Page 46 of Punished
“What about you?” Monty asked Xiù.
“Not interested in them right now,” she replied with a deadpan tone.
Monty wasn’t sure about who the twins really were, but he knew they weren’t to be taken lightly. They were his family now, but he also knew that if he disappointed them or betrayed them, they’d just as easily put a bullet in his head. He was never to let his guard down.
They arrived at a private airport and boarded a compact light jet for their short flight to a Miami port owned by his company. Well, it used to be his company, currently owned by the Mujins at this point. He just remained the face of it. While flying, he decided to take a little nap, as he found the travel to be pleasant.
A gentle nudging woke Monty up and he opened his eyes to see Li standing over him. “We’re here. Let’s go.”
Monty stretched and followed Li to another waiting vehicle. Twenty minutes later, they arrived at Port of Miami. Huge cargo ships with tons of containers were docked there and their car parked near a ship named “The Lulu”. Li led the way onto the ship, all the way to a room that was guarded by men with guns. One of the men nodded and opened the door.
Monty followed Li and Xiù inside the dimly lit room and immediately saw a man bound to a chair, his mouth taped up. Both legs were taped to the chair and his hands were behind his back. The look of pure terror on his face told Monty everything he needed to knowabout what was going to happen. He did wonder... was he expected to kill this man?
Li walked toward the man and grabbed the man’s sweaty hair, yanking his head back, causing the man to growl in pain. “Did you really think you were going to get away with stealing from us?” he asked in Mandarin. The man tried to shake his head, but Li yanked his head around by his hair, making the man yelp in pain. “Don’t lie!”
The man’s nostrils flared as his chest heaved. He stared into Li’s eyes, pleading with his. It was at that point, Li released his hair and removed the tape from the man’s mouth. The man sighed and licked his lips.
“Please, Mr. Mujin. I swear, it wasn’t me,” the man replied, also in Mandarin.
“Ahh, but it was you. Do you think we go around just slinging accusations without proof?” Li glared at him. “You insult me trying to play us for fools.”
“No, no, no... it wasn’t my idea,” the man corrected.
“Oh, so it was you who stole a million dollars’ worth of our product, but it wasn’t your idea, is that what you’re saying?” Li asked and slipped his hands into his pockets.
The man looked off to the side as he realized his faux pas, and then his terrified gaze returned to Li. “I... I... it wasn’t me,” the man stammered.
Li cocked an eyebrow. “Oh? Then who was it?”
“I don’t know. I don’t know anything about it,” the man said, and even Monty could see that he was lying... foolishly so.
Li sighed and turned, walking back toward where Monty and his sister stood. “Do you believe him?” he asked Monty.
Monty looked from Li back to the man and shook his head. “He’s lying.”
Li nodded. “Yes, he is. Now, what I want to know is what are you going to do about it?”
Monty’s blue eyes settled on Li. “This is your business.”
“No. It’s also yours. You’re Ren’s husband and CEO of our company. You’re a member of the Jade Dragon Triad and every time you nut in my brother, your roots grow deeper,” Li said.
Monty snorted. “You’re foul.”
“I’m direct,” Li corrected.
“And you’re... what would they call it in your homeland, England?” Xiù tilted her head. “Ah, yes, a ‘cheeky bastard’.”
Monty tossed her an annoyed look, but returned his focus to Li. “What are you asking me to do?”
“I’m asking you what do you want to do? What are you willing to do to someone who stole from us and is lying about it?” Li kept his gaze steady on Monty, reading the man for any signs that would be a cause for concern.
Monty smirked and looked at the man again. “You want me to kill him?”
Li lifted his chin, his expression a mixture of humor and surprise. “Not necessarily,” he said. “However, I would love to see you do it.”
“Not how I saw my day going. If it’s all the same to you, I’d rather not,” Monty said.
“And what if that’s what I want now?” Li asked, his chin lowering along with his tone.
