CHAPTER
2
HONG KONG
Hu Chang hadn’t come to meet her.
Catherine smothered disappointment when she saw Sam O’Neill, Luke’s tutor, as she got through customs. “Hi, Catherine.” He took her carry-on case and duffel bag. “Good to see you. I hear you’ve had a rough week or so.”
“It wasn’t wonderful,” she said dryly. “None of them are. You know that, Sam.” Sam was a retired CIA agent and a fine teacher. He had been Catherine’s first choice as both a tutor and bodyguard for her son. “I got through it.”
“You always do.” He smiled as he led her toward the parking lot. “And very well, I’m sure. Venable knows how lucky he is to have you.”
“I’m a valuable commodity to him, but I’m not the only agent who can give him what he wants.”
“That sounded defensive.”
“Did it? How has Luke been doing?”
“Intellectually, superb. He’s learning in leaps and bounds. Of course, Hu Chang has a lot to do with that. He not only sparks and challenges, but he thinks outside the box and makes Luke come with him.” He grimaced. “I haven’t had much time for ordinary studies. Hu Chang has him in his lab most of the time. Luke’s becoming a chemical whiz.”
“Intellectually, superb,” she repeated. “What’s that supposed to mean? What are you leaving out?”
“Nothing. I’m Luke’s teacher, I’m used to judging his mental capability. I haven’t had the opportunity to monitor his psychological condition. You’d have to ask Hu Chang about that.” He saw her expression, and said gently, “I’m not dodging the question. From what I’ve seen of Luke, he’s seemed enthusiastic, happy, and full of life. Just what you’d want him to be.” He paused. “He asks about you. Not often. It just comes out of the blue sometimes. He asks if I’m sure you’re safe. And I’ve heard Hu Chang and Luke talk about you.”
“Are you trying to comfort me, Sam? I don’t expect Luke to worry and wonder about me. I wouldn’t want him to do that.” But she was grateful that Sam had confided those little signs that Luke had not forgotten her. “And Hu Chang cares about Luke or he wouldn’t bother teaching him. I should be grateful he’s dominating Luke’s every thought.” She heard the way that sounded, and said, “I am grateful.”
Sam raised his brows.
“Okay, I’m protesting too much.”
“Yes, you are. I believe you’re feeling a little like a fifth wheel.”
“Maybe. Luke’s life goes on, and I always seem to have to catch up. Look, I’m grateful that you came to pick me up, Sam, but I’d—”
“You’re wondering why Hu Chang didn’t come instead.”
“No, Hu Chang always does what he wishes.” But she would have liked him to have wished to see her as much as she wanted to see him. It seemed like a long time since she had been with Hu Chang. “I never expect anything of him.”
“Very wise. How well you understand me, Catherine.”
She stopped, her gaze flying to the man walking across the parking lot toward her. “Hu Chang.” She felt a surge of joy and took an involuntary step toward him. Then she halted and said offhandedly, “Not really, you can still surprise me.” She watched him come toward her, every step lithe and graceful. He was wearing black as usual, black trousers, black tunic that somehow was faultlessly elegant. His shoulder-length dark hair shone in the lights of the parking lot. He was only a few inches above middle height but appeared taller. When she was fourteen, she had thought he was an old man, but that was because his night-dark eyes seemed to hold all the secrets of the world. She didn’t know how old he was; his high-cheekboned face seemed totally ageless. He had told her once he was part Russian, part Mongolian, and he looked neither except for those black eyes. All she knew was that she had seen him do amazing physical acts, and his endurance was incredible. She knew he had lived long enough to travel the world and learn a great deal. She knew he had delved into dozens of philosophies and accepted bits and pieces of them. She knew that he let her into his life more than he did any other human being.
Yet she did not ever know what he would do next.
“Why did you even bother to come? I didn’t need anyone to pick me up. And who’s taking care of Luke if both of you are hovering over me?”
“Your son can take better care of himself than many men three times his age,” Hu Chang said. “And you’re being rude to Sam, who is just obeying my orders.”
“I’m not being rude to Sam. He has his orders. He wouldn’t have left Luke by himself if he’d known that he’d not be with you. I’m being rude to you.”
“I’m glad you made that clear,” he murmured. “But let’s permit Sam to leave you now that I’m here. He doesn’t have to listen to you abusing me. I’m sure it embarrasses him.”
“Actually, it’s entertaining,” Sam said with a grin. “And enlightening. But I take it you want me to go watch over Luke while she does it?”
“That would be less humiliating for me.” He inclined his head. “If you would be so kind.”
“No problem.” He turned to Catherine and handed her the handle of her roller bag. “I’ll see you later.”
Catherine watched him stroll away from them across the parking lot. “Why did you send him to pick me up?”
“My car is over there. The gray Mercedes. I would carry your bags, but you’re obviously feeling fiercely independent and a little resentful. You may carry them yourself.”
“Thank you,” she said as she fell into step with him. “Why did you send Sam?”
“Because you’ve had a bad time for the last few weeks, and I wanted you to see a friendly face when you got off the plane.”
“So you took Sam away from guarding my son and sent him to furnish the friendly face? Why would you do that?”
“Because I was busy and couldn’t do it myself. Of course, my expression is seldom described as friendly, but you wouldn’t care about that.” He opened the passenger door of the Mercedes for her. “You’re much too discriminating.”
“No, I wouldn’t have cared. But you seldom feel it necessary to pick me up. Why this time?”
He smiled, his gaze meeting her own. “Perhaps because I wanted to see you. Is that too difficult to believe?”
She felt a melting deep inside her as she looked at him. She had wanted to see him, too. All the years of friendship, all the bonds that nothing could break. This city was not home, but being with Hu Chang came close. “No, I believe that’s true. But perhaps it’s not the entire truth. Did you send Sam because he was ex-CIA, and you thought I needed protection? Or did you have a problem with Luke that you wanted to solve before I saw him?” She got into the passenger seat. “Get in the car and tell me the rest of it.”
He smiled with genuine amusement. “I have missed you, Catherine.” He came around the car and got into the driver’s seat. “You’re an unending delight.” He started the car. “But you shouldn’t demand that Sam watch over Luke night and day. It’s not healthy for Luke.”
“Too bad. It’s healthy for me not to have to worry about him. I lost him once when a scumball targeted him instead of me. It’s not going to happen again.”
“You’d worry anyway,” he said quietly. “You’re afraid he’ll walk away and never come back. You’re wrong, Catherine, he’s not going to leave you. Only a fool would abandon a jewel like you. Luke is not a fool.”
“Bullshit. He doesn’t have to be a fool. He’s a boy who was told all of his childhood by that bastard Rakovac that all the pain and misery he was going through was because of me.” She looked at him. “Are you trying to change the subject? You didn’t answer my question.”
“I’ll answer it now. Yes. And yes.”
She stiffened. “What’s happening, Hu Chang?”
“That’s another question.” He took out his phone and started to dial. “Forgive me, I have to call Sam before he gets too far.”
“Why? What’s he—”
“Sam, don’t go to my shop in the city.” Hu Chang spoke into the phone. “Luke is at the Golden Palace. I had your bags transferred there after you left to go to the airport. Yes, everything is all right. We’ll join you shortly.” He hung up and started to back out of the parking space. “You may explode now, Catherine.”