“Uncle, please. The information I have is worth it. Please hear me out.”
He waited for Chang’s approval. After a moment, he nodded.
“I’ve only recently found this out. You have a right to know. You have a granddaughter. A fourteen-year-old granddaughter.”
Surprised was an understatement. Chang sat up straighter. Joseph had his full attention. “Her name is Cecily Manchetti. We could use this to our advantage.”
“Impossible. I don’t believe it.”
“It is true. I have a photo of her.” Joseph reached into his back pocket and pulled out a newspaper clipping of Cecily. He handed it to Chang.
Chang reached for it still in disbelief. However, the moment his eyes landed on her face, he knew. As he traced the image of her on the page, he knew she was his granddaughter. But, more importantly, she was a Xiou. He sat back in his chair, still holding the picture. “What do you have in mind?”
“She is surrounded by security, but I think we can devise a plan to get her away from them and bring her here to China.”
“You mean like a kidnapping?”
“Yes. Obviously, she’s your granddaughter. We wouldn’t harm her, but the Manchetti’s don’t know that. We could get them to pull their application for the TNG2 and sign a document to never bring it to market in order to get her back.”
Thinking it over, Chang rubbed his chin. “That could work. Only there is one flaw in your plan.”
Joseph frowned. “Excuse me?”
Chang was more resolute when he spoke. “There is one flaw in your plan. She should never return to the Manchetti’s. Kill her.”
“But, Uncle—she’s your flesh and blood. She’s your granddaughter!”
Chang turned cold eyes to Joseph. “She’s a Manchetti more than she is a Xiou. Kill her.”
Gina stood outside of the tea room door eavesdropping. Her gasp as her hand went to her throat almost gave her away. She was in shock—disbelief. Would my father kill his own granddaughter? Yes, he would. Wasn’t that why she kept her a secret from him all these years. It wouldn’t be the first time he’d had someone killed. Only his flesh and blood? No. She couldn’t let that disgusting nightmarish plan happen. She wouldn’t allow anything to happen to Cecily.
Chapter 15
Cecily squeezed Alexandro’s hand as the plane rocked hard and dipped low. Over the last twenty minutes, the turbulence had been rough. That last drop even had Braylee touching his other arm. She attempted a joke. “I knew there was a reason I hated rollercoasters.” Nervous laughter followed.
The flight assistant on wobbly legs managed to make her way over to Alexandro. She couldn’t hide the grim look on her face. “Mr. Manchetti? The pilot would like a word with you.”
He nodded then unbuckled his seat belt.
Cecily nervously chewed on her bottom lip before she spoke. “Uncle Alex, you shouldn’t get out of your seat. It’s not safe.”
He responded sternly. “It wasn’t safe for you to sneak out of the house and onto this plane either. However, we’ll deal with that when we land.” He stood to go speak with the pilot.
Cecily turned to Braylee. “He’s really pissed at me.”
“Yes, he is and with good reason. Actually, so am I. What were you thinking?”
“I know I was wrong for sneaking out of the house, but I was just so worried about Uncle Alex. I figured with me around, he might take fewer chances.”
Braylee could understand her love and devotion to her uncle, but she needed to understand that Alex was the adult. It was his job to protect her not the other way around. “Cecily, Alex, and Fabi would give their last breath to make sure you are loved and cared for. I don’t think either of them would do something too terribly rash. Just like I’m learning how to trust, you’ve got to trust that they will do what’s in your best interest.”
“But, isn’t this entire trip rash?” She looked down at her fingers. “You just got out of the hospital, and he’s going to confront the Xiou family. I’m not stupid, Braylee. I looked them up on the internet. I just don’t think this is a good idea.”
Braylee didn’t really disagree with Cecily. Wasn’t that one of the main reason’s she wanted to come on this trip too? “Good idea or not, we’ve got to trust Alex. When it comes to you, he’ll always do what’s best. You’ve got to know that. How’d you avoid all the security anyway? Alex has turned the house into Fort Knox.”
She looked sheepish. “I put a tape in the security monitors on the east side of the house. So, security wouldn’t see me sneaking out.”
“But, there is security walking the grounds and set up in the gatehouse at both entrances of the property.”
“Yeah, but I know the schedule and routine. I had a friend call the guard at the back entrance of the house. He was distracted. I’m short, so I was able to sneak past him while he was on the phone and with the security camera on a loop. They just didn’t see me. Once I got out of the gate, I took a bus, then a cab to the airport. When I arrived the only people on board, the plane was the pilot and the flight attendant. I wasn’t sure how I was going to get on board but—let’s just say the two of them like each other a lot and were distracted.” Cecily giggled.
“Have you done this before? Sneaking out?”
“No!”
Braylee looked as if she didn’t believe her.
“I promise I haven’t.”
Alex
