Chapter 3
CHAPTER 3
E mily slid her key card into the reader, the soft beep signaling her access to her high-end apartment. Owned by her uncle, the building stood as a testament to his legitimate enterprises, though none of the family chose to reside within its walls except her.
Stepping into the spacious living room, Emily let out a sigh of relief, shedding her hoodie and tossing it onto the long counter that stretched along one wall. The open floor plan, a design choice she had made herself, greeted her with its modern aesthetic, though the style fell short of her personal tastes. White couches adorned the space, their sleek lines offering little comfort, while the dining set seemed more suited to a showroom than a home.
Despite the impersonal decor, Emily had made the space her own in small ways, adding a cozy lounger where she could unwind and escape the demands of her hectic life. It was here, nestled beneath a soft blanket with a movie playing on the screen before her, that she found solace in the rare moments of downtime that she treasured.
As she settled into the familiar embrace of her apartment, Emily felt a sense of calm wash over her. Her last incursion had been a clusterfuck of epic proportions, and her intel had been wrong. Her uncle was usually diligent about security, as her failure was his, but they had missed the backup system.
She made her way to the bathroom. She wore only a bra now and checked her stitches. Mrs. Lim was a godsend. One of the few people who didn’t judge those she served. Her skills were impeccable, too, and though her flesh felt like someone had taken a saw to it, she knew it would heal. It wasn’t her first injury, but it was her first bullet.
She reached over and turned the water on in the shower before discarding her clothes. She placed a waterproof bandage over the wound and stepped under the warm water, letting it wash away her sins. Tears stung her eyes, but nobody would see them, not here in the confines of the shower. She was so tired. Not just physically. But of everything.
She sniffed and turned off the water before stepping out and grabbing a towel. The chrome-accented bathroom fixtures gleamed under the pot lights, but none of it was beautiful to her.
She exited the bathroom with the towel wrapped around her and made her way to the bedroom, avoiding the king-sized bed to move directly to the walk-in closet. She had received a text from her uncle on the way up to her apartment, insisting on a meet. He likely heard she was hurt and wanted to assess the damage. Not because he cared about her, but because she was the golden goose.
She removed the waterproof bandage and placed a clean covering over her wound before popping a few painkillers. She usually avoided them, but her hands were beginning to shake, and she needed to take the edge off the pain for the short walk to one of her uncle’s restaurants.
She then got dressed in a simple cotton blouse and black jeans before pulling on her short leather boots and heading out the door. It was nice outside, and she decided she didn’t want a jacket.
She went to the elevator and hit the button, but as she entered and began to move toward the lobby, she had a strange sensation. It reminded her of her visitor, but closer somehow; it was almost as if he was going up while she was going down. She shook off the strange thought and exited the lift in the lobby. She was outside in the sun, walking toward the Chinese restaurant down the street and putting on her sunglasses as she went.
She crossed the street when the walking light blinked, and was entering the empty restaurant in seconds.
Emily entered the dimly lit Chinese restaurant, the aroma of savory spices mingling with the scent of freshly brewed coffee. The interior was adorned with traditional red-and-gold decor, lanterns casting a warm glow over the intimate dining space. The restaurant was empty except for her uncle seated at a table, and the imposing bodyguard standing like a sentinel by his side.
Approaching her uncle Ming, Emily noted the air of authority that surrounded him. Ming’s reputation preceded him, and anybody who met him was wise to fear him. He sat with a steaming cup of coffee before him, his gaze fixed on the world beyond the window as if lost in thought.
As Ming gestured for her to take a seat, Emily complied, her movements wooden as she settled into the chair opposite him.
“I hear there was some trouble with your last job,” he said conversationally, as if they were talking about a shift at a local Starbucks.
Ming had taught her to word their conversations as if someone was listening, and likely they were. “Yes, the customer was upset.”
“You can’t please everybody,” Ming said.
“I wasn’t given the correct order. Some of the information was missing. ”
Ming shot her a warning look. “People make mistakes. It happens.”
Emily grunted and glanced toward the kitchen when her oldest cousin emerged. Jun’s lip curled slightly when he saw her. None of the family accepted her, but his hatred of her reached a new level every time she was in his presence. There seemed to be more meetings and more hatred lately.
Ming waved his hand dismissively. “I need you to fulfill another order.”
She shook my head. “I can’t.”
Jun walked over, placed his hand over her wound, and squeezed slightly. The pain would have been a lot worse had she not taken the meds before she left, but it still lanced her shoulder as if a hot poker were stabbed in the wound. “You will do as you’re told.”
She glanced at Ming without reacting to the pain. “I’m tired and hurt. I need to recover first.”
Ming shook his head. “You will do as you’re told, or there will be consequences.”
Emily was well aware of the consciences. Death. She had no family, nobody who cared about her, and now she had two creatures hunting her. She knew what the first monster wanted, but the second remained a mystery. What was she holding on for? Her life was a nightmare. “I can’t do it. If you can’t accept that, then just kill me now. I’m too tired to fight with you.”
Jun squeezed her shoulder, and blood spread across the white cotton shirt.
Ming’s eyes narrowed on the wound. Then he hissed a command in Chinese, and Jun released her. “You never said she was shot. You said she was hurt.”
Jun shrugged. “Choe didn’t see the wound when she was in the dry cleaners. He just knew she was hurt.”
Ming looked her over slowly. “You realize the penalty for defying me.” It was rare for her uncle to drop the pretense of civility and being a legitimate business man while in public. He was mad, and she wasn’t sure if it was with her for defying him, or Jun for not providing an accurate report. Perhaps both.
Emily shrugged. “I know. I am just too tired to care. I can’t physically do what you are asking right now, so this isn’t a debate.”
Ming spoke to Jun in Chinese and Emily could tell his oldest son wasn’t happy about the order. Her understanding of the language was limited, but she believed he ordered her food.
Ming took another sip of his coffee. “What has happened to instill this insolence?”
“Nothing new. I just have nothing to live for anymore. I no longer remember what freedom feels like or what I would do with it if I attained it.”
Jun returned with a plate of dumplings. They had been her favorite when she was a child. Back when they visited here as a family, Ming and his sons pretended to accept Emily and her mother. How na?ve had she been?
Ming motioned to the plate. “Eat. You need to regain your strength.”
“Why? There is nothing left for me to fight for.”
Ming leaned forward. “There is honor.”
She grunted. “I am a Hapa. Nothing to you, despite being your niece. You would kill me as easily as taking that next sip of coffee. I have no delusions. There is no out for me. Kill me and be done with it.” She grabbed a dumpling with the chopsticks on the table, allowing the sweet taste to coat her tongue. If it was to be her last meal, she might as well enjoy it.
Her body froze as he manifested in her mind. I do not like the nature of your thoughts , the creature that had come to her during the heist said .
Go away. Her uncle was talking to her, and she was sure he was droning on about family, but it was all bullshit.
I will not. You must return to your apartment and rest. You are exhausted. I expected to find you there, but you left almost immediately.
Was he saying he knew where she lived? Was that the strange sensation she felt in the elevator? His proximity. Or was she simply going mad? I’m losing my mind.
You are not.
Yes, because talking to yourself in public is considered normal.
I am quite real.
Like the other one?
He is real, too, but dangerous. I will figure out who has fixated on you and remove him.
Was he actually insinuating he wanted to protect me?
That is exactly what I am saying.
Stop reading my mind. It’s annoying.
As is your need to ignore the facts. Go home and get some rest. I will not allow anything to happen to you.
“Emily!” Ming shouted, calling her attention back to her uncle.
“What?” she said in a dazed voice
Ming smoothed his tie. “Emily, you are exhausted and are useless to me like this. I guess I have pushed you too hard. I should have considered that you are still just a woman and not as sturdy as my sons. You will have some time off. I will have Mito finish this job.”
She glanced at the massive bodyguard.
Emily observed the Chinese bodyguard standing by Ming’s side with a sense of wary respect. Though not particularly tall in stature, he possessed a formidable presence that commanded attention. Muscles rippled beneath the fabric of his suit, a silent reminder of the strength and skill that lay dormant within him. Despite his stoic exterior, there was an undeniable air of danger that surrounded him.
His gaze swept over the room with a vigilant intensity, taking in every detail with a precision that bordered on the uncanny. Emily could sense the coiled energy that lay beneath his calm facade, a potent combination of strength and readiness that marked him as a force to be reckoned with.
Mito had been one of the few people in Ming’s orbit to treat her with respect. She suspected he was interested in her as he touched her back when he led her from the room and once broke a man’s jaw who hit on her while in his presence. He would never contradict anything her family said or did, though. Jun had ripped a couple of her stitches and he had stood stoically by and watched. That was not the kind of man she could trust.
Ming flicked his hand. “Go home, Emily. I do not want to see you until you have recovered from your injury.”
She stood and kept her eyes on the exit as she left. The door chimed, and, for some reason, it reminded her of a death bell.