Stealing the Dragon

“-tried to kill my brother,” said Hui.

“That’s not what I was going to say.”

“But it’s true,” replied Hui.

“Yes.” Xan looked into Hui’s eyes, wondering where the pupils were hiding.

“So how are we any different?”

Xan bit his tongue. “Who was killed ten years ago?” he asked. “Who died in the fire?”

“Does it matter?”

“I’m curious.”

“This trip to America has made you nostalgic, Xan.” Hui paced back and forth. “You’ve had ten years to ask this question.”

“Seeing your brother surprised me.”

“How did he die?”

“The first time or the second?”

“The first time was a sze kau,” said Hui testily. “A foot soldier assigned to guard the guest house. My brother killed him, then took his clothes and fled.”

“He killed one of our soldiers,” said Xan evenly. “One of my men.”

Hui scowled. “Men like that were deserting all the time. Did you miss him?”

Xan didn’t say anything for a minute. “You helped your brother?”

Hui stopped pacing. “Of course.”

“Your father would not have approved,” said Xan.

Hui gave a bitter laugh. “You think the old man was killed by poison darts because he approved?”

“He told you and Wen the combination to the cabinet.”

“We were his sons.”

“You’re ruthless.”

“Thank you.”

“And you changed the combination so he would trigger the darts.”

“Wen did that, as well,” said Hui. “My brother lacked charm, but he was always thinking.”

“And you sent the heart to him, so he could win his election?”

“Think of the possibilities, an alliance with the mayor of San Francisco.”

“It’s against our laws.”

Hui shrugged. “That’s why I told you it was stolen.”

“You tortured men to find it-our men,” said Xan. “And I helped you.”

“It had to be convincing,” said Hui with a note of pride. “Would you have gone after it?”

“You lied to me.”

“You sound surprised.”

“Then why send me to bring it back?”

Hui spoke as if talking to a child. “It was lost, you fool. It didn’t arrive on time.”

“So you saw an opportunity to settle an old score.”

Hui nodded. “I heard Dong was in San Francisco.” He smiled, delighted with his own genius. “I knew you would assume he’d stolen it and kill him-if, indeed, he had the heart.”

“He did.”

Hui’s eyebrows shot up, though his eyes were still too dark to see. “You killed Dong?”

“No.”

Hui’s hands slapped down on the desk. “Why not?”

Xan ignored the question. “Your brother betrayed the society.”

Hui waved his right hand dismissively. “Nonsense. He forged alliances, made us stronger.”

“I’m a soldier,” replied Xan. “I don’t deal in semantics.”

Hui studied Xan as if he had just walked in the room, a complete stranger. “I thought we had an understanding ten years ago that none of this-none of this-is personal. You were always stubborn but never naive, Xan.”

Xan didn’t answer.

“What has changed?”

Xan shrugged. “Perhaps I have.”

“You…change?” Hui gave a short laugh and sat down. “I’ll die before that happens.”

“Perhaps you’re right.”

Hui narrowed his eyes, catching something in Xan’s tone he didn’t like.

“Where is it?” he asked impatiently. “Where is the heart of the dragon?”

“Right here.” Xan moved to one side.

Hui saw two legs step into the faint pool of light beyond the desk, right then left. Another step and the torso appeared. It was a woman. He couldn’t see the face, but a flash of light revealed the curved blade of a sword.

Hui glanced toward Xan but saw nothing but shadows. As he reached for the phone, Sally stepped into the light.

The taxi Linda had called was sitting at the curb.

Cape opened the passenger door and Linda stepped down from the sidewalk, resting her right hand along the top of the door. She turned toward Cape and asked, “You sure you want to walk?” He nodded and she ducked her head inside the cab, telling the driver to wait.

Linda stepped back onto the sidewalk and hugged Cape, her head against his chest, hair tickling his nose and almost making him sneeze. When she let go, he asked, “What was that for?”

Linda smiled as she got into the cab. “I’m glad you’re not dead.”

“Me, too.” Cape gave a quick wave as the taxi pulled away.

Xan reached into the dragon’s mouth and pulled its jaws apart.

The lid of the three-legged incense burner opened with a rasp of ancient hinges, the elaborately carved dragon’s face lifting to reveal the velvet-lined interior. The bronze legs seemed to twist and change position as Sally studied the carvings, coils and scales intertwining above clawed feet that bit into the wood of the desk. A dozen eyes watched as she slowly unwrapped the cloth around the heart.

The stone felt warm in her hands, as it had the first time she held it. The dragon that looked like a heart studied her, glowing red eyes daring her to steal the heart, keep it for herself. The bloodstone seemed to glow from within as Sally placed it carefully inside the bronze stand.

“Here’s your rock,” she said unceremoniously.

Xan sighed. “That rock saved your life.”

“I took a man’s life,” replied Sally. “That’s what saved mine.”

Xan closed the lid, the dragon’s mouth leering back at him.

He said, “You don’t believe in anything, do you?”

Sally smiled sadly. “That’s the difference between us.”

“What?”

“I believe in myself,” she said. “Not this.” She gestured toward the incense burner.

“This is tradition,” said Xan. “It is-”

“Sin ka lan,” said Sally. “Bullshit-it’s an excuse.”

“For what?”

“For not starting your life over again.”

Xan’s eyes narrowed, his scar twitched.

Sally asked, “How long since your family was murdered?” Xan’s face reddened, but Sally spoke again. “Killing other men for the Triad hasn’t brought them back. They’re as dead as my parents.”

Xan’s voice was as quiet as the grave. “Do not presume you know what’s in my heart, little dragon.”