Jonah nodded. “I know. That’s why we’ll complete another quick search of the property, but then we need to get out of here before anyone shows up.”
*****
Gina Lee-Xiou
Darkness finally fell over Guilin as I sat with Hahn in the black Mercedes waiting for our opportunity. I was getting impatient.
“Are you sure he’s going to be here?”
“I’m sure. Our guys have been following him all day. They are in place and ready to go.”
I nodded. “Good.”
Hahn pointed over towards another dark sedan pulling up to the house they’d been watching for about an hour. “Wait . . . that’s his driver coming up to the house now.”
As soon as the car came to a stop, both Hahn and I got out of the vehicle. Our clothing blended in well with the darkness.
The driver didn’t stand a chance. He had no idea what hit him when he stepped outside of his car. After a crushing blow to the side of his head, he fell to the ground, and two bullets were pumped through the nose of a silencer into his body. At the same times as Hahn was taking care of the driver, I opened the rear door and slid into the back seat.
“Ang Woo.” The look of shock on his face was amusing as I pointed my revolver at him. “I’m sure you know it’s never a good idea for you to travel without bodyguards. It makes shit like what’s about to go down way too easy. Hand me your gun.” He looked as if he were debating what to do. “I won’t ask you twice.”
Ang knew I wouldn’t ask a second time. He wasn’t stupid, so he did as I requested. “What are you doing here?”
I could see the whites of his eyes. It was funny how a man who was responsible for so much butchery had a genuine look of fear on his face. I was somewhat surprised considering he was the very definition of cold-blooded, everyone on the Family Council was in one way or another.“I’m pretty sure you already know why I’m here. I need your vote.”
He shook his head no. “This is not the way we do things, Gina. You cannot threaten our members or have someone removed who might get in your way. We’re protected by the rules of the organization. This stunt you’re pulling will automatically disqualify you.”
“Who’s going to tell them? You?” I laughed a little. “You know as well as I do that I’ve never played by the rules.”
“Your father would be so disappointed.”
I lowered my weapon and sat it on my lap. “Good thing I’m not the sentimental type who actually gave a damn about what Chang thought. Smart tactic, though. I’ll give you credit for trying to appeal to my feminine sensibilities.”
Ang exhaled as if resigned to having to explain something to a small child. “Gina, the Council must vote for the best person we think can lead this organization into the future.”
“That should make choosing me a lot easier. And, if that truly is the case, I ought to be able to rest easy knowing that I can count on you for your support.”
“Look, the bottom line is I can’t tell you who I’m voting for until the meeting.”
“Mr. Woo, you might not make it through the next five minutes. What makes you think you’ll make it to the meeting tomorrow if I don’t get some assurances? But, let’s say by some miracle you do, you and I both know that Zheng is an idiot, and he’s weak. It’s an insult to me that we’re even both in the running. You also know a vote for him is really a vote for his father. He is his puppet master. Xei is holding on to too many outdated traditions. He can’t take this organization out for coffee let alone into the twenty-first century.”
“What you call outdated traditions have kept the Family Council running smoothly for the past one hundred years. Let’s say for argument’s sake that all of what you said is true, I haven’t promised Zheng my vote either. I’m sure you know that you and he are not my only options.”
“Yes, I heard there is a third person. It doesn’t matter. I’m here tonight to secure your vote. I don’t want to have to hurt anyone but you know I’m not above doing it.”
Mr. Woo gritted his teeth. “I won’t kowtow to your threats. But know this, if you kill me—your dreams of heading the organization will go up in smoke.”
I waved him off. “I wasn’t planning on killing you.”
“Then who? My wife?” He laughed. “You’d be doing me a favor.”
I raised an eyebrow. “No. I wasn’t planning on killing her either. Everyone knows you don’t care about her. Now, your mistress on the other hand . . .” My voice trailed off. “How long have you been sleeping around with her? Twenty years?”
Mr. Woo paled. “You wouldn’t?”
My eyes narrowed. “In a heartbeat. We’re sitting outside of her house, what do you think? I wouldn’t be breaking any of the organization’s rules either. Not a hair on your tiny, little head would get touched. However, I’d have that woman cut up into a million little pieces and sprinkled like fertilizer over your wife’s award winning gardens. I’m sure she would more than appreciate that.”
I pointed to the white house he had planned to enter earlier. “As a matter of fact, my guys are already inside waiting for a signal from me. Do you love
