The Grandmaster’s Legacy: Masters of Love and War (A Taylor Lee HOT Historical Romantic Suspense Collection) (The Grandmaster's Legacy)

by Taylor Lee

  ~~~

  Elena refused to move from the balcony. She sat on the porch floor, her head resting against the railing. She was determined to be the first to see Bai return. Hearing the sounds of horses in the distance, she ran down the stairs to the courtyard. Her heart was pounding. Snatches of silent prayers buzzed in her head. To her horror, she saw her father, Wan, Nianzu — and Noire – without a rider. She screamed, clutching her face in her hands. Struggling against the wave of dizziness flooding her, she sunk to the ground. She felt her father’s arms, heard his voice. As he carried her into the house, she roused for a moment and whispered, “Is he dead?”

  Wyatt’s response hit her like a shot between the eyes. “Not yet”

  Wyatt carried Elena to her chambers. He ordered Francine to go to the infirmaryand get Dr. Wong. Laying Elena’s inert body on the bed, he tried to reach her through her faint.

  “Darlin’, I’m going to check on Wan. I’ll be back. Try to rest, Elena. You’re going to need your strength.”

  He turned to Francine and nodded to her to come to the doorway.

  Francine stumbled back when she saw Elena. Tears streamed down her pale cheeks. “Oh, my God, Mr. Wyatt. Is… is… she dead?”

  Wyatt shook his head. “No, Francine. She fainted. I need you to stay with her until the doctor comes. I will be in Mr. Chang’s office. Come and get me immediately if there is a problem. Once the healer is finished, send him to Mr. Chang’s office. Make sure he gives her something strong, something that will help her sleep. Do you understand?”

  Francine trembled and clung to Angel, who had stumbled in the room. The two young maids clung to each other, then went to stand by Elena. Wyatt heard their sobs as he stormed through the garden to Wan’s office.

  ~~~

  Wan was behind his desk. Nianzu was in the chair in front of him, with his head cradled in his hands. Wyatt sunk in the other chair and gratefully accepted both the cigar and glass of bourbon Nianzu pushed across the desk.

  Wyatt and Wan exchanged a grief stricken gaze. They had been through many grievous challenges together, but without question, leaving Bai behind as they were forced to do, was one of the most difficult things either of them had done. Wyatt knew that Wan was going to need time to gather his strength and his customary strategic acumen. He was grateful that Wan had told him Bai was his son. Knowing that gave Wyatt the insight he needed to help Wan. He would take charge until Wan found his strength.

  “Nianzu, I need you and Bai needs you.” Wyatt nodded to Wan, who was staring blindly at the desk, adding, “And Wan needs you. I am depending on your courage and expertise.”

  Nianzu nodded his understanding. Wyatt’s pointed glance confirmed something was wrong with Wan and that Wyatt was telling him that he had to find his courage.

  At that moment, the door opened and Elena was at the door. Her face was white, but her cheeks were flushed and her eyes were flashing. A worried group of people stood behind her, including Francine, Angel, and two Chinese healers. Francine and Angel were crying.

  Wong Su, the head healer, bowed to Wan with an apologetic look.

  “Sir, she would not let me treat her. She refused to take any medication.”

  Wan stood, as did Wyatt, but Elena whirled back to the group at the door, her face filled with fury.

  “I told you to leave! Goddamnit. All of you. Leave now!”

  She walked to the door and physically shoved Wong Su out the door and slammed it in his face.

  She whirled back and glared at her father and then at Wan. Her voice was shaking.

  “How dare you? How dare you tell that man to give me something to make me sleep? Father, I will never forgive you. Put me to bed like a child? Drug me? Is that what you intended? Is it? When Bai is hurt, captured, or God knows what? Because do you know what? I don’t know where he is or if he is alive or dead or Goddamnit, what happened!”

  She was shaking so hard she almost fell.

  Wan said, “Wyatt, please get her out of here.”

  Elena whirled on him, but before she could speak, Wyatt stepped over to her and pulled her close.

  “Look at me, Elena. Look at me, sweetheart. You are right, Elena. You do belong here. Forgive me. I thought you had fainted and would have trouble staying conscious.”

  Wan glared at Wyatt and said, “Wyatt, please.”

  Elena glowered at him. Her voice shook with anger. “Grandfather, do you have any idea what I am going through? Do you understand what Bai means to me? I am in love with him. I will never in my life love another man, and he loves me as much. Do you know what that feels like? Do you?”

  Wan’s face was grey. He looked at Elena for a long moment. The pain on his face stopped her angry words.

  “Yes, Elena, I do understand. Bai is my son.”

  Chapter 37

  Elena stared at her grandfather in shock. She shook her head, trying to grasp what he was saying. She had a sinking feeling she might faint again.

  Wyatt held her firmly against his chest. Elena looked up at him and saw the confirmation in his eyes.

  Wyatt explained. “I learned this just a week ago, Elena. Bai and Wan never told anyone. Bai was angry that Wan told me. They have been connected since Bai’s birth and are as close to one another as a father and son can be.

  “And, yes, in a different way, no doubt, but I am quite sure your grandfather understands the pain you are feeling.”

  Elena stood still, desperately trying not to faint. She clung to her father to keep from falling. Her grandfather looked ten years older. She saw the grey in his hair, the deep lines etched on his face. But mostly she saw the desperate pain in his eyes.

  Taking a deep breath, she released Wyatt’s hands. She went to her grandfather, kneeled beside him and put her arms around him. He resisted at first, then let his head rest on her shoulder. She murmured quiet words, rubbing his back, and holding him close. Tears streamed down her face when she saw the tears on his. They held one another for several long minutes. Then she turned back to Wyatt and her face was fierce.

  “Who else knows this? Lei? Nianzu, do you?”

  Wyatt shook his head. “No, no one does. I know where you are going with this. It is bad enough that the Rongue Ri have Bai, but if they knew he was Wan Chang’s son…” Wyatt’s eyes darkened. Elena didn’t have to ask what he was thinking.

  Elena stared at Nianzu, who looked as shocked as she felt. Like Wyatt, when he learned Bai was Wan’s son, Elena fit the pieces together. She was surprised that she hadn’t guessed. There were enough physical similarities to hint at the relationship, but more than anything, it was their shared mannerisms. She attributed that to their close working relationship and to the fact that Bai had lived at Los Vistas since he was a boy. Elena’s only question was why she hadn’t known it before. She stared at Nianzu, willing him to find his nerve. Bai, Wyatt, and Wan were depending on him. She saw recognition in Nianzu’s eyes and knew she wasn’t the only one who understood the changing power dynamics.

  Elena stood up and walked to the liquor cabinet. She poured herself a small glass of bourbon and held out the bottle to any who wanted a refill. All three men pushed their glasses forward.

  “Please, tell me what happened. Don’t leave out any details. If he is badly hurt, I need to know. More than anything, I need to know where he is and how we are going to get him back.”

  Wyatt’s face was hard, but calm. “Elena, we walked in to a trap set by the Rongue Ri. Bai’s mistake, and ours, was to think that Feng Zhang was an honorable man. He isn’t.”

  Elena interrupted, “Bai is too smart to get caught in a trap. I don’t understand.”

  Wyatt nodded. “You are correct. We all knew the mission was dangerous, most of all Bai, but he was insistent. Bai wanted to make one last try to prevent a war between the Rongue and Sing Leon. He was convinced that if he could look Feng in the eye, he could talk him into negotiating. Or he would know it was impossible, and prepare for all out war.”

  Wyatt took a lo
ng pull on his bourbon. He grimaced, acknowledging the mistake they made.

  “Bai is strategic. He trusts his men as they trust him. He had informants at the highest level in the Rongue Ri, who confirmed that Feng would meet with him. What we didn’t know was that Feng beheaded the informants’ wives and their five children one by one to get them to confess and make them pass us false information.

  “Feng had at least forty men hidden in the bushes next to him. Bai got off Noire, he and Feng walked toward each other as agreed. Bai must have seen something in his eyes. He gave the signal of a trap, but it was too late. They shot him and Feng and forty men surrounded him.”

  Elena gasped. “Where… was he shot?”

  Nianzu broke in. “His shoulder. It knocked him over. He fell to the ground. I know this for sure, Elena. He was hit and he was bleeding, but he feigned being unconscious in order to see what we were up against. He and I exchanged a glance. The look he gave me ordered me to do what Feng said and get the hell out of there.”

  Elena was grim. “Where is he? How do we get him back?”

  Wyatt sighed deeply. “Honey, we don’t know where he is. At ten o’clock tonight we are to meet the Rongue Ri. Feng gave us an ultimatum. If we want Bai back, Wan is to turn over the leadership of the Sing Leon to Feng Zhang. Then they’ll give us Bai. What we don’t know, and won’t until that time, is whether Bai will be dead or alive.”

  The four of them sat without speaking.

  “How will we know where to meet them?” Elena asked, her voice was sharp, piercing.

  Nianzu replied, “Feng will get a message to us by eight o’clock tonight. Unless we hear from our informants first, we will likely have just enough time to get to the location. Sure as hell, they’ll have it well-surrounded.”

  Elena frowned, a troubled crease on her brow. “I still don’t understand, Father. Bai wouldn’t do this without a back up plan. Grandfather, you have told me many times Bai is as strategic as my father. He would not have done this without a plan.”

  Wyatt agreed, pride crossing his face.

  “You are correct again, Elena. Bai did have a back up plan. He has another level of informants in the Rongue Ri that the first two men were unaware of. In fact, he has a third level. Each group is unaware of the others. Here is the problem. All of the Rongue witnessed the slaughter of those women and children. The question is whether the informants will have the courage to give us the information we need, knowing the risk to themselves and their families.”

  “Father, I know this sounds naïve, but in addition to being horrified by Feng’s brutality, every one of those informants can see the difference between Feng and Bai. They know that Bai would never slaughter women and children. They must know that their lives will be in danger if Feng controls the Sing Leon. If, for no other reason, they should be willing to help Bai.”

  “Right, again, Elena. That is my feeling, as well. It isn’t naive, it is good clear thinking. I am proud of you.”

  “What is the back up plan, Father? Will it still work?”

  Wyatt smiled grimly. “That, my darling, is the critical question. Will it still work? Here is what Bai planned. If he or any of his guards were captured, we are to connect with his second and third level of informants. They will let us know ahead of time where the meeting place will be, so we can prepare. They also will ensure they are part of the attack squad of Rongue Ri that accompany Feng.

  “We have to assume that Bai is alive and will be at ten this evening. We will have our men in place. Our informants will be sprinkled among the men Feng brings, thinking they are loyal. When we begin our attack, they will join us. Feng will be boxed in between us and our informants.

  “Our biggest challenge is to get close enough to Bai to protect him. If we charge the meeting, Feng will simply kill Bai. And, yeah, we might get Feng, but lose Bai.”

  Elena interrupted. “That is not acceptable.”

  “No, Elena, it isn’t. We need a decoy, someone to stand next to Feng and negotiate. Ideally, the decoy will distract Feng and the ones close to Bai. If all goes according to plan, our decoy will make a move for Feng. His men will know it is Feng’s life or Bai’s.”

  “Who is the decoy?” Elena asked.

  “I am,” said Nianzu.

  Elena nodded. “I see. Given the plan, you are the single best man to pull it off. They will expect you. It will be assumed that Bai’s lieutenant will put his life on the line to save him.”

  All three men nodded, clearly impressed with Elena’s ability to grasp the particulars.

  She continued, “However, for that reason, it won’t work. This is not a reflection on you, Nianzu, but they will know exactly what you plan to do. The hole in your thinking, in the plan, is that someone has to be able to protect Bai from the Rongue Ri or the second there is a false move, they will kill Bai. You have to know this, Father.”

  Wyatt shook his head. “Hell, Elena, you are too damned smart. And, yeah, we are aware of the ‘hole in the plan,’ as you call it. Bai was as well. For that reason, we crafted a number of ‘distractions’ that we could put in place. Our task between now and tonight is to come up with the best one possible.”

  Again the four of them were silent.

  Elena stood up and went to the cabinet. She refilled her glass, this time to the surface. She took a large swallow of bourbon then turned to face the three men.

  “I am.”

  “You are what?” asked Wyatt. His stern tone confirmed he understood. Her father knew her well.

  “I am the best possible distraction. I am going in.”

  There was a chorus of negative reactions from all three men.

  “Don’t be ridiculous, Elena,” Wan said, not trying to hide his anger.

  “You know we will never let you do that, Elena.” Nianzu added, “Bai would kill us if we put you in that kind of danger.”

  “Bai is not the decision maker here, Nianzu. We are. And I am the best person to go in.”

  Wyatt knew Elena would not be bullied. Instead he appealed to her reason.

  “Elena, Feng just murdered seven innocent people to make a point. What do you think he would do with you? Killing you in front of Bai would be the sweetest revenge he could have. Not to mention, that it would destroy your grandfather.”

  “Father, that is the point. He won’t want to kill me. I will offer myself to

  him – as his woman.”

  “What?’ shouted Wan and Nianzu almost in unison.

  “Elena, for God’s sake…” Wyatt’s face hardened.

  “No, listen to me. Nianzu, you heard what Wichi and Bai agreed to at the saloon. Wichi said whoever lived would get the ‘cunt,’ who happens to be me.” She turned to Nianzu for confirmation. “As you will recall, Bai agreed.”

  “Elena, please stop.” Wyatt was as angry as Wan. “I do not want to hear another word of this. It infuriates me to know this is how you were discussed. “

  “Father, listen to me. I will go in and tell them that I am living up to the bargain that Wichi made with Bai. Remember Feng was there. He knows what the agreement was.”

  “Elena, I won’t say this again. You will not do this. Do you hear me? I cannot believe that you could be so foolish as to think I would permit this.”

  Elena stood up and glared at each of them, then locked in on her father.

  “Then you had better start believing, Father, because I am going in. I am a much better distraction than Nianzu. If you will give it serious thought, you will agree. They will not expect me. They will be caught completely off guard.

  “What we all need to do now is come up with the best possible plan to protect Bai between the time I distract them and you attack.”

  Wyatt’s face was stone cold, glaring at her.

  “Elena, I am just going to say this once…”

  “Father, please don’t. I need to go to my chambers. I feel faint. I don’t want to get sick here. Please understand. Let’s agree to put the final plan together in the morning. As
it is now four o’clock in the morning, I suggest we meet at eight.”

  Elena leaned over and kissed her grandfather. He turned his head, refusing her embrace, his face frozen with anguish. Nianzu hugged her back when she hugged him.

  She went to Wyatt and whispered, “You know I am right. Help me create the rest of the plan. I love you.”

  When she left the room, Wyatt shook his head and said in a rueful voice, “You know, of course, she is right. It’s too bad we can’t allow it. She has the best chance of freeing Bai, but the risk is too great.”

  Wan nodded and Nianzu agreed.

  Chapter 38

  Elena peeked over her shoulder to see if her father was following her. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw he was not. An outrageous idea came to her and she needed to be alone to think it through. She didn’t dare share the idea with anyone, including her father or Nianzu.

  It was exceedingly dangerous. If it worked, they could save Bai. If it didn’t, she’d be dead by daybreak. She continued through the garden. When she was sure no one was following her, she slipped away from her chambers, and ran through the courtyard instead.

  Armando and Manuel were sleeping, but both were at the door with guns drawn by the third light knock. They had been with Wyatt and Wan when Bai was captured and, like the rest of Bai’s men, were grabbing what sleep they could. All the men knew the next day was likely to be the beginning of an all out Tong war.

  Armando sprang back in shock when he saw Elena standing in the doorway.

  She forced her herself to be calm, belying the turmoil wrenching through her. “May I come in?”

  Armando shook his head astonished, then shrugged and stepped aside to let her in.

  Elena’s face and voice were fierce. “Before you say anything, please let me speak. What I am about to suggest is extremely dangerous. Not only for me but for you. I would not ask you to do this, except I am convinced it is the only way we are going to save Bai.

  “You need to know one thing and understand it well. If you do not agree to help me, I am going by myself. You cannot stop me. I likely will be killed. It is up to you. No one including my father or grandfather or Nianzu knows anything about this plan. They will be furious with you when they find out you helped me. The only thing that will make them angrier is to know you let me go by myself and caused my death.”