Page 54 of Punished
The door opened and both men turned in time to see Mèng Yáo enter. Her black satin gown flowed smoothly down her slender frame, the train of the gown following behind her. She looked at her husband. “Are they okay? Why aren’t they here yet?” she asked.
“Chen said Yìchén was being difficult, but they’re on their way now. Should be here in a few minutes,” Da Han said.
Mèng Yáo pressed her hand to her chest and released a sigh of relief. When she discovered that her stepson had done something so stupid at this critical time, she wanted to ring his neck. “Good.” She walked over to Da Han, hugging and then kissing him. “Something’s wrong. Tell me.”
Da Han sighed and nodded. He then proceeded to tell his wife what had happened and Jun De had found it interesting that he included his wife in his business that intimately. Most mafia men tended to keep women out of such affairs, yet it would seem that Da Han valued his wife’s council. Of course, that could be because she was in a notorious crime family and knew how the life was.
“How many men did we lose?” Mèng Yáo asked.
Da Han told her and she nodded, her demeanor cool and collected. “Tell Li to strike them first. Take out his son, Enzo, don’t wait.”
“The war hadn’t extended to Florida yet,” Da Han said.
“Oh, but it has. Do you think Enzo will wait, especially after what happened to his father? If we did kill Rico, Enzo will take over,” Mèng Yáo said. “Eliminate him now.”
Da Han nodded, seeing the wisdom in his wife’s words. He called his son, Li.
Jun De listened to the one-sided conversation where father and son planned their next move. Da Han appeared to listen to his son’s concerns and then gave his suggestions about how to attack quickly and efficiently in a way to guarantee success. By the end of the conversation, Jun De could tell Li was going to do as his father wanted.
Da Han looked at his wife. “I’m worried because it will be his first time in control.”
Mèng Yáo nodded. “It’s time for him to lead. When we return to Beijing, Li will be in charge here. He’ll have to deal with the other two families once the smoke clears. It’s best he gets his experience now.”
Da Han nodded. “Yes, you’re right.”
“My worry is for Ren. I don’t want him to be a victim and I don’t know if his husband...” Mèng Yáo trailed off as she saw the smirk on Da Han’s handsome face. “What do you know that I don’t?”
“Ahhh, Li has given me updates concerning our son-in-law and I don’t think you have to worry,” Da Han said.
“Meaning?” Mèng Yáo asked, one eyebrow cocked.
“It would seem that Montgomery has what it takes to be a triad. Li had him torture a fool who tried to steal from us and the man enjoyed himself a bit too much. He can be deadly if given the right circumstances and he sees Ren as his. His husband, his lover, his sub... he’ll protect Ren,” Da Han said.
“What if he puts his best friend, Richard, over Ren?”
Da Han didn’t answer that and Jun De could tell the triad boss was thinking about that possibility.
“Will his best friend put Montgomery’s husband in danger? If that is the case, those two may fall out,” Da Han said. “We just have to hope that Ren means more to him, I suppose. However, that’s just as far as their relationship goes. I’m not worried for Ren’s safety as a whole, which is why he has so many security guards protecting him. He has Sakura.”
At that, Mèng Yáo smiled. “Sakura would kill Montgomery or anyone if they tried to harm Ren.”
Da Han nodded. “He would kill anyone who betrayed Ren, as well.”
Jun De knew about Sakura. Like him, he was an elite bodyguard and one who was as dedicated as he was vicious. He would kill any threat to Renin the blink of an eye. As far as Jun De knew, Ren was in good hands.
The door to the office opened again and this time, Yìchén barged in with Chen coming in behind him. “I just wanted to have a little fun,” was the first words Yìchén spat out.
Da Han’s response was quick when he swung, his backhand striking Yìchén across his cheek, sending the young man to the floor with a grunt.
“You fucking idiot,” Da Han cursed. “Do you know how dangerous it was for you to be out there right now?”
Yìchén looked up at his father, a mixture of shock and rage in his watery gaze. “I didn’t bring on this war, you did.”
Jun De noted Chen’s tense stance. Something in the way he looked at Yìchén made him curious about what had happened between the two during their training sessions. Also, what happened tonight?
Da Han raised his chin as he looked down at his foolish son. “I didn’t start this war, boy. The Castiellos started it the moment they forced the Mancinis out of Chicago. They started it the moment they began selling drugs in my territory. The only thing I’ve done is take advantage of their weakness. Do you think if Rico wasn’t swamped in this war—a war he started, mind you—in New York, that they wouldn’t have been the first to attack?”
Yìchén’s gaze softened a little as he looked up at his father, but remained silent.
