by Eve Langlais
Usually an epic sulker, Mae found herself in an odd position. “We could ask Father.”
“Ask Father for what?” The sudden query had Lin squeaking as her father stepped out of the house, choosing a door that opened up behind them.
Mae craned and saw him approaching, alone. What ill luck. Or was it?
“I was just saying to Lin that we are getting behind on our schoolwork.”
“Studies on vacation?” Father asked.
“Reading, mostly. We’re trying to get through six classics each and do a comparison book report. Which I guess we won’t finish since we don’t have our tablets.”
“Tablets are toys,” Father scoffed.
“Mom didn’t want us having laptops yet.” A lie. They’d had some in their old house but had traveled only with their tablets.
“Your mother was obviously holding you back. A child’s education today must take into account the virtual aspect of it. Technology is the future.”
“So, we can have a laptop?”
“You’ll each get a pair, but I expect to see results. You will present the book report when completed. In a timely manner.”
“Yes, Father.” Mae ducked her head and hid a smile. That had been much easier than expected.
“With that done…” Father tucked his hands behind his back and switched to a Chinese dialect. “How fare my daughters today?”
She replied. “We are well, thank you. And yourself?”
“Busy. I’ve been preoccupied with a special project that I believe is about to come to fruition.”
“I am pleased by your success,” Mae said, knowing how to handle their father. But Lin wasn’t in the mood to stroke his ego.
“I want to talk to Mom,” Lin exclaimed in English.
Rather than say no, their father smiled. “You’ll speak to her once she and I come to an understanding. Which I believe is very close.”
“You’ve talked to her?” Mae exclaimed. What she didn’t ask was if their mom was mad.
“I’ve been speaking with her at length. As a matter of fact, she’s in this house.” He casually relayed that bombshell.
Forget acting. Mae blurted, “Where?”
“Not a place you’re allowed to visit yet. Right now, she’s rethinking her choices.”
A crease of worry marred Lin’s brow. “You’re not going to hurt Mom, are you?”
Hurt? Mae’s eyes widened. Surely, he wouldn’t. Then again, look at his actions thus far.
He managed to appear offended. “Do you question my honor?”
“No.” Lin worried her lower lip.
“When you address me, it is to be as Father or sir. We are not peasants.”
“Yes, Father. Sir. Sorry.”
“Stand up when you apologize. Really, how many times must you be told?”
Mae rose along with her sister. It had never occurred to her that he’d require them to stand when he entered a room. Just how crazy was he? The difference between him and Ted proved astonishing. Ted never played these kinds of mean games with them.
Lin’s head ducked, and Mae might have thought her cowed if she’d not seen her clenched fists. “My apologies, sir.” The inflection completely ruined it, but Father accepted it.
“Perhaps you require some quiet and alone time like your mother. To reflect.”
Wait, was he talking about separating them? Mae had to nip that idea in the bud. How? “I’m sure you and Mom have lots to talk about. We just miss her. A lot. But we know you have our best interests at heart. Father.” She remembered to add that at the end.
He appeared somewhat mollified. His frown eased, and yet she shivered at the look in her father’s eyes. “Perhaps it is time to reunite you. To show her what her actions cost.”
“I’m sure she’s very sorry about what she did.”
“She will be.”
“Don’t you dare hurt her,” Lin exploded, and before Mae could stop her, her sister had thrown herself at their father, pummeling him with little fists.
He glanced down and then shoved her, sent Lin flying, hard enough that she tripped over the edge of the pool and fell in.
“Lin!” Mae shrieked.
Her sister swam to the surface, wide-eyed and clearly scared. But it was the terror when two of the armed guards came outside and told Lin to go with them that was the worst.
Father’s orders. Lin needed to be punished. Which, apparently, consisted of placing her in solitary. Just like their mother. Mae would have joined them if she’d not held her tongue. She didn’t act. Didn’t speak. Hoped Lin would understand that she had to remain free so she could act. Because only she could rectify this.
It was a full four hours before she got to see Lin. Two more after that before they saw their mother.
The last thirty-some hours hadn’t been very kind.
Ronin sent a minion to fetch Mae and Lin. Which meant a quick brushing of their hair and straightening of their clothes. He didn’t tolerate untidiness. Mae closed the lid on the laptop. Father had come through with excellent quality machines, ones that she’d been putting to good use.
They entered the parlor, a place of white wicker furniture and a peaked ceiling made of polished wooden planks. A nice room, but the best thing in it was sitting in a chair.
Mom’s face brightened at the sight of them.
“Girls, are you okay?”
“Mommy,” Lin exclaimed, running for her. Mae held back. Suddenly ashamed of her actions, especially when she saw the sunken hollows below her mother’s eyes and the red mark on her cheek.
What happened? Had Father hit her? He’d not struck Mae or Lin. He knew better punishments.
“As you can see, my love, my daughters are fine, and this despite your attempts to keep us apart. A heinous crime, wouldn’t you say?”
“My fault, not theirs. Don’t hurt them.”
“Or what?” Father taunted. “I will remind you that you aren’t in a position to demand anything. Or has your time in solitary not been enough to remind you of your rightful spot? Perhaps you need more time alone to reflect.”
“No,” Lin squeaked. She still held onto their mom and sniffled. “I wanna go home.”
“Your home is with me.” Flatly said by Ronin. “Tell them, my love.”
Mae prepared to hear her mother deny it. After all, she’d never cowered before anyone. Even Ted knew better than to make her mad.
Mother’s head ducked, her gaze not meeting theirs. “You’re staying with your father.”
“No.” Lin backed away from their mother, her lips trembling and eyes brimming with betrayal.
“I’m sorry, but we have to do as he says.”
There was something terrifying about seeing her mom conceding a fight. Mom always told them to never stop trying. Yet she appeared to have given up.
Or she was scared.
Mae glanced at Father, who’d reached out and grabbed Lin. Tight. Hard enough that her sister grimaced.
He’s hurting her. Mae bristled.
This was all her fault.
She had to fix it.
Sometimes, it was good that adults underestimated them.
But right about now, Mae needed a grown-up to save them. And she could think of only one person she trusted.
Chapter Twenty-One
It had been almost two days since Macey and the girls had disappeared. Marie believed that they remained in the islands. She just couldn’t be sure which one. Ronin’s private jet remained in China, the decoy sitting, still meaning they could be anywhere.
Macey might be dead.
Which might be why Ted was a tad too eager when his phone rang, the number unknown. Answering it beat staring at the mini bottle of booze sitting on his little fridge.
He’d not cracked the seal on it. Not yet. But if he didn’t find Macey and the girls soon…
“Are you ready to move out?” Marie’s voice said without any preamble.
He almost fell off the bed in the motel room he’d rented, t
he floral pattern of the comforter hideous enough to hide any stain. “You’ve got a location.”
“I do. It would seem the twins are a tad disillusioned with their father and contacted me. They’ve provided coordinates. He’s actually not very far. Holed up in a villa on a nearby mountain.”
“Is Macey okay?”
“She’s alive.” Hesitantly spoken.
“He’s hurt her.” He growled the statement, and the hand holding the phone almost crushed the casing.
“The important thing is, she’s alive,” Marie repeated more softly.
“What of the girls?”
“They are fine, physically. Lin received solitary as some punishment, but he hasn’t laid a hand on them.”
“Thank fuck.” Ted closed his eyes. “Soon, they won’t have to worry about him. Once he’s dead—”
“You’re planning to kill him?” Marie interjected.
“If the opportunity presents itself, yes.” It seemed rather obvious to him.
“You do understand that doing so might mean you won’t be allowed in Portia’s life afterwards.”
He didn’t question how the woman knew that they were involved. “I’ll be doing them a favor.”
“You’ll be killing the twins’ father.”
“He’s scum.”
“He’s still their father. And by killing him, you might make him a martyr for those girls.”
Ted could see where that might lead Marie to believe that Portia might not want him in her life. Still… “I’ll take that chance.” Because by killing Ronin, he’d be doing the world a favor, and keeping the people he cared about safe.
It might cost him his only chance at happiness, but he’d pay the price. He understood how Macey felt when she said that her life couldn’t compare to her daughter’s. In his case, his happiness seemed a paltry thing in comparison to theirs.
“You can’t go in guns blazing. We don’t want to accidentally shoot those we’re trying to save,” Marie warned.
“If you’re worried about friendly fire injuries, don’t. I never miss.”
“If you’re going to go off mission, then let me know now because my primary objective is getting Portia and the girls out safely.”
“Mine, too. Don’t worry.” Left unsaid was that once they were out of the line of fire, Ted was handling the Ronin situation, once and for all.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Portia had been released, but only because Ronin trusted that his threats would keep her in line. He was correct. She wouldn’t act unless she knew the girls would remain safe.
But it wasn’t easy biting her tongue. Especially when she saw the disappointment in Mae’s face. Then the guilt. Which wasn’t as bad as the sly expression. She knew that look, the one that said her kid was plotting. And that brain…who knew what Mae would think up.
However, she was only a child. She didn’t understand just how vile Ronin could be. He was a master manipulator. He knew how to hurt her. Putting her alone in a room with the hurricane shutters blocking the window. Clocks removed. No sound. No people. Nothing but herself and her thoughts.
But she’d endured it. She wouldn’t crack, wouldn’t give in to his mind games. She’d outplay him instead.
However, she’d almost lost it when she saw her girls. Poor Lin, trembling and afraid. Mae…what did she plot?
Portia had to stop her before she did something that drew her father’s wrath, which meant obeying him when he said to dress nicely for dinner.
Opening the closet, she noticed that it now held clothes rather than empty shelves. She chose a demure black dress, the kind that went over her knee with long sleeves and a square neckline, no cleavage. Some men might like curve-hugging and low-cut. Not Ronin.
Fully dressed, she rapped on the door. It opened, and a man stuck his face inside. “Ready?”
She nodded, not trusting herself to reply.
As she was herded down the hall, she caught movement and turned to see Lin, watching silently from behind a pillar that rose to the high, arched ceiling in the great room. She offered an exaggerated wink.
Why was her child winking?
Portia might have stopped to ask, yet her escort kept moving her along. Past the vast open space and through the formal dining space into a more private dining area. More of a lounge, with a table set for two, and a divan by a not-often-needed fireplace.
Ronin stood as she entered, always a perfect gentleman, all the better to hide the monster inside.
“My love, you are ravishing.” He approached and grabbed her hand, drawing her to the table and helping her take her seat.
She tucked her hands into her lap lest she grab a knife and stab him. Her girls. She had to think of them. Get them to safety first, then she’d handle Ronin.
“Husband.” She smiled sweetly. Pity her sleeping gloss had been lost with her purse of toys. But a household such as this one would be well stocked with things she could use.
“It is good you’ve come to your senses.”
“As if you gave me any choice.” She spread a napkin on her lap. Took note that there were no guards stationed inside the room, or outside on the balcony, at least that she could see. Thick curtains framed the doors, and they shifted slightly in a slight breeze.
“From here on out, your choices are simple. Obey me, and your life can be luxurious.”
“And if I don’t, you’ll hurt me or the girls.”
“Probably the dumber one. Until you’ve given me another heir, a male this time, the obedient one will serve.”
“Leave them alone.” She couldn’t listen to the threat and not speak.
“Testing my patience already, my love?” He arched a brow.
“More like wishing I’d had the courage to kill you ten years ago.”
“As if you could murder me now,” he sneered. “Go ahead and try. Do it.” He pointed to the knife in front of her. “Take it and stab me, slice me. After all, it’s not as if you haven’t already hurt me enough.”
She kept her hands tucked. “Don’t you dare play the victim.”
“I have every right. You left. You stole my children.”
“You’re a control freak.”
“I was your husband.”
“That didn’t give you the right to hurt me.” Even worse than the bruises of the flesh, the hematomas of the mind lingered the longest.
“You should have asked for a divorce.”
“You would have said no,” Portia blurted.
“You’re right, I would have refused, and after the children were born, I’d probably have had you entered into a program to deal with your obviously hormonal mental lapse.”
She pressed her lips together. “I don’t want to be your wife.”
“You don’t get a choice.”
“Yes, she does. And so do we.” Mae stepped out from behind the drapes and eyed her father. “You’re not a very nice person.”
“I don’t need to be nice. But I will be obeyed. Return to your room. At once. It would seem you require the same lesson as your sister when it comes to obedience.”
But rather than listen, Mae moved closer. “You know, for a long time, I suffered under the misconception that I required a father. I wanted one so badly, and when I found out you were alive, I couldn’t wait to meet you. In my mind, I’d built you into something grand. But it turns out you’re”—she eyed him in a way that showed he left her unimpressed—“disappointing at best.”
His face twisted. “You dare insult me?”
“Mom says I should always tell the truth, which is hypocritical coming from her.” Mae rolled her eyes. “But, sometimes, she is right. You’re not a very good person, but I am. Which is why you get a second chance.”
Portia blinked as her daughter took on a maturity that had taken her much longer to find.
“What are you babbling about?”
“You’ve been a very bad man, Father.” Mae shook her head. “Which is why you’re being arrested.”
“By whom?” he sneered. “Not that it matters. Any charges levied against me will get tossed by my lawyers.” Ronin was so blasé about it as he stated what he believed was the simple truth and took a sip of his wine.
“Might be kind of hard to have the case dismissed with the evidence I provided,” Mae declared, leading Portia to seesaw between pride and terror. Oh no, she hadn’t.
She had.
“I’ve emailed a few international organizations with details of your crimes. Money laundering. Drugs.” She shook her head. “You made it so easy for me to find.”
It astonished Portia just how much she’d underestimated her child.
“You lie.”
“Do I? How about you ask them.” Mae eyed the ceiling, and it was then that Portia heard it, the whup-whup of helicopter blades. More than one. A flash of movement outside, and Mae’s expression turned smug.
It dawned on Portia what Mae had done. “You called a SWAT team? Are you insane?” Portia might have yelled it, whereas Ronin spat, “You little bitch!”
Mae appeared to have factored many things into her plan. How to take her father by surprise, how to ensure that the case was airtight, but she’d never planned for the one thing that happened.
Ronin attacked Mae. He threw himself at her, hands outstretched, and Portia could only scream because she couldn’t move fast enough to intervene. Ronin hit her daughter and slammed her into the floor.
Mae didn’t get back up.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Ted roared, a primal sound as he saw Mae go down. He’d just rappelled out of a helicopter—which was a blast from the past—and hit the ground running. He aimed for the patio doors, where he could see his target. Saw the fucker hitting a child.
Marie’s warning to go slow went right out of his head. Danger. Danger. Instinct took over, and he yelled, “Hey, you ugly coward. Why not pick on someone your own goddamned size?”
Hearing Ted, Ronin rolled from Mae and stood, bouncing on the balls of his feet, fingers beckoning. “You want to fight, then let us fight.”
The guy wanted to do a hand to hand competition? The butt of the gun by his side was already gripped in Ted’s hand. It would be so easy to draw it and shoot.