Wiser Than Serpents (21 page)

David didn’t look at him, just took another drink. But it burned all the way down.

“—Yet God was still on his side. David calls himself a brute beast—and then says that, even so, God held his right hand. He was with David even in his dark, cluttered, futile thinking. And he’ll be with him all the way to the end.”

“He says, ‘There is nothing I desire on this earth but the Lord. He will guide me and then bring me to glory.’ King David confirms that though he might make mistakes, even die, God was his portion and strength.”

David closed his eyes, making himself hear Roman’s words. His portion—enough, and everything David needed to help him be the right man. His strength. The ability to stay the course and do what was right for Yanna, for eternity, instead of the now.

Roman’s words seemed to be enough, at least then, to remind David of his higher priorities, give him perspective.

Until, of course, tonight on the way to the opera. In fact, Yanna was surely trying to torment him.

What was worse, he probably deserved her punishment.

Right now, he’d rather be letting Kwan and his goons take their best shot at him than be holding out his hand for the very shapely and devastatingly gorgeous Yanna Andrevka to take as she got out of the taxi to the plaza in front of the Taipei concert hall. It had to be some diabolical plot that her black dress fit her like a waterfall, sliding down her lithe body, revealing exactly what he was trying not to notice.

Hopefully, Kwan wouldn’t notice, either.

David didn’t like this plan, not at all. But he didn’t have a full hand of choices at the moment. Even Roman had agreed to Yanna’s plan, reinforcing it by agreeing to follow them to the opera with the scooter. Should things go south, David would have a plan B.

That had clinched it.

But David wasn’t going to slip again. He had complete focus on keeping her alive, and he wasn’t going to compromise it by getting in the way. Regardless how difficult that might be.

David let go of her hand and paid the driver.

Rain had recently fallen, puddling in the cement, and turning the air fresh as it groomed fragrances from the multicolored azaleas in the lush garden outside the concert hall.

Across the plaza, beyond the booths of hawkers selling trinkets and souvenirs, the Taipei concert hall rose glorious, regal and gleaming with its two-tiered pagoda-style roof, the columns flanked with red sash that ringed the wide hall. It gave David the sense of stepping back in time, to the realm of the great Chinese dynasties, and reminded him that Taiwan and China still fought over who had control, really, of this fourteen-thousand-square-mile island.

Then again, maybe something so lush and beautiful, so exotic and dangerous and fragile as Taiwan could never truly belong to anyone.

Yanna hooked her arm around his. “Reminds me of that time we went to
Sleeping Beauty
at the Bolshoi,” she said.

Yeah, he remembered that, and how she’d smelled and looked just as incredible then as tonight. How they’d strolled through Red Square, talking about their dreams and plans. How even then, as the wind had played with her dark hair, he was jealous and wanted to put his arm around her, maybe twine his fingers through all that silk. Tonight, her platinum wig shimmered under the bright lights as they approached the wide steps of the concert hall.

She gripped his arm, not at all unsteady in her heels but perhaps of the task before them.

“You ready for this?” Yanna asked through her smile as she retrieved a program from the usher by the door.

And right then, with the chandelier lights twinkling against the faux-diamond earrings, with her smile so brilliant, her hair like a halo around her, her eyes bright and full of hope, he saw it. Why he was waiting for God’s plans for Yanna. Because Yanna might be beautiful now, but when God took over her heart, she’d be radiant.

So very worth the wait.

He took a program. Blew out a breath. Was he ready for this night? Definitely not. Because if he found Kwan, well, he’d have some hard choices to make. Like, did he drag Kwan into a back alley and pry information out of him the old-fashioned way? Or did he do it Yanna’s way—tagging the man with the Velcro-backed transmitter she’d concocted from her bag of tricks, and follow him back to his lair, and hopefully, Elena. What if David caught Kwan talking to Bruce? Who did he strangle first?

“I don’t know,” David said in answer to her question.

Big questions, all of which made him pause as they went inside. Yanna turned toward him, putting her hands on his chest, as if fixing the lapels of his suit. “I don’t see Kwan.”

He put his hands on her bare shoulders, aware of how smooth and soft her skin felt under his touch. “Nothing to the north, either. Maybe he’s already in his box seat.”

“It’s hard to know what alias he booked the tickets under,” she said. “We’ll have to search the boxes during the performance.”

She finished smoothing his suit. “You look nice tonight, by the way.”

He glanced at her, surprised at the approval in her eyes. It made his stupid heart sit up, take notice. “Thanks,” he said, trying to keep happiness out of his voice.

“I like the blond hair. I’m glad you dyed it back.” She reached up to touch the hard bristles behind his ears. “I’ll never forget your pirate look, however, sea dog.”

He smiled at that. Yeah, he’d never forget nearly losing her, either. “You’re a pretty blonde, too, by the way.” Of course, she’d be a knockout even if she dyed her hair purple and green and bedazzled her skin with silver speckles.

She rolled her eyes. “I’ve always wondered if it was true that blondes have more fun.”

“We’re not here to have fun—this could really backfire. I’m still trying to figure out why I agreed—”

“I was kidding, David. Of
course
I know why I’m here…but I’m glad you’re here, too.” Then she lifted to her tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek. “I’m grateful for your friendship and the fact you’re willing to help me. I know you and Roman are both worried, but we
are
going to find my sister. And when we do, I know I’ll owe it all to you.”

From the look in her eyes, he knew she meant it, but it made him hurt a little, too. Because if they found her sister, it would be completely due to the fact that God had intervened, and not at all due to him. Clearly, it would be some sort of miracle if she ever looked past David’s mistakes to see that God was on her side.

Still, he had hope. Lots of hope.

“Here’s hoping that ten years from now, we’re remembering the night we found your sister and took down Kwan’s empire.”

Her smile dimmed and she nodded, her eyes glistening.

They entered the concert hall, and he let himself be surprised at the elegance, the rows and rows of crushed red velvet seats, the two balconies above. The orchestra was warming up in the pit, and the cacophony of strings and bass added an eerie tone to the moment.

“We were lucky to get these tickets on such short notice. I found these through a scalper online.”

Luck had absolutely nothing to do with it, and it was just on the tip of his tongue to say that, but something like shame held him back. See what happened when he took things into his own hands. It affected every area of his life.

“We’re on the side, on the second tier. Hopefully we’ll have a decent view.”

He knew she didn’t mean of the stage, however, for a second, it felt like a date, something precious that he’d file away and remember, forever.

He climbed the stairs behind her, and they found their seats. He opened the program, pretended to read the listing of musical scores, written in Mandarin. “Listen, I’m not kidding. I know you don’t want to obey me, but I’m dead serious. If for some reason I tell you to abort and run, I want you to do exactly that, just like we talked about. Just because things went relatively well at the teahouse doesn’t mean that Kwan wouldn’t hurt you right here, right now.”

Yanna picked up the opera glasses she’d purchased at the market. “Now,
dawling,
when have I ever disobeyed you?” She began to scan the audience.

“Funny. I’m serious, Yanna. I may look all cleaned up and spiffy, but I’m still the guy you saw on Kwan’s boat, and I’m not afraid to put you over my shoulder and drag you out of here. I care about your sister, but it’s not worth losing you.”

“That’s very sweet of you, but you don’t have to worry about me.”

“Because you won’t do anything stupid? Yeah, tell me about how you ended up here in the first place? I forget…”

She kept her voice light, her smile affixed, but he noted a muscle pulling in her jaw. “You know, you might consider the fact that Kwan was on to you the entire time, and was just using me as a ploy to distract you so he could kill
you.
”

“I have thought of that, by the way. But it doesn’t matter now. What matters now is finding—”

“
Tochna.
I found him.” She leaned over toward David and handed him the binoculars. “The box across from us, third from the front. Looks like his party has the entire box.”

David put the glasses to his eyes. Here David was, dressed in a monkey suit, sitting next to the most beautiful woman he knew, staring at one of the most despicable men he’d ever met. And there Kwan was, wearing a better tux, his hair slicked back, an exotic woman on his arm, a small entourage of goons warriors watching his cowardly back.

David handed the binoculars back to Yanna, put his arm around her. “Remember, you’re going to obey me.”

The lights began to dim, and she turned and smiled at him. “Oh, David, you know me better than that.”

He stared at her in the darkness, feeling a little nauseous. Because, yes, oh, yes, he did.

E
ven Yanna could agree that something or
Someone
was looking out for her, because her plan seemed to be going off without a hitch.

David might not be so happy, however, because Yanna Plan A and David Plan A differed not so much in result, but in process.

Her plan involved her getting up close and personal with Public Enemy Number One while David stayed far enough away for Kwan to walk out and lead them all to Elena.

She’d been cooking up her plot ever since she had slithered into her slinky black dress—courtesy of another stop at the market—and glimpsed the look on David’s face. He looked as if he’d never seen her before, or at least this side of her.

Or maybe he didn’t want to. Maybe he didn’t want to be reminded of what he refused to acknowledge.

Even if his brain didn’t want her, his heart did. Because no man kissed a woman as David had kissed her without having at least a portion of his heart engaged. David never did anything halfway, and his kiss was no exception—strong arm around her shoulder, hand entwined in her hair, kissing her like he’d been waiting, dreaming of her in his arms for…at least as long as she’d been dreaming the same thing.

That had lasted only as long as it took for him to come to his senses.

He simply didn’t want her in his world longer than the space of a kiss.

That made her feel oh so wonderful, so cherished.

All the same, it had given her the idea that she now clung to as she followed Kwan’s floozy out of the bathroom and toward his private box.

Kwan would look at her exactly the same way David had. Perhaps—even she could admit it was remote—perhaps he wouldn’t recognize the beat-up brunette who had jumped ship two days ago. Instead he’d see a blonde who just wanted to have fun.

“We’re going to Jin’s house after the performance. I’m sure he’ll let you come along.” Up close, Kwan’s girl was slim, and no older than Elena, with short, black bobbed hair. She’d accidentally—or not, thanks to Yanna and an unsuspecting waitress—spilled red wine down her black satin dress during intermission. David had been watching Yanna, and she’d seen his eyes widen as she followed her victim back to the bathroom.

See, Yanna had already discovered Kwan’s real name. Jin. David should trust her more.

Once inside the bathroom, Yanna had simply offered the assistance every girl needed—towels and sympathy. Oh, and plenty of
I’m so bored
to go along with her act.

Which conveniently led to “why don’t you join me and my boyfriend after the show?”

Yanna had smiled, protested, and finally given in.
Oh, sure, you want me to ride in your limo, back to Kwan’s secret lair, so I can wait until everyone passes out, then surprise him out of a sound sleep, preferably with a kitchen knife to his throat? Oh, okay, if you insist.

The only glitch so far in her ultraperfect plan was when Floozy, aka Ari, invited her to join her in their box seats.

Yeah, that would be trickier. Especially with David standing in the hallway, leaning to one side, holding up the wall and trying to act nonchalant. Not an easy task since worry rippled the air like heat around him. He reached out to catch her as she walked by, but she moved her arm out of the way and shot him a look.

Back off.

Or maybe,
Trust me.

Probably both, but David reacted like some sort of jilted lover, all dark frowns and glares.

Well, this wasn’t about him. Or her. She’d do whatever it took to track down Elena. Even sit in Kwan’s box, in the back, next to one of his bodyguards, who looked vaguely familiar and stared at her like she might be a nice roll of sushi.

She gave him a wan smile. Ari turned back to her and shot her a grin. Best friends. She wondered if Ari had a big sister and where she might be tonight, if she worried about Ari and the company she kept.

Glancing down at David’s seat just as the lights lowered, Yanna saw that he had reentered his box. He now stared up at Kwan with his hands folded over his chest in a very if-looks-could-kill kind of posture.

Loosen up. She could take care of herself. Really.

Mostly.

Yanna pulled her silk shawl over her and tried to concentrate on the soprano over the roll of her pulse.

The opera ended long before she had figured out what to do to get Kwan alone, or if—please, no—he recognized her before she could get her hands on a real knife (as opposed to her Barbie knife). By the show’s end, she’d turned her program into an egg roll, soggy and unreadable.