Chapter 45
After a meetingwith my team at the winery and reviewing the shipment that would be sent to Monaco for the wine competition, I hopped onto a flight to Hong Kong to meet with Calvin.
I had requested to meet him, and he’d agreed. I didn’t have time to wait for him to return to Providence. A major storm was brewing, and I needed information regarding Ghost.
Yesterday, I had briefed my boys about Ghost. I wasn’t sure if The Triad was behind Ghost’s wine thievery. The Taipans had their own wine label, but that didn’t mean they would try to sabotage my business. The business world could be ruthless, forcing one business to commit crimes against its competitor. And crimes were something The Triad was used to.
I walked into a small restaurant near my hotel. Through the crowd, Calvin spotted me and waved me over. All the tables were taken, making the restaurant lively. The restaurant was probably owned by The Triad, with an illegal gambling den in the basement or somewhere close by.
“I ordered some food for you.” Calvin gestured to the seat across from him. He wore a sleek black suit, looking like a businessman ready to close a multimillion-dollar deal.
I pulled out a chair, folding myself into it. The ten dishes of food on the table looked fantastic. “Wow. Thanks. Everything smells fantastic.”
“That’s because it is. Authentic Chinese food is different from the kind you eat in Providence. Want a drink?”
A cup of jasmine tea and a glass of water were already set for me. “I’m good with these. Thanks for meeting me.”
“I didn’t do it for you.”
“Thanks for meeting me because of Vivian—my girlfriend.” I smiled.
He smirked. “Help yourself.”
After we ate, I placed my chopsticks down and said, “I don’t think Ghost is dead.”
His jaw tightened. “I know.”
“But you told Vivian otherwise.”
“That’s what I was told.” He pressed his lips into a tight line. “I thought he was dead too. I never saw the body though.”
“Who told you?”
“His dad, Rattlesnake.” He refilled his teacup and mine. “But he died two months ago.”
That couldn’t be a coincidence. Vivian’s grandfather had died months ago, and now another prominent official. I could only imagine the chaos within The Triad right now.
“How did Vivian’s grandfather die?” I asked, trying to connect all the dots.
Calvin looked at me. “It’s safer for you to stay out of our business. You stay on your turf, and I’ll stay on mine. This is the only way our relationship will work.”
“I’m trying to protect my girlfriend. Right now, she thinks her grandfather died of natural causes. She doesn’t need any more stress. If you discover something, give me the courtesy to let her know gently.”
Calvin studied me for a moment and nodded. “Someone had been skimming money from our businesses. One of our guys recognized the clown tattoo on his middle finger. But his face had changed.”
I showed him a picture of Ghost from my phone. “That’s what he looked like when he was working at my warehouse. He stole my wine shipment and sold it to the black market.”
Calvin scratched his chin as he stared at the image. “He wasn’t working on The Triad’s orders, if that’s what you’re thinking. We’re proud of our wine. We don’t need to steal from anyone.”
Next, I gave him the name of the man whose dead body was discovered inside Ghost’s office at my warehouse. “Do you recognize Kevin Seeto?”
Calvin cursed, and the people at the nearby tables glanced over. “He was sent to Texas for business, but never came back. We thought he took our money and ran. We’ve been looking for him. Ghost also killed him and probably took the money. I’m going to rip this fucker apart!”
I shared my suspicions that Ghost’s father had betrayed Vivian’s grandfather by letting his son go instead of killing him.
Calvin smiled. “Let’s just say that I’m dealing with the issue. The Taipans are my family—my home. It was also my father’s home before he passed away from cancer. Ghost killed several members of our family. I will get answers.”
Even if I didn’t get to Ghost, The Triad would.
“Please tell Vivian I’m sorry I wasn’t able to get Aimee back to her.”
“What do you mean? I thought you spotted Aimee in Boston recently.”
“I did.” He pursed his lips. “But I just found out that a rogue member kidnapped Aimee because he wanted to replicate what Vivian’s mom used to do for The Triad.” He tapped his head. “Brilliant with math and an excellent memory. She could memorize confidential info and use it for blackmail.”
My jaw tensed. “You into hurting children?”
“No. When I found out, I rushed to his apartment, but someone had broken into it. Evidence showed there were two girls living there. I was too late. He’d been dead for a while when I found him.”
“Fuck.”
Who had taken them? Another triad member? The Triad’s enemy? There were many sick people in this world, and I prayed that Aimee and the other girl were safe.
“The apartment was in Boston, so I scoured the area, but there was no sign of her. She could be anywhere now.”
“I checked the recordings from the Boston Children’s Museum, but didn’t see anyone resembling Aimee. Why would this new kidnapper take her around in public if he had just taken her from someone else?” I thought out loud and looked at Calvin. “The body of a little girl was found in Providence recently. Is that your member’s work?”
“He’s not that thoughtful. Whoever left that girl’s body did it with care. She had a blanket around her. She was dropped off at a busy location where someone would find her quickly. It’s someone else’s work.”
Could this be the work of The Trogyn? A headache bloomed, and I wanted Vivian and my bed.
“Have you heard of The Trogyn?” I asked.
“I have.”
“Are you associated with them?”
“My only family is The Taipans, okay?”
That was all I needed to know.
“Let me get this.” I reached for my wallet when the waiter came to refill our water.
“No. You’re my guest. It’s on the house.” The corners of his lips lifted. “I’d appreciate it if you stopped pulling the fire alarms whenever I’m at a restaurant. It’s annoying.”
I laughed. “Only if you’re not having it with the woman I love.”
Love.
Shit.
The sacred word flew out so casually. So naturally.
Calvin arched an eyebrow, and amusement flickered in his eyes. “Understood.”
That subject was dropped, and we moved on to another discussion. After thirty minutes, I thanked Calvin for dinner. We mutually agreed that we would keep out of each other’s business. But if I discovered his crime organization was involved with hurting children, I would do everything in my power to destroy him and The Triad.
His response was a smile and a “Good night.”
I couldn’t tell if there were any underlying messages. What mattered was that my statement was clear as day.
I strode back to my hotel, shook off my suit jacket, and dropped into the chair, letting my conversation with Calvin sink in. But I couldn’t concentrate on anything except what I’d admitted to an acquaintance over dinner.
What had been an infatuation had turned into a thorough analysis of my heart. The hinges on my closed heart had creaked when I first met her. Not only had Vivian opened the door and entered my heart space, but she had filled it with her smile, her scent, her pain, her strength, and her ability to heal me.
For the first time in my life, I didn’t feel alone.
“I love Vivian,” I said the words out loud in the hotel room, letting the sound penetrate the walls and windows and into the sky.
She was the most beautiful target to land at the center of my heart.
This was a profound revelation that I needed to contemplate. Did she feel the same way about me? It was probably too soon for her. It had taken her a while to agree to date me. Her trip to Providence was temporary until she could find Aimee. Would she want to stay there with me?
I could come up with another strategy to ensure she remained in my house. But I didn’t want to do that. I wanted to let things flow naturally. I wanted to know—needed to know—that she loved me without me having to interfere. Love wasn’t a mission or a business transaction for me to complete.
After a moment, I swung my attention back to practical things I could control. My Christmas gift list was short, but I had to get it done before I forgot.
What should I get Vivian, Kaylee, Pam, and Jarrett?