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

by Taylor Lee

  He held her tight against his chest. His voice was soft, serious.

  “Elena, in ten years of fucking women in eight different countries, no one ever made me feel the way you did tonight.”

  She opened her eyes and looked up at him.

  “How did I make you feel, Bai?’

  “Loved, Elena, well loved.”

  He leaned down and kissed her on her lips. Gently trapping her face between his big hands he bit the corner of her mouth.

  “And, yes, cherie, I do love you.”

  He added with a rueful sigh, “I’ve loved you since that day at the waterfall. I just didn’t have the courage to admit it.”

  ~~~

  They lay wrapped in each others arms. She had seen the strain on his face, felt it in his body when her healing fingers touched the places that were knotted with tension.

  “Are you awake, Bai?”

  “Qui, mon amour.”

  “Bai, tell me what happened at the meeting tonight.”

  He hesitated, sighing deeply. Many long moments later, he began to speak. He told her how disappointed he was, how fucking hard he had worked, how much it meant to him to succeed, and how frustrated he was that he had not been able to prevent the war that was sure to come.

  She asked occasional questions, but for the most part she was quiet, listening to the bitterness, the frustration, and mostly the disappointment. What disappeared as he talked and she listened, was the anger. In its place she heard a quiet resolve and she knew his strategic gift was kicking in.

  “Bai?”

  “Yes, Elena.”

  “I’m in love with a remarkable man.”

  “Ah, but one with many flaws.”

  “Perhaps one or two – but with a perfect robinet.”

  “That does it, you cheeky little minx. Over my knee, now! Mon dieu, never have I seen an ass like this that so needs to be spanked!”

  Amidst a chorus of shrieks and threats and the sound of a swat or two they tussled and loved and kissed their way to an exhausted, well-deserved sleep.

  ~~

  Chapter 31

  “The conclave left us with a difficult choice. The Tong leaders were clear. Feng Zhang personally threatened each of the Tongs with destruction if they allied with us. Unless they are confident that the Sing Leon can protect them from the Rongue Ri, they will not join the Brotherhood. Hence, the choice. We fight the war the Brotherhood was intended to prevent, or the Brotherhood is dead.”

  “That is a hell of a choice, Bai.” Wyatt was sympathetic.

  “Agreed.” Wan nodded.

  Nianzu spoke up. “It is important you both know, Bai was masterful at the conclave. The leader of each of the six Tongs praised his efforts and praised him as a man and a leader. There is no question that if the meeting had taken place before Wichi was killed, the Tongs would have signed on to the Brotherhood. As I am sure you know, this is particularly painful for me because it is my fault that Bai was forced to kill Wichi Fan.”

  An anguished frown creased Nianzu’s brow, underscoring the pain he felt.

  Wan and Wyatt nodded in agreement, but Bai remonstrated, meeting Nianzu’s gaze.

  “Nianzu, it is more complicated than that. As I told Elena last night, the Rongue Ri have been looking for an excuse for two years to drag us into the national Tong wars.”

  Bai chose to ignore the look Wan and Wyatt exchanged at his casual mention of Elena.

  Bai continued, “I hoped the formation of the Brotherhood would stop them and, yes, the killing of Wichi gave them a rationale for war. Whether they would have backed off, we will never know. As the Tong leaders also made clear, the non-aggression pact I proposed is a luxury the Sing Leon can afford -- but the minor Tongs cannot. I believe it was a Chinese warlord who first proclaimed, ‘When the elephants dance, the chickens get stomped.’ In this case, the minor Tongs, like the chickens, do not want to be in the middle of a war between the Rongue Ri and us.”

  Wyatt puffed on his cigar. “Do you still see a reason to meet with Feng, Bai?”

  “Yes, Wyatt, I do. This is what I want to discuss with the three of you. I understand the dangers and the unlikelihood of reaching an accord with Feng, but I am not willing to go to full scale war until I know my adversary.”

  “Bai, I understand well what you are saying--as I know Wan does. Both of us have taken great personal risks for the sake of our organizations. That is why my Caballeros and your Sing Leon are so loyal. I also know the importance of meeting your adversary face to face. But how can we ensure your safety?”

  Wan concurred. “Wyatt, this is the question I have posed to Bai. At least at this point, I am not satisfied that we have a plan that sufficiently protects him.”

  When Wyatt and Nianzu nodded in agreement with Wan, Bai held up his hand to speak.

  “Before we continue, I need to clarify our understanding. Wyatt, I am honored to have you in this discussion. I respect you and your accomplishments, second only to Wan. Your advice will be invaluable. Nianzu is my loyal lieutenant – as valuable to me as I have been to Wan. I do have a condition, however. It is one that I’m asking of you, Wan, and you, Wyatt, the two men I honor most.”

  He bowed slightly to them both with a gracious smile, but his voice was firm.

  “I need you to agree that I am the final decision maker. I will listen carefully, encourage you to test, challenge my assumptions and conclusions, but ultimately the final authority needs to be me.”

  Bai saw Wan and Wyatt exchange a long hard look, confirming they both understood that Bai was challenging Wan for his leadership. While this was a moment he and Wan had planned, Bai was sure Wan hoped it would not be this soon. Wan had often talked about turning over the reins to him when Bai was thirty-five. At only twenty eight years old, Bai would be the youngest Tong leader by far, as well as head of the largest and fiercest Tong outside of China. But the challenge from the Rongue Ri needed to be answered and Bai was convinced that he was the right man to provide that answer.

  Wan studied his son for a long moment. “Agreed.”

  Wyatt’s knowing glance affirmed them both. He stood bowing respectfully first to Wan and then to Bai. “As do I.”

  Bai stood. He bowed low to his father. Wan smiled and bowed in return. “It is as it should be.”

  Bai nodded and sat back down in his chair. He leaned forward, his was expression serious, his voice commanding. “This is my preliminary plan. I asked Mr. Liang Zhao, the head of the Leong Ton, to contact Feng on my behalf. Mr. Zhao hosted the conclave for me, Wyatt. He is a great admirer of Wan Chang and has been a consistent supporter of the Brotherhood. Because the Leong Ton is the third largest Tong, with strong backing from the Triad hierarchy, he is respected by the Rongue Ri as well.

  “I propose to meet with Feng and four of his top men – two of whom are informants of ours. The goal is to convince Feng and the other two that there is reason for cooperation. It is a long shot, but Feng knows that we have had the first meeting of the Brotherhood. He may see the wisdom of joining forces.”

  Wyatt frowned. “It sounds risky at best, Bai. Christ, you just killed their leader. They must be mad as hell. The first and most important question is how trustworthy are the informants?”

  “What you say is true, Wyatt. Not surprisingly it is not something I take lightly. We need to depend on our informants. They are the key. They will tell us if we are being set up. God forbid we are. But if something happens to me, we have a second layer of informants that the first group is unaware of. Those are the men who would help Wan avenge my death.”

  “Good God, Bai…” Nianzu was horrified. Wyatt and Wan shared a concerned glance.

  “We will put additional layers of support in place. But we can’t go in there with a full force or the point of the meeting is lost. I will have Nianzu, Wampo, Quitin, and Nui with me. They are all kung fu masters, of course, but in this case I am more concerned about weapons – particularly guns.”

  “When do you plan to meet
with him?” Wan asked.

  “I have asked Mr. Zhao to schedule the meeting for tomorrow night. I have a meeting in San Francisco tomorrow morning and will be gone most of the day. That gives us today and tomorrow evening to strategize. Not to put too grim a face on it, but I want to be sure that the four of us agree on what I am calling the second stage, which is what needs to happen if I am captured or killed. The third stage, of course, is all out war between the Rongue Ri and the Sing Leon.”

  They agreed that they would meet in the afternoon.

  ~~~

  As they all stood, Bai turned to Wyatt. “Wyatt, before you leave, I had an interesting message from Sheriff Thompson concerning Clint Dunwoody.”

  Wyatt took a cigarette out of his pocket, lit it, and took a deep drag. He looked at Bai through half closed eyes. “Is that so?”

  “The Sheriff said Dunwoody and three of his men were found close to Carson City on the California-Nevada border. Seems they were found stripped naked, bound to cactus with rawhide tied around their necks. The Sheriff said he hadn’t seen anything like it since he came to California. He did remember it frequently happening during the Apache uprisings in New Mexico in the ‘70s.”

  Wyatt looked thoughtful. “I remember those days. It’s a hell of a way to die. Slow, painful and sure. As the rawhide dries out it contracts, gets tighter and tighter. The unlucky bastards slowly strangle to death, not to mention what the animals do to them in the meantime. The Apaches used it to settle blood feuds and to send a message to other tribes or white gangs that they had tangled with the wrong Indians.”

  “I guess that explains why Mr. Dunwoody never responded to my invitation to meet at the time and place of his choosing. I assumed it was because I relayed the message I intended to flay the skin off his body after I broke every one of his bones kung fu style. The rawhide is a creative concept, though – simple, but effective. It is not something I was aware of, but I will keep it in mind. I am pleased Dunwoody and his men died a slow, painful death. My only regret is the men who attacked Elena died too quickly, too painlessly. I wanted to torture them. I can now sleep more easily at night.”

  “Yeah, Bai, looks like someone got to Dunwoody before you could. Seems like Dunwoody had a lot of enemies and sure as hell threatened the wrong ones. But I’m sleeping better myself these days. Christ, wouldn’t you think even someone as dumb as shit wouldn’t tussle with the Chinese and the Indians?”

  “One would think so, Wyatt.”

  ~~~

  Wyatt stayed behind to talk to Bai while Wan and Nianzu left to meet with the other Sing Leon who were going with Nianzu and Bai to meet with Feng.

  “Bai, I didn’t miss your reference to Elena. Of course, I couldn’t miss her shining eyes when I saw her for a few minutes when I arrived this morning. I was glad to see the smile back on her face. In fact, I think it is the happiest I have ever seen her. She’s got a glow. Thanks for putting it there.”

  Bai grinned. “To say it is my pleasure is an understatement, Wyatt. But according to Elena, I am now forever in your debt. Apparently, you gave her excellent advice on how to handle an arrogant asshole who was blinded by his pride.”

  “Well, Bai, let’s just say that I’ve had a good bit of experience up close to arrogant assholes who might have thrown away lifetimes of happiness if it hadn’t been for women like Lei and Elena.”

  They stood together without speaking for several moments. Wyatt took a drag off his cigarette, then asked carefully, “Bai, I’m gonna have to play the anxious father. I hope you will understand. Does Elena know about your plan to meet with Feng?”

  “Absolutely not.”

  “Hmm. That is going to be a problem, Bai, for me and for Wan, when he understands how much Elena loves you. I can’t tell you what to do but I hope that you will confide in her. God forbid anything happens to you. Neither Wan nor I plan to let it, but Elena needs to know about the meeting, Bai. She cares about you – an understatement. Hell, Bai. Elena has been around dangerous men and events all of her life. She can handle it.”

  Bai frowned. His eyes were hard. “I am not planning to talk with Elena about this, Wyatt. I’m sorry if that puts you in a difficult position. I will remember that in the future. Please don’t misunderstand me, but I do not yet trust Elena.”

  “Hmm, that is a serious problem, Bai.”

  “I know that, Wyatt. But you and I both know that she has given me reason not to trust her—the prime examples being the incident at the waterfall and the one at the saloon.”

  “A question to consider. Are you sure you aren’t confusing obedience with trust?”

  “You must be Elena’s father. That is precisely what she asked me. But no, I do not believe that I am. I have to know that if I tell her to do something that she will do it. I have to trust in that.”

  “I see.”

  “You see, but don’t agree, Wyatt?”

  Wyatt quirked a brow. “Putting that aside for the moment, Bai, a word from an arrogant asshole. Being in love can be frightening as hell. It requires a lot of faith and, yes, trust.”

  Bai smiled. “We agree on the frightening component, Wyatt. But, faith and trust come hard to me.”

  Wyatt nodded and took another drag on his cigarette, deciding to change the subject.

  “I told Elena I would go for a ride with her before lunch. Will you join us? I haven’t said anything to you yet, but that grey Arabian is the goddamn most beautiful mare I have ever seen. You are a miracle worker!”

  “Well, I talked with most of your contacts in the breeding world and thought I was going to have to bring one over from Persia. Luckily, you referred me to Cory McCander in New Mexico. He was the thirteenth breeder I contacted. By the way, he sends you his best, as do all the others. McCander had just shipped in four Arabians like Zhenqui, she was the only grey with blue eyes. I saw a horse like that in the Hamadan province in Persia when I was a boy. They were outfitting her for one of the royal princesses. I never forgot that horse. When I knew I was getting a horse for Elena that is the one I wanted. I agree with you, Wyatt. She is the most beautiful mare I have seen.

  “And, yes, in answer to your invitation, I will ride with you and Elena. She and I have an agreement that she will not leave the villa without me.”

  “Hmm, I see. Let’s go find that beautiful daughter of mine. I think we’ll find her saddling up Zhenqui.”

  “I’ll meet you in the barn, Wyatt.”

  Wyatt walked out to find Elena. He was thoughtful and troubled. He honored and respected Bai, but was concerned with the conversation they had about trust. Damn, Elena is right. Bai is talking about control, obedience, not trust -- although I can understand how he sees it that way. Shit, I know he’s terrified something might happen to her. Damn, after those two incidents, I am, too. But I sure as hell don’t like knowing the dangers of the mission to meet Feng and keeping that from Elena. Maybe Wan can talk with Bai.

  He continued to shake his head thinking about Bai’s assertion that Elena wasn’t to leave the villa without him. Hmm, guess not even with me… Christ, I thought I was possessive! He grinned. Good thing Elena is a whisperer. Hell, I taught her how to break a horse when she was seven years old. I can see her horse breaking skills are going to come in handy with this tough stallion. But he loves her, no question about that. And buying that particular horse for her – thirteen breeders…Phew.

  ~~

  Chapter 32

  Bai looked up from his desk when he heard the knock to see a blushing Francine in the doorway. “What is it, Francine?”

  “Mr. Bai, I am sorry to bother you, but you need to come now.”

  She was obviously upset and speaking in rapid French.

  “Is something wrong?” He jumped up. “Is it Elena?”

  “Yes, Mr. Bai. She sent me for you. She wants you to come immediately.”

  “Is she hurt?” Bai’s gut clenched.

  “No, no. But upset? Yes!”

  Bai heard the arguing from the bathroom w
hen he entered her chambers. He walked to the doorway to see the two young women he had brought from Madam Couchette’s standing at a distance from a very upset Elena. She saw him and rushed over to his side, grabbing hold of his arm.

  “Oh, God, Bai. Thank God you are here. You two, please leave immediately. Please go out in the hallway. Now! Francine, for Gods sake, don’t just stand there. Take them out into the garden. Somewhere far away!”

  Bai put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close.

  “Cherie, what is wrong? Francine alarmed me. I thought something dreadful had happened to you.”

  Elena was dressed in a silk robe, still damp from her bath. She was flushed, disheveled looking, and, to Bai’s mind, gorgeous!

  She threw her arms around his neck.

  “Elena, your heart is pounding like a frightened little deer. What is it, ma petite fille?”

  “Bai, those women are trying to do terrible things to me. And they said you told them to do it. At least I think that’s what they are saying. My God, I finally was able to make them understand that they needed to go get Francine. At least she speaks English. Those women do not! They only speak French. And…and very fast.”

  “Mon dieu, what terrible things are they doing?”

  She hesitated. Her face was flushed a rosy pink, her eye were wide with fear. “I…I will tell you in a minute. Oh, fine, I will tell you now. But first, close the door. Come closer. I need to whisper. I don’t want Francine to hear.”

  “Elena, what is wrong? You are being silly.”

  “Bai, I think those women…they think…they think I am a whore, one of your whores.”

  Bai tried not to laugh, but a grin tugged at his mouth and he couldn’t hide the twinkle in his eye. “No, cherie, I am sure they do not.”