He attempted to mask his horror at the prospect of what I’d suggested but was unsuccessful. “Gina? You can’t be serious? You wouldn’t do something like this.”
My patience snapped. “Gina, what? Gina, Why?” I mocked. “Why not? You’ve done much worse. Don’t looked so surprised that a woman can be just as ruthless as you. I know what it takes to run this organization. I watched my father for years. No one is more prepared than I am for this role. If I were Chang’s son, I’d already have it.”
Mr. Woo’s cell phone had been sitting on the seat between us when it buzzed. An image of his wife’s face came up on the screen.
“Awww . . . speaking of the devil. Wifey is calling you now. You know you should really answer it. As a matter of fact, I insist and put it on speaker.”
Hesitantly, Ang reached for his phone, and as instructed he answered it then put the call on speaker.
“Ang!” His wife was hysterical. “Some people are here . . .”
The phone was snatched away from her, and another voice came on the line. “Good evening, Mr. Woo.”
We could hear his wife screaming in the background. “Who is this!? Why is my wife screaming!?”
“I suspect it’s because things are a little unpleasant for her right now.”
“I swear if you hurt her!” His voice dipped. “Do you have any idea who I am?”
“Yes. I know exactly who I’m talking to.”
“Apparently, not. Otherwise, you would know I’m not the one you want to play games with.”
“I don’t think it’s a good idea to threaten me when there is a gun aimed at your wife’s head.”
Ang clenched his teeth and calmed just a bit. He seemed angrier that someone would dare invade his home than he was about what was happening to his wife. He spat fire. “What do you want?”
“Not much just your vote tomorrow.”
“This is not the way to get it.” Another piercing scream could be heard in the background. “I swear if anything happens to my wife—”
“Unfortunately, she’s just a means to an end.” The loud bang of a gun going off silenced Shar Woo’s cries. “If you don’t want your daughters to be next and suffer the same consequences as your wife, then you know who you should vote for at the meeting.” The line went dead.
Ang yelled into the phone. “Hello! Hello!” His pleading eyes turned to me. I nodded.
“Keep it on speaker. But, don’t make any sudden moves. It would be a shame for both husband and wife to die tonight and make your children orphans. Hell, it might even be a family funeral the way this night is going.”
Mr. Woo glared at me as he dialed another number. As soon as someone picked up the phone, his words tumbled out of his mouth. “Someone’s at my house. I heard gunshots. I think my wife might be hurt or worse. Round up my kids, make sure they are okay and get them to the safe house. They threatened my daughters . . . my daughters! I don't know where my security is but go find out what the hell is going on! I promise you, just as sure as I breathe when you figure out who did this, they will beg me to kill them.”
I sat quietly and listened. I didn’t speak until after Ang disconnected the call. “Apparently, you cared more about your wife than you thought. I think whoever option number three is for the leadership role just made my task here a lot easier.”
Ang turned his blazing eyes towards me. “You help me find out who that bastard was who just killed my wife, and you’ll get my vote and anything else you want.”
Slowly, I nodded already starting to rethink and formulate parts of my strategy. “I can do that.”
Ang yelled at me. “I need to get home, Gina! Either kill me or we help each other. Which is it?”
“Okay. I’ll help you. But, Ang, if you double cross me, I promise I’ll bury you and what’s left of your family.”
He nodded. Once I knew we understood each other, I got out of his car. It would take me no time at all to get to the bottom of who was at Ang’s home because I already knew. I recognized that voice immediately. It was Nina.
Hahn was at my side immediately as we walked back to our car. It was hard to hear him above the screech of Ang’s tires as he pulled off and raced towards his home. “I just got word Nina is at the Woo estate and shit is going down over there.”
“Change of plans. Nina’s the other person gunning for the leadership position. She threw me off when she asked that I get her a seat on the council. She’s trying to use Ang’s daughters as leverage for his vote. If she has those girls, I could be screwed. We need to make sure that doesn’t happen.”
Before I could bark out any orders, Hahn was already on top of it. “I’ll start making calls to the people watching her now. What do we do about Ang’s mistress?”
“Call the pack off . . . for now.” Hahn did as he was told, and I was left with my own thoughts. Dammit! I’d promised myself not to fall
