Ng recorded the votes. “Zheng Si, you have only received one vote from the Council today. My vote will be cast with the majority and therefore, would not help you. Please remove yourself from the room.”
“Gina Lee-Xiou please stand.” I stood and bowed. “Each member please vote your conscious as your name is called.”
“Eli Nakamura.”
“Yes.”
“Wei Chan.”
“Yes.”
“Binu Yoshi.”
“No.”
“Ang Woo.”
“Yes.”
“Si Xei.”
“No.”
I raised my head after seeing who stood with me and who stood against me. I now knew the deal, and I had the three votes. If Ng voted for me, it would make me the leader. Everything I’d ever wanted was right at my fingertips. I had a choice to make. I spoke up.
“Honorable leaders of the Council. It is with great respect and extraordinary circumstances that I ask for permission to speak.”
Ng looked down the table for a consensus and most agreed. “It is quite unusual, but after conferring with the other members of the Council—please go ahead.”
“It is with much honor and pride that I stand before you today. Being given the opportunity to lead this organization and sit in my father’s chair is a dream I’ve had so long that I cannot remember when the seeds were first planted. I would stand shoulder to shoulder with giants being amongst you. However, after careful consideration, it is my feeling this Council would be better served if I withdrew my name.”
The room had been quiet but was suddenly draped in surprise and confusion.
After a few moments of more chatter, Ng responded. “Gina Lee-Xiou, are you sure of this decision? Were you somehow coerced into it?”
“No. This decision was made of my own free will.”
It was apparent he was stunned. “Then, we have no choice but to grant it. Since this is your decision, please remove yourself from the room.”
“It is, and thank you all.”
Nina Lee-Xiou was going to assume the leadership position. The smirk on her face was like lightning. It was there and then gone too soon for most to have observed it. I noticed. But, that was quite alright because what Nina didn’t know was that this was the beginning of Plan B.
Chapter 10
I was too drained for conversation as Hahn and I drove back to the hospital. I still needed to make one more phone call, though. I would have rather tap-danced with the devil before making it.
I pulled out my phone, went to my address book and scrolled down until I found his number then pressed it with my finger. Seconds later the ringing in my ears began. It had to be my mind playing tricks on me because the volume seemed to get louder with each ring.
“Hello.” His voice was still so familiar. But, what would once have made my thighs tingle left me feeling—nothing.
“Alexandro.”
“Gina.” He exhaled deeply. He was calm, but I could hear the irritation in his voice. “What manner of madness is going on now?”
“You think so highly of me.” The sarcasm dripped from my lips. “How do you know I’m not calling to check on Cicely or to say congratulations on the birth of your daughter?”
“Because I know and you know that you keep tabs on Cecily through all kinds of underhanded means. You already know the important stuff, so there is no reason to call and check on her. Lucinda is almost six months old. I can’t imagine I’d get a congratulations on that. Bottom line, what’s this call about?”
“Nina’s alive.”
He didn’t sound shocked. “Braylee told me.”
“Figures. She tells you everything?”
Alex remained silent.
“I guess she does. Anyway, aren’t you the least bit curious about Nina? Like, where she’s been all these years?”
“No. Not even a little. She allowed her daughter to think she was dead for fifteen years. We should keep it that way.”
“Can’t disagree with you.”
“Interesting you would say that. At any rate, I hope your reunion was a happy one but keep your brand of crazy on your side of the world. If you’re not exactly sure what I mean because of a language barrier, let me explain it this way. Cecily believes she’s dead. I see no reason for her to think otherwise.”
“Alex, we can’t agree that the sun is yellow, but on this, we’re perfectly in sync.”
I could feel his frustration coming through the phone. “Damn. If you’re calling and agreeing with me, then that means you don’t have this situation under control.”
“I’m working a couple of different angles to make sure Nina doesn’t hurt Cecily, but I’m calling you so that you can be on guard. She threatened to use her against me.”
Alexandro was silent. I knew he was wondering if his family would ever be able to rid themselves of us. I couldn’t blame him. We were bad news. “Gina, listen—Cecily is thriving after losing her father. I will do anything to protect my niece. I mean anything.”
“I would expect no less. I only called to give you a heads-up. You do what you have to do on your end, and I’ll do what I have to on mine. Hopefully, we won’t have to cross paths to achieve our goals. At the end of the day, I think we both want Cecily safe.”
“If it will put your mind at ease, I increased Cecily’s security the moment Braylee told me about Nina.”
“Good.”
His voice held the tiniest bit of compassion. “Gina . . .”
“Yeah?”
“We have our differences big differences, but thank you for loving Cecily enough to allow her to grow up with as much peace as possible.”
I wanted to say that I wasn’t a monster that needed to be kept away from her, but the truth of the matter was . . . I was. There was nothing the Lee-Xiou family could offer Cecily that would make her a better person. We were poison plain and simple.
I was full of too many emotions tonight. My throat was thick, I cleared it. “Take care of her, Alex.” It had been a long time since we’d been able to have anything close to a civil conversation. The absence of snapping at one another was probably the closest we’d ever get to being friendly. We would never be friends, but it was something—for a man I once loved.
Our silence was filled with regret and remorse for a time long ago. I attempted to lighten the mood by getting back on familiar ground. “While your choice in a wife leaves a lot to be desired . . .”
“Couldn’t help yourself could you?”
I could feel the smile in his voice just as I was sure he could hear the laughter in mine. “You know me, Alexandro Manchetti. Seriously, congratulations on the birth of your daughter. I genuinely mean that.”
“Thank you and . . . Gina, take care of yourself.”
We disconnected. I leaned back onto the headrest and closed my eyes hoping to clear my mind. If only briefly. Hahn left me with my own thoughts for the remainder of the drive until we pulled up in front of the hospital.
“Are you okay?”
I didn’t, couldn’t move. “Fine. Just need a good twenty-four hours of uninterrupted sleep.” Inside, I wept for so many reasons—a dream denied, a different kind of life, and a love longed for.
“Gina. About that, am I free to be honest with you?” Hahn gripped the steering wheel a bit tighter.
“Of course.”
“You’re burning it at both ends. You’ve got to get some rest. We need you present and focused.”
The corners of my lips edged up just a bit. “You’ve heard the saying; I’ll rest when I’m dead, which might come sooner than later.” I laughed. He didn’t. “Don’t worry about me. I know what’s at stake. My life and yours.”
“Nina’s not going to leave you as a loose end out here. As long as you’re alive, you’re a threat to her.”
I never opened my eyes but rubbed them with my fingers. “Hmmm . . . yes. I know.”
“Now that she’s assumed the leadership position, it’s going to make
getting to her harder, and we’ve got a lot to do in the next couple of days. I don’t mean to talk out of turn but Mr. Windham is getting the best care available, and his family is here. Do you need to be? Any distraction could cost you.”
“I hear what you are saying, but trust me, I’ve got this. With the information you gave me about what Nina’s been doing over the last fifteen years, some things haven’t changed very much. She’s still greedy and selfish. I won’t need to devise some elaborate scheme to get to her. She’ll come to me.”
Hahn hesitated. “Okay.” He took a deep breath. “You’re the boss, and you sign my checks.”
Jokingly, I responded. “You’ll do well to remember that.”
“Dex is going to be on duty with you tonight. I’ll be with Lim finalizing what you’ve asked me to do.”
“Call if there are any hiccups.”
Just as Hahn finished speaking, Dex opened my door, and I got out. As we entered the hospital, Hahn’s car didn’t move until he saw us go inside. Where my enemies outnumbered my friends a million to one, his loyalty to me didn’t go unnoticed.
*****
Dex and I walked towards the ICU unit and then over to Brody’s hospital room. The closer we came to it, the hairs on my body began to stand up. Something wasn’t right. Where the hell was everybody? My heart started racing. There weren’t any guards stationed outside the door, and his room was empty.
Immediately, I dashed over to the nurse’s station. “That man—the man who was in room #204—Brody Windham, where is he?”
A nurse looked up from her station. She frowned as she glanced at the clock. “I’m sorry visiting hours are over.”
“Lady, it’s been a long day, and I don’t have time for any shit! I am Gina Lee-Xiou. Now look down on your little clipboard and tell me where is Brody Windham?”
The night shift nurse was about to say something, and it must have been obvious that if she uttered the wrong words, I would hand her, her ass. Instead of allowing that to happen, Dex spoke before she could. “Ms. Lee-Xiou has been given special privileges. Please, if you would, let us know Mr. Windham’s location.”
The nurse hesitated. Dex was trying to be nice, but I was ready to hurt that woman.
“If you could help us we’d greatly appreciate it. Otherwise, we’ll have to get your superiors involved.”
After a second of indecision, the nurse picked up her clipboard. She ran her finger midway down the sheet of paper then stopped.
I stood there frozen waiting for words to come out of her mouth. The seemingly permanent scowl she’d been wearing since my arrival disappeared only to be replaced by a softening of her face. The tight lines around her mouth loosened and changed into something that looked more like sympathy.
I wasn’t sure if my legs were going to support me. Why hadn’t anyone called? She raised her eyes to mine. “Ms. Lee-Xiou, I’m very sorry, but I’ll need to call Mr. Windham’s doctor to speak with you.”
I couldn’t respond. I just stood there. Everything and everyone around me seemed to be moving in slow motion.
*****
Death wasn’t anything new to me. I’d experienced a lot of it in my lifetime, some I’d personally been responsible for. Still, I didn’t take life for granted. In the midst of everything I was going through, Brody should have been a one-night stand. Period. Having him in my life had cost him his.
I was leaning against the wall next to the nurse’s station when his physician finally appeared. “Ms. Lee-Xiou?”
I pushed myself off of it, straightened my spine, and braced for the confirmation. Strange, it was a déjà vu moment. Only days ago, I’d seen Brody do the same thing when I finally came out from the US Capitol Police’s office after being questioned.
I was numb. All I could focus on when I answered the doctor was his white lab coat, and the fact that his wire-rimmed glasses were crooked. “Yes.”
“I hate to be the one to tell you this . . . I am so very sorry. We did all we could for Mr. Windham. In the end, his injuries were just too severe for him to overcome.”
I pressed my lips together as I tried to process what he’d just told me. My mouth felt like cotton. It was hard to breathe because even my chest didn’t want to move. I wanted to yell at the top of my lungs but couldn’t manage to do anything except stare straight ahead.
On the inside, I was having a full-on meltdown. Life had taught me never to let anyone see the most vulnerable part of yourself because they would just use it against you. Instead, I blinked a few times.
My voice held no emotion. “Have you informed his family?”
“Yes, a couple of hours ago. Some of them are still with the body.”
They always said karma was a bitch. Was this my karma? The pain I felt was as if it were my own gunshot to the chest. I’d met a man who’d finally accepted me, flaws and all, and who I didn’t have to pretend to be someone else for him to love me. I didn’t even know I’d been starving for that until he’d touched that part of my soul.
Brody was able to see through all the bull and didn’t run away. I’d gotten a taste of what no man had ever given me, and I was too weak to walk away from it. When did I become so needy?
Now, he was gone, and I had no one to blame but myself. It would be no surprise if the kindness I’d been shown earlier from his family was replaced with anger and vengeance.
“Ms. Lee-Xiou?”
I supposed the physician must have called my name a couple of times before Dex nudged me out of my haze. I had disappeared into my own mind.
I was physically and emotionally tired. “Yes?”
“I hate to ask you at this time, and considering the late hour, but we’ll need your signature on some of the financial paperwork. Can you follow me to my office?”
“No. Before I do anything, I need to see Brody for myself so that I know this is real. Otherwise, my mind won’t accept him being gone.”
He nodded. “I understand. I’ll take you down to the morgue. It’s in the basement of the hospital.”
Chapter 11
Nina Lee-Xiou Manchetti
Nina sat down at the vanity in her hotel room and stared into the mirror. Not only had this been a long day but today’s events had also been a long shot. It was a dream she never knew she wanted.
Slowly Nina inhaled, and little by little released the air from her lungs. She was somewhat still in disbelief. After a lifetime of feeling inferior, Nina had finally bested Gina.
Carefully, she picked up her night cream and applied a bit of it to her face. Nina studied her reflection. Her eyes danced. Not only did they sparkle as she examined her image, but they swayed to the beat of the glory of winning. It wasn’t an easy or hollow victory either. And, given that Gina had been groomed her entire life to succeed Chang, even if she didn’t know it, made this triumph that much more sweet.
Chang was a master of manipulation and had subtly convinced Gina that without being the leader of the Family Council she wouldn’t be strong, powerful, or in control of her life. He knew the challenge of not being able to achieve her goals, for an overachiever, would make her want it even more.
Nina wondered what he would think now that she’d claimed the leadership role for herself. She’d beat the odds and had proven him wrong. As a matter of fact, it felt good to be able to prove Chang, Gina, and even Laurette, wrong. Granted, Chang and Laurette were both dead, but it still bothered Nina that Gina had always been her parent’s favorite. Couple that with their lack of faith, and it was the motivating force behind all of her actions over these past years.
Nina could still recall the many conversations she’d had with her father as if they’d only happened yesterday, but one, in particular, stood out amongst all of the others. She’d come home from school upset. Aoki Cho was the sexiest guy in her high school class. She’d had a crush on him for two years, but he hadn’t been interested. After finally gathering up the nerve, she’d asked him to the spring dance. He’d told her, you’re nice and all bu
t do you think you could hook me up with your sister? Nina wasn’t just angry she was livid! She’d asked this fool out, and he’d tried to get her to hook him up with his sister? How was it even possible to be this level of a jerk? Never mind the fact that they were identical twins! If he had a crush on Gina, then he surely should have wanted her too. It boggled her mind how anyone would want to spend any time with Gina. She had such disdain for the people at their school. She walked around in one of two ways; either with her nose in the air or her head in a book. Gina acted like she was better than everyone else. It was Nina who tried to fit in and be nice to the people around her. This time, she was willing to do whatever it took to get Aoki to choose her. Gina wasn’t going to win this round.
After pining for Aoki for more than two years and finally working up the courage to talk to him, in an instant, he had broken her heart. It didn’t matter what she did; he wasn’t interested in her. All her tricks only served to get Nina in more trouble. On that day, always coming in second to Gina was overwhelming. She couldn’t bury her emotions like usual. Instead, Nina had to face Chang while at her weakest state.
Gina and Nina had come home from school. They hadn’t had time to do anything and were still dressed in their schoolgirl uniforms. Nina couldn’t even have the satisfaction of being able to slam the door behind her because the bodyguards were around.
“What’s wrong with you?”
Nina mumbled. “Nothing. What’s wrong with you?”
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