Chapter 6

Yao answered his phone while driving. "You've got Yao" he said as he parked and stepped outside his Hellcat. He gave it a gentle pat and started to walk into his office.

"Boss, the elders called. They want you to do an audit on Nina."

"great ..just...great" he rubbed his jaw. It was still sore from the previous night. "Tell them to give me time, She's got her fingers in many pots."

He sighed then pulled Nina's ring out of his pocket. It was all he could afford when they were younger. His Gold, he needed to get her back. He sighed again, after the audit maybe?

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Nina paced angrily in her living room on a call. It had been about a month since the audit had started, probably a plot from the elders again. "I don't care if you have plans. If I don't see his hand on my desk by tomorrow, I'm taking yours." She hung up the phone and tossed it on the couch.

She went to the kitchen to make some jasmine tea. Her favorite to calm down. As she started her kettle she heard a familiar knock. She lifted her hand and the jeweled handle opened for Yao. "Come in" she called out as she grabbed another cup.

He walked in and watched her for a moment. "I need to look at your books."

Nina paused "So they sent you?" she sighed "My real books are in their usual spot. " She turned to look at him, he seemed stressed. "You can use my desk if you want."

"Thanks" He walked over to her and placed her ring on the counter before heading back to her office.

She picked it up and looked it over. She bit her lip and sighed before putting it back on.

While Nina worked in the kitchen he sat in her office and poured over her records. This was a fools errand, since her books were always pristine. In fact she had the most profitable territory within the Triad. He ticked a few things he had questions about, but everything was correct so far.

Nina brought in two cups of tea and sat down in the chair across from him. He noticed the ring back on her finger. She forgave him, at the very least she wasn't angry anymore.

"Nina what are these purchases at this... children's boutique?"

She took a sip of her tea "I bought some clothes and donated them to a local charity. "

"Alright..."

Nina sighed "Actually, there's something else I need to speak to you about." He looked up, her tone concerned him.

She hesitated for a moment before she looked down at her cup and placed it to the side "I need your protection"

"I knew you were in over your head" he cursed "what did you do? What are you hiding from the Elders?"

"Could you not think the worst of me for once? I'm not hiding anything from them, I'm hiding something from you. If I tell you though, it'll break the contract"

He eased back "Alright. I'm sorry. How long will you be in a coma?" He asked, worried now.

"I don't know, I've only just become strong enough that it won't kill me altogether."

He cursed again, not at her this time though. If it was this bad, then it must have been a contract with someone powerful. If the Elders knew already...that's who she needed protection from. "Okay, let me know what's going on"

She took a deep breath "Okay, do you remember five years ago when I was in the hospital?" A small glowing crack formed below her left eye.

"Yes." How could he forget? the Koreans almost killed her and he had gone on a rampage. It had been one of the biggest bloodbaths in Advent history.

"It wasn't the Koreans, it was Elder Wang." A large crack shot down her cheek from her right eye. "I went to him to ask for his blessing. I was stupid and naive and...and pregnant. I thought that he would overlook that the baby had my blood since it had your blood too." The cracks started to reach down her throat as she spoke. "He didn't ...he was angry. When I was barely holding, on they forced me to sign a contract. I'm sorry...I couldn't tell you until now" her breathing became rapid as the cracks reached her heart.

Yao went over and picked her up "Rest Gold. I'll take care of it" He said as the Ki deviation took over and she went limp in his arms.

He took her to her room and set her gently on the bed. He took her right hand and kissed the ring on her finger. They had always squabbled over this and that, but it wasn't until she got out of the hospital that the fights got as serious as they had.

He stood up again and called Yang "Get me a squad to Nina's house. No one comes in except Lu and Madam Xi."

Madam Xi was not only Nina's master and mentor, but the Triad's medical specialist.

"Yes, boss" Yang responded quickly. There was an edge to Yao's voice that he hadn't heard for years. Now was not the time for back talk.