“Do you know why the attack failed Richard?” Lem poured himself a glass of brandy.
“It failed, because you didn't have men sufficient for the job.”
“Wrong! It failed because you chose the most inopportune time. Did you really think Choi wasn’t prepared? And let's not forget the guest list support, or the fact you didn't consult with Yi.” Lem’s words sliced through Richard, who squirmed in his seat like a squirrel. “You've cost me the Eagles and it'll take months to recoup that loss.”
After a long silence, Richard asked; “What do you propose?”
Lem smiled inwardly knowing Richard was now his completely and he would use the key to Choi's empire prudently. Now my plans can begin, he thought.
Chapter Eight
Ze-Shan ignored John's expressions of displeasure and could care less if the boy felt annoyed. It wasn’t his fault that none of his friends had shown up, but it did make him wonder. If Tang had diverted them to another club, then not even the assortment of pretty girls who approached would be tempting enough to relieve his sour mood.
Harvey watched John watching Lotus every move as she placed drinks on the table in front of him and Ze-Shan. He stared in amazement when John grabbed her by the waist and pulled her to him. She resisted John's touch. He saw pleading in her eyes when they looked to him for support but he turned away, fed up with the days events.
Jack recognized the tension as one to be avoided and gave a slight nod to Ze-Shan.
Ze-Shan too was watching the interplay and when he saw Jack's nod, took it as a warning. “John,” Ze-Shan said authoritatively.
John released Lotus and laughed. “Sorry, Lotus, how are you? Not upset?”
Lotus hesitated in seeing Jack turn his back on her and that Harvey had turned his attention to the phone that had rung. “Fine, Mr. Choi, no harm. You don't have to - - What can I get you? Another round?” Her voice trembled and a cold tremor slithered through her as John's stare made her feel dirty. “Maybe I should come back?”
“No, now is okay. Hmmm. Wait a second. Hey, Ze-Shan! Where're you going?” John picked up the glass in front of him.
“Men's room,” he said, before making his way across the crowded dance floor.
John laughed and drained his drink in one gulp.
“Well, Mr. Choi? You want something else?”
“Scotch, bring a scotch this time.”
Lotus turned to walk, but stopped short when she heard John shout out; “Hey!” She looked at John and cringed at the expression of mischievousness she saw. “Yes?”
“Why not join me?” John reached for Lotus and pulled her close. He held her tight as she struggled to free herself from his iron grasp.
“You know I can't.” Lotus balanced her tray as she tried in vain to pry loose John’s hand.
“Feisty, aren't you?” John laughed at her resistance and only released her when she started to punch him. “Okay, okay,” he said chuckling and released his grasp.
Lotus walked quickly to the bar. John eyes never left her as he giggled with delight but his laughter ceased abruptly. It was replaced by nervousness that surfaced in the manner of quick short breaths, which his apprehension brought. Lotus, visibly upset, was complaining so loudly to Harvey that all the girls standing in the corner turned to listen and watch. John looked for Ze-Shan, but realized the man was still in the rest room. Nervous, John rattled the ice cubes in his empty glass.
Lotus’ bitterness came through succinctly with her few sharp words. Harvey did feel for her, even if she had worn thin his nerves, and indicated for Lara to get Lotus out of the place.
Harvey thought the situation over. Not to act would mean a loss of face and although he didn't have the strength, or courage to take on a dragon's cub, he had no choice. His patience had left with Lotus and so indicated for Jack to place John's drink on the tray. Trouble, he thought, always trouble. Well, Lotus won't bring any more trouble. Tonight, she goes. For now, he must resolve the tension caused by Choi. He hoped he could defuse the attitude and if Ze-Shan was reasonable, he just might be able to get them out of the club quickly.
John, along with the rest of the club, watched Harvey. He felt the crowd’s penetrating stares and tried to sink deeper into the blackness of the round leather chair.
Harvey walked up and stood towering over John before placing the drink on the table in front of him. “Compliments of the house.”
“Thanks,” said John
“May I join you?” Harvey didn't wait for a response and took Ze-Shan's chair. “It seems - - It seems that you like our girls.”
John didn't like Harvey Chan. Fiddling with his empty glass, he rattled its ice cubes, stressing his agitated state, while wondering why Ze-Shan was taking so long. “They're all right.”
John had spoken to Harvey only once before when he couldn't pay his bill and he had to explain the situation about who he was to him. Harvey had politely put him in his place back then and ever since that day; they avoided each other at Tang's request. Tang had convinced John he'd never be bothered with something so tedious as a bill while Harvey, however, was reminded by Tang that it was all part of the payment expected.
Harvey indicated for the ladies to move closer. “Any of these ladies would enjoy your company. Perhaps, you would like one?” He watched John's frown turn into a smirk.
John stared knowing that whichever he wanted was for the taking. They bored him. Tonight, he desired excitement, “well, there is one that I want but she's not here.”
“Oh? Who would that be?”
“Lotus.” John was arrogantly blind to the fact that his seriousness infuriated Harvey. He failed to see the silent storm visible in Harvey's tense posture.
“Lotus is not a hostess,” Harvey spoke between clenched teeth. He was trying hard to exercise restraint, not so much because he feared Ze-Shan, or Tang, but because he didn't need the negative publicity, a scuffle with the young lion would bring.
“If you don't want trouble, you'll be sure she's mine for the night. Besides, if you really cared, she wouldn't work here.” John sat smugly and ignored the crowd that had inched closer.
“Do you think that because of your father you can throw your weight around here?”
“No, because of this.” John pulled out his gun and pointed it directly at Harvey. “My father is very powerful and as his son I get what I want. If not, someone, you, might get hurt. Am I clear? Get her for me!” John demanded. He looked around and saw all eyes had focused upon him.
“I see,” said Harvey.
Both men knew if they backed down, they would lose face, honor and respect. John would lose more than Harvey would, and in Hong Kong, honor was highly valued.
Still Harvey's worn, fragile reserve held. “I think it's time for you to leave.”
“Leave?” John chuckled at the thought and felt the weight of his backup weapon, his knife, in his jacket pocket. “I'm the one with the gun and this gun means power. It says I stay and you give me Lotus.” John stood and leveled the gun barrel directly at Harvey's chest.
“You think that gives you power?”
An uneasy silence spread over the room, the music had stopped and the crowd circling the pair moved in yet closer. John sensed this and knew he had taken a wrong turn, but he was too dense to realize his immaturity didn't leave him a way out.
“All I have to do is shoot. Then you'll find out what my power is! Make someone get her here!” John's stubborn sense of justification erased rationality.
Harvey eyed the boy cautiously. Any patience or compassion within him had vanished. Although he knew he stood on the edge of the precipice, he refused to be pushed backward another step. Guilefully, he stood and realigned his body to a more defensive stance, readying himself for opportunity. Their eyes locked and bodies stood rigid as neither wished to give ground. Tension mounted, and a murmur rose from the crowd that had gathered. They sensed the strain breaking, as a wave does upon the shore. John turned to look at the outer circle and in
that moment, was struck by Harvey.
Harvey snap kicked John's hand twice and knocked the gun to the floor a few feet away. It was close, but not close enough for either man to reach it without a challenge from the other.
“How powerful are you now, John?” Harvey spoke through gritted teeth. “How powerful? Huh? You're a fool! You're no man! Get out! Get out before I teach you a lesson!”
John stood in amazement. No one had ever dared meet his challenge before, having usually feared his father. “You bastard,” was all he could mutter, unable to think straight.
“Why? Because I took away a toy you don't know how to use?”
Laughter surrounded the twin tigers strengthening Harvey, while infuriating John, who broke out in a cold sweat. John rubbed his hands against his leg nervously.
“You're dead,” he said pointing to Harvey. “You're all dead!” Frantically, his eyes darted from person to person as he looked for Ze-Shan.
“You're so stupid! Looking for your man, Choi? Looking for him, to solve your problems? Ze-Shan's still in the men's room and knows better than to fight a foolish boy's battles.” Harvey enjoyed the lingering laughter. He was tired of being the victim and knew many had endured a long time under John's arrogance for the sake of George's mercy. Tonight, he would stand his ground.
“You're dead!” John pushed the table separating them out of the way. He whipped out a Bali Song knife from his jacket pocket and lunged for the man. It was an unfair match given Harvey's strength and expertise. Somehow, John managed to trip Harvey and stabbed him in the left thigh, but he recovered and tripped John, who in seeing the gun inches away reached for it as Harvey grabbed him. They struggled ferociously, like two tigers until four wild, random shots rang out striking the windows and mirrors. Sharp fragments rained down, panic set in and people ran off in all directions. Ze-Shan, who had stood at the back of the crowd, pushed against the tide heading for the exits. John got wounded in the leg, but he kept fighting with all his strength. He lashed out wildly, his wound intensifying his resolve. Their respective wounds drove their fight to a higher degree of viciousness. More shots rang out as they struggled to control the gun and John was hit again.
Ze-Shan massive in statue, waded through the fallen chairs and table, grabbed Harvey from behind and threw him to the ground about a yard away, knocking the wind out of him. He then yanked John to his feet, by the back of his collar; saw the gun in Harvey's hand and stepped on it to prevent its use.
Realizing he was bleeding out his left side, John started trembling. He held up his hand and looked at his blood dripping in utter disbelief. “You shot me.”
Sirens from below broke through the uneasy silence. “What do you think happens when you fight? Someone gets hurt and I'm glad I got you!”
Ze-Shan looked at John, grateful it was only a minor wound with little blood.
Harvey felt satisfied in wounding the dragon cub. The fight had restored his pride.
John broke free of Ze-Shan, hobbled over and bent down to pick up the gun. He looked at Ze-Shan for approval, but saw quiet anger. When he looked at Harvey, he saw humility, which he took for defeat and that made him grin between his labored breaths.
Ze-Shan grabbed John's arm. “John, you've made your point. Go!”
“I'll show you, Harvey, what happens when you don't treat a Choi with respect!”
Harvey got up slowly before bending over to hold his wounded leg that was throbbing with sharp pain. “You're no Choi! You're a man without honor!”
“What?!?!? You'd- -”
“John, the cops, we've got to go.” Ze-Shan saw the elevator light and was anxious.
“You better apologize or- -”
“John!” exclaimed Ze-Shan.
“Just leave.” Harvey moved to sit in the closest chair. He was tired from the day, the fight, and his wound. He was more than ready to end his dance with the devil.
“Why? Afraid? Yeah, I see it. You’re afraid of me. Good.”
“You're such a fucking hothead.” Harvey stated calmly.
“No.” John leveled his gun. “You are!” Squeezing the trigger, he pumped one round squarely into Harvey's chest.
“You stupid, son of a bitch!” Ze-Shan shouted, grabbed the gun, and began pushing John towards the nearest exit, an act he wished he had done earlier.
“Don't worry; they won't talk if they know what's good for them! Hey! Ze-Shan! Give me back the gun! No one will say anything or the same thing will happen to them!” John forcibly took the gun from Ze-Shan. He tried to be intimidating to the few hiding in a corner, but it was difficult to stand straight with his wounded left side. “Is he dead?”
“What the fuck?! Move!” Ze-Shan commanded, and shoved the young idiot as fast as he could through the hall, to the rear fire stairwell. “The police! Move!”
“So what! What are they going to do to me? Nothing and you know it!” John had overcome his sense of fear in killing his first man. He never killed anyone before and was amazed at the sense of power it brought. But there were other feelings he couldn't deal with that were rushing in his mind. As much as he hated to admit it, Ze-Shan was right, they needed to escape.
Police exited the elevator with guns drawn and took defensive stances immediately. After a quick assessment, they found the stairs the assailants had fled down and followed.
Placing John's arm around his neck, Ze-Shan helped him move down the stairs. When they heard the cops descending, John seemed to come back to reality and moved forward on his own. Shots rang out and John returned fire until Ze-Shan grabbed him by the collar and practically threw him down the stairs. They continued downward, checking the doors until they found a metal paint can that held one door ajar. Together, they walked through the office and heard the workers chattering farther down the corridor. Turning the corner, they confronted a painter talking with the service elevator operator. Flashing his gun for the first time, Ze-Shan pulled and pushed the two men out of his way so he and John could get on. Quickly, he turned the key to close the doors and took the elevator express to the ground floor.
“Don't say a word!” Ze-Shan ordered.
John remained quiet not so much because he was commanded but because he was terrified. When the rear elevator doors opened, Ze-Shan said a prayer of thanks that they were in the shipping area and not the lobby of the building. He knew they weren't safe and John was getting weaker. By the time they broke through the alleyway door, John was barely able to walk.
“Just a little more John, keep it together a little more.” Ze-Shan scanned the street and alleyway, grateful that no cops were in sight. Leaning John against the wall, he spotted his target. “I'm going to get a car when the light turns red, you must make it to the car. Understood?” He saw John nod his head in agreement while clutching his side in pain. “Good.”
Cars stopped at the red light. Ze-Shan ran out, opened the driver's door and pointed his gun in the man's face. The driver jumped out and ran away screaming. John wandered over as fast as he could and collapsed into the passenger side.
Ze-Shan changed gears and sped through the streets. “You're a stupid ass! How could you be so stupid? How? The man didn't mean anything! He even offered you a way to save face with your choice of other women, but no, you, with your hard nose, snotty attitude, had to be a hard line son of bitch and demanding! How can you be so stupid?”
“Shut up! Where were you? You're supposed to be there to protect me!”
“What? You know you were wrong and shouldn't have done what you did! Your father is gonna have my ass for this and I'm tired of covering for your stupidity!”
“Why did you leave?” John shouted over the loud police cars’ sirens that were in pursuit.
“I'm supposed to protect you from your father’s enemies, not from your stupidity! Shit! I can't lose those damn cops!” Ze-Shan drove towards the Harbor tunnel.
“Then fuck it!” John leaned out the window and started firing.
“Shit! Hold on tight! I'm gonna cr
ash the tollgate! You're worse then a gui-lou (white devil)!” Ze- Shan drove deep into the tunnel leading to Hong Kong Island.
John wasn't listening to Ze-Shan. Everything done tonight he could rationalize doing, just like shooting at the cops. He had to stop them to protect himself, another rationalization with foundations in fear. The wild exchange of shots eventually took mark as John, by pure chance, shot out the cop’s front tire. The police car spun out of control and crashed, exploding into flames that filled the tunnel, which vibrated from the blast’s deadly sound. The resulting collision of approaching cars couldn't be avoided and as they piled up, they effectively, created a dam. John sat back and laughed until Ze-Shan's backhanded fist caught him squarely in the mouth.
Ze-Shan drove them through most of Wan Chi and Central at a more normal speed before suddenly pulling over and stopping the car short. He reached over to the passenger side and grabbed his young charge by the neck and said; “listen and listen good! You nearly got us killed tonight and it's not over yet. I've got to get you back to your father and if you say one fucking word until we're standing in front of him, I’ll kill you where you are and worry about retaliation from Tang later!” He drove through the streets until he turned on to a quiet side street.
John closed his eyes and leaned back into the headrest, not wanting to think about anything, least of all Ze-Shan. When he started things up, he didn't think he would have to answer to anyone save himself, but Ze-Shan was right in that he would have to answer to his father. Opening his eyes briefly, he watched Ze-Shan go to a black nondescript door near the middle of the block. The door opened and light filled the otherwise darken street. One man handed something to Ze-Shan before indicating something else down the block, while another came outside, and approached the car. That was the last thing John remembered before passing out.
The Dragon Within His Shadow Page 5