing. Then her father would storm to their room slamming the door behind him, or Lei would ride off to the stream in a huff, only for her father to follow. Many hours later, they would reappear, flushed with that glassy eyed look that was familiar to everyone used to their antics. She knew they were passionately in love with each other. Now she began to understand the deep sexual foundation it was built on.
