The Grandmaster’s Legacy: Masters of Love and War (A Taylor Lee HOT Historical Romantic Suspense Collection) (The Grandmaster's Legacy)

by Taylor Lee

  Elena dashed after him, wishing she would see one of their men along the way. She needed to let Bai know where she was. She also was concerned about Lei. Peter, Greg’s aide, told her Lei needed her in the ladies’ room, but Lei wasn’t there. Oh God, I hope we are doing this right. I don’t know who to trust, she thought, as she and Greg ran down the long corridor to the governor’s private office.

  Greg took out a key and unlocked the door to the office and pushed Elena inside ahead of him. Elena stood in the doorway, aghast, trying to understand what she was seeing. Three of Greg’s men were standing against the wall, their faces tight, their hands under their coats, resting on their guns. It took her a moment to recognize the governor. His back was to her but when he turned to look at her his face was a ghastly shade of grey. His eyes were wild with what looked like fear. It took her a full minute to acknowledge the body on the ground at his feet. Only then did she see the gun on the desk next to the governor’s trembling hand.

  Elena covered her mouth with her hands to keep from screaming. She looked at the governor in shock.

  “Governor Sampson… my God… What have you done? What… Why…”

  Greg held her arm and pulled her body next to his.

  “I know this is a horrible shock. But my men are here and they will help us. You need to stay here, Elena. We don’t know who is working with him.”

  Greg pointed to the governor. “We also don’t know who else he killed. My men heard a shot in my quarters and are going to investigate. Unfortunately, Chris saw the governor and Senator Sinclair talking in the hallway.”

  He hesitated and then in a hoarse voice finished his thought.

  “We can only hope, Elena, that he only got Martin.”

  Elena took big gulps of air trying not to faint. Oh God, this is just what they expected, but she was here by herself, with only Greg and his men to protect her. She needed to get to Bai fast! She had to warn him!

  As if he could read her mind, Greg broke in.

  “Elena, Chris just told me Bai is looking for you. I will find him and bring him here. Stay right here, my darling. Do you hear me? I will take care of you now. You’re mine now. You must do what I tell you to, do you understand?”

  Elena looked at him in surprise, trying to grasp the situation. Something was wrong, very wrong. Why was Greg talking to her like that? Looking at her like that?

  “No, Greg! No. I need to go find Bai. He will be frantic looking for me. Please, get out of my way.”

  She tried to push him aside, but he grabbed her arm and twisted it—hard. Elena cried out surprised at the pain.

  “No, Elena. You must do what I tell you. It is the only way you will be safe.”

  He shoved her away from him and she stumbled against a chair, then sat down across from the governor, staring at Greg in disbelief.

  Greg turned to his men.

  “Peter, you come with me. Chris, Hank, keep her safe. Don’t let anyone in, do you hear me? And don’t hurt her.

  “Let’s go, Peter.”

  He slammed the door behind them, their footsteps echoing down the empty corridor.

  Bai was standing in the ballroom with Wyatt, Nianzu, and Alex. He lit a cigarette and took a deep drag when he saw Lei come in the ballroom by herself. He threw his cigarette to the floor and ground it out with his heel and strode to meet Lei.

  “Where’s Elena?”

  Lei started at the tone in Bai’s voice and looked in surprise at him and then at Wyatt.

  “What’s wrong, Bai? Elena isn’t with me.”

  Bai felt his face harden. His voice was soft, cold.

  “We were told you asked her to come to the ladies’ room. Was she there?”

  Lei paled and shook her head no.

  “I never asked for her. I was talking with Mrs. Sinclair.… Oh my, God… they have her… they do… don’t they?”

  Bai saw the look on Wyatt’s and Nianzu’s faces and knew it reflected his own. At that moment, Liang and Quitin came up to them.

  “Bai, Jim Thompson grabbed me in the hallway. He told me that one of his men saw Elena with Greg Forester. They were running down the corridor to the governor’s office.”

  “I don’t understand. The governor didn’t react to the necklace except to comment on its beauty. He didn’t act strange in any way…” Nianzu broke off staring at Bai.

  Alex looked from his father to Bai and then to Lei.

  “What the fuck is going on? Where is Elena? Why the hell do you all look like that?”

  When no one responded, Alex turned white and grabbed Wyatt’s arm.

  “Tell me, Father. Is something wrong with Elena? Where is she?”

  Bai ignored Alex and spoke crisply.

  “Nianzu, come with me and Wyatt. Quitin, tell the others then meet us at the governor’s office. Liang, take Lei to Mrs. Sampson’s quarters and lock her in with two guards. Lei, don’t argue. Do exactly as I say.”

  Lei nodded and turned to go with Liang.

  Alex grabbed her arm and held Wyatt’s arm with his other hand.

  “No! No, I tell you. Mother, Father, tell me, tell me now. Where is Elena?”

  When they didn’t answer, he whirled toward Bai.

  “I can see it on your face. Something is terribly wrong. Something has happened to Elena and it’s your fault. What did Nianzu mean about the necklace? The necklace she was wearing. My God! You used her, didn’t you? You used my sister in some fucking game of yours! You did, didn’t you? Goddamn you! You used my sister as bait? You son of a bitch, you…”

  Alex raised his hands and rushed toward Bai. Wyatt caught him from behind.

  Bai spoke in a voice only his followers knew.

  “Hold him, Wyatt. Take care of him. NOW!”

  Wyatt twisted Alex’s arm up hard against his back and held it tight. His breath was hot in Alex’s ear and he spoke in a voice as hard and cold as Bai’s.

  “Listen to me, son, and listen hard. Decide where you stand. You can stand with me and these men and the man who loves your sister more than anything in the world or you can get the hell out of our way. Decide, Alex. Do you want to hate Bai or do you want to help us find your sister, my daughter, and Bai’s wife?”

  Wyatt shoved Alex up against the wall, then turned to Bai and Nianzu and said, “Let’s go.”

  Chapter 32

  Elena sat in the chair across from the governor, staring at his ashen face. Little by little, her fear lessened and her training stepped in. As horrified as she was by Martin’s body and the hideous mess on the floor at her feet, she knew she had to get the gun from the governor. He was too shaky, too distraught. He could do anything, including killing her like he did Martin. So much didn’t make sense especially Greg. What the hell was wrong with him? Why was he acting the way he did? Saying the things he had? She needed to know. But first she had to get the gun and then she had to get to Bai.

  She stood up carefully, trying not to startle the governor, but it was too late. He stood up and moved toward her. Looking down at the body the floor, he blanched. When he turned to face Elena he was holding the gun in his wobbly hand.

  “You don’t understand, Elena. Please, dear, please. Don’t look at me like that. You know I would never hurt you. I love you. I love your family. You don’t understand. It’s not me. I didn’t do this. It’s Greg. Please, Elena…”

  Elena stepped back focusing on the gun. The governor was shaking, waving the gun in wild circles like a conductor’s baton, as though he was underscoring a note for emphasis, not waving a loaded weapon. She heard the panic in his voice which further steeled her. Keeping her eyes locked on his face, she leaned down and pulled up the hem of her gown and tucked it in her drawers. Thank God, I am wicked, she thought with a shudder. The slit up the front of her dress gave her the leg room she needed.

  The governor’s eyes widened and he reached out to her his gun pointing at her face. Elena dropped down in a fighting stance. With a wild spirit cry, she whirled in a circle and sprung from
the floor. She drove her heel at the gun in the governor’s hand and caught his wrist with her foot. To her shock the gun exploded with a loud blast. It ricocheted from the governor’s hand, flying across the room. With a quick turn, she drove her elbow hard against his ribs and heard a satisfying crack. He screamed in pain as he fell to the floor. She jumped up and stood over him, assessing the damage and gave a grunt of approval. He was writhing in pain holding his wrist at an angle. She could only hope it was broken.

  Without a word, Elena turned and with a fierce shriek headed to the two men coming at her. She heard Greg warn them not to hurt her and had to believe they wouldn’t shoot, but from the looks on their faces she knew they were going to take her down. She caught the man called Chris with a driving kick to his jaw knocking him to the floor. Hank dove for her, but she jumped aside. As he flew by, she crammed her elbow against his shoulder joint, wrenching a piecing scream from the surprised man. For the next several minutes, she alternated between the two men, using every skill she spent a lifetime learning. She pummeled the two men with a barrage of flying kicks, elbow and knee strikes until both men were crouched on the floor begging for mercy. She eyed the guns they’d dropped and was moving to get them when she saw the shadow of a man pointing a gun at her from the side door to the office. She whirled to charge him when she heard a familiar shtick and saw the man drop the gun. His hands flew to his neck, too late to retrieve a nine inch blade from his throat.

  ~~~

  Bai heard the gunshot and covered the length of the corridor to the governor’s office in seconds, followed by Wyatt and Nianzu. He burst through the door in time to see Elena drive the governor to the ground and challenge the two men in front of her. Only when he saw the blond haired man in the side doorway did he act. He threw the knife and watched the man sink to the floor, then turned to Elena. The gunshot terrified him. He was still shaking. Even the sight of her rushing toward him did nothing to stop the waves of fear coursing through his body. He had never felt fear like this. Only when he held her tight in his arms did his fear begin to turn to fury.

  She pushed him away and stepped back. Her face was flushed with anger and exertion but her voice was shaking and her body was trembling.

  “I could have gotten him, Bai. I had it under control.”

  “Ah, yes, cherie. You most certainly did have it under control. But why be so greedy? Isn’t three enough? Did you need to get all four?”

  Elena tossed her head and then collapsed against him, pointing to the governor writhing on the floor.

  “Bai, it’s him. It’s Governor Sampson. He killed Martin. I don’t know about Greg… something isn’t right, but it was the governor…”

  Wyatt picked up the guns from the floor as Nianzu tied Chris and Hank back to back with a drapery cord. He pulled the knots tight and said with a harsh groan, “That’ll hold you fuckers until the sheriff gets here.”

  Meanwhile, Bai reached the governor. He picked him up and bodily threw him to his back on the floor. Bai knelt on his chest straddling him. He grabbed his shirt front in one hand twisting it tight. With the other hand he held his blade up against the governor’s throat.

  “You have thirty seconds. Tell me the truth. If I find out you are lying, I’ll cut you in pieces, starting with your dick. Now. Tell me!”

  The governor’s face was grey, his body shaking. Only Bai’s weight held him in place. He was blubbering like a baby, gasping for air.

  “Oh, God, Bai! Oh my God! I promise you… I’m telling you… it wasn’t me. As God is my witness… I didn’t do this. Please… Please, Bai! You have to believe me. It was Greg… He killed Martin… Shot him in the face. He pulled my gun out of my drawer, walked over and… oh my God… he shot him in the face.”

  Disconsolate sobs wracked the governor’s body. Bai released some of the pressure on his neck and held the knife back away from his throat.

  “Why? Why, Brad? Why did he kill Martin?”

  The governor shrieked, “I don’t know. I don’t know. And, God, Bai. I think he killed Louie Sinclair. Oh, Jesus. What is happening?”

  “How do you know he killed Sinclair?”

  “He said you did. He was like a crazy man. Said it was you. He said you were evil, taking over the state, the country. Holy Christ, he was insane. And he killed Martin, just fucking shot him… and Louie… Oh my God.”

  Bai stood over the sobbing man and exchanged looks with Wyatt and Nianzu.

  “Get the sheriff in here. Have him take him into custody. We’ll sort this out later.”

  At that moment, Quitin rushed in the room followed by three other men.

  “Bai, I just saw Greg in the corridor. Is he dirty or clean?”

  “Given that he is our Chameleon, I’d say he’s dirty as they come.”

  “Oh Christ, Bai. He’s got Alex. I should have stopped them, but they looked like they were walking and talking to each other. I was concerned about Elena… Christ, I’m sorry…”

  Bai nodded to Nianzu motioning him to pick up the governor. Nianzu dragged him to his feet and Bai moved up against him. Remembering the blueprints they had studied, he pushed his face up next to the governor.

  “Where would he go? Where is the door to the tunnel to the basement? NOW, Brad!”

  “It’s around the corridor, the… the opposite way you came. It… it looks like a service door.”

  “Is there another entrance?”

  “No. But… but… uh, but the tunnel splits… splits at the bottom of the stairs. There are rooms… rooms at both ends of the corridor.”

  Bai turned to Wyatt and Nianzu.

  “Wyatt, you and Nianzu take the left wing. I’ll take the right. They won’t kill Alex. Once they see that we have Elena, they will need him to trade. The rest of you branch out in the hallway and come to whoever yells for you.”

  ~~~

  Bai moved away from the governor and pulled Elena with him.

  Elena had seen him angry. In fact, she thought she had seen him furious, but she had never seen him like this. His grip on her arm was so tight his knuckles were white and his fingers left indelible marks on her skin. His face was grim; his eyes were hard, cold with a level of anger that shot fear through her gut. He pulled her even closer and when he spoke his voice was a hiss.

  “Elena, when we get home, you and I will discuss what happens to very naughty girls who disregard carefully laid plans and go off on their own. Do you hear me, cherie? You could have been killed, you came as close to being killed as you ever have. All because you refused to follow the plans that you, your father, Nianzu, and I created to protect you – especially you. When we are alone, Elena, I will show you how strongly I feel, how angry I am.”

  Elena swallowed hard. She had never seen Bai like this. A hard shudder hit her. She knew he wasn’t talking about the erotic spankings that titillated and aroused them both. No, Bai was furious—at an elemental, primal level. Still holding her arm in a death grip, he turned to Quitin.

  “Quitin, I want you to take her out to the ballroom where there are at least a hundred people milling around, including all of our men. And, goddamn you, I want you to keep her there. If you have to tie her to a post, blindfold and gag her, do it! Do you hear me? If she follows me, so help me God, there will be murder. And it won’t be hers. I will kill you and send your remains in a box back to your mother with a note telling her how I enjoyed killing you. Do you understand?”

  Quitin blanched and nodded.

  Bai turned back to Elena.

  “Do you understand?”

  She whispered “yes” and looked down.

  Bai nodded to the rest of his men. With a final glare at Elena and Quitin, he turned and followed his men running down the corridor.

  ~~~

  “What a worthless piece of shit you are. Look at you. Too frightened to stand up to him, you let him take your sister. How could you? How could you let a Chink, a goddamn yellow animal, take your sister? Have you no pride? Don’t you care that a fucking Chink h
as his cock in her cunt? What kind of a man are you?”

  Greg slammed the butt of his gun across Alex’s face and, for good measure, swung at the other side leaving a matching mark. Alex slid to the floor. His feet and hands were tied and he was groggy from the doped gag and the pain of the beating.

  He tried to turn away when Greg crouched down on his haunches in front of him, but Greg held his chin in his hand and spit the words in his face.

  “I despise you, Alex. I despise your weakness. You could have helped me. What kind of a fucking white man are you? The only thing you are good for now is bait. Because no matter what, he will come after you. He won’t leave you here. You are family. And by God, when he does, I will have him and the last thing you see before I kill you is me fucking your sister. Fucking her the way she should be fucked for giving herself to a goddamn Chink!”

  Alex watched Greg stride away and heard the door slam after him. From the musty smell, he knew he was in a basement or a dungeon of some kind. Every bone in his body hurt from the beating Greg and his men gave him. But the physical pain was nothing compared to the shame swamping him. When his father challenged him in the ballroom he was furious, but as Bai and Wyatt rushed off something snapped and he knew he had to help them find Elena. He grimaced, remembering his stupidity. He thought Greg was his friend when he met him in the hallway. And when Greg offered to take him to Elena, he followed him like a fucking lamb to slaughter.

  Only when Greg turned on him did Alex understand the enormity of his mistake. That was when the shame hit him. Alex shook with anger, remembering the hideous things Greg said about Elena. And, for Christ’s sake, about Bai. The idea that Greg hated Bai because of his race was repugnant to Alex. Cut him at soul level. But Alex knew Greg was wrong. Bai would never come after him. Why should he? This was a perfect way to let him go, to allow Alex to face the chaos he created.

  Alex drifted off in his half drugged state and woke when he heard a rustling noise. He thought it was the guards at the door who were laughing and talking paying no attention to their drugged bound prisoner. Alex heard a shtick and a large thump like a body hitting the ground. One of the guards muttered, “What the hell…” and then another shtick was followed by a similar thump.