Page 249 of Roberto

“What does he know?” I asked breathlessly.

“What doeswhoknow?” a grandfatherly voice said behind me.

My heart stopped in my chest.

Chaoxiang heard the voice, too.

“Fuck,”he cursed, then hung up.

I turned to see Lau in the doorway of my office, smiling benevolently.

Han stood behind him. He wasn’t smiling at all.

“What doeswhoknow, Ms. Chan?” Lau said as he strolled into my office.

“N-nothing,” I stammered.

“Hm… somehow, I don’t think you’re telling me the truth.”

Han shut the door as he walked in behind his boss.

It felt like I was being sealed inside a tomb.

Lau held out his hand. “Give me your phone.”

“Why?”

He dropped all pretense of pleasantness. “Because otherwise, I’ll have Mr. Han break your jaw. Give me your phone.”

I trembled slightly as I handed it over.

He looked at the list of calls on the screen.

Unfortunately, I had Chaoxiang’s name programmed in.

“Ah, yes, everyone’s favorite black-market purveyor. He managed to evade the men I sent to collect him. Was he calling to warn you?”

“…yes,” I said dully.

“I appreciate you not lying to me,” Lau said, and flashed his grandfatherly smile again. “One of my spies saw you and Mr. Rosolini go there this morning. The two of you are back together, I assume?”

“Yes.”

“Wonderful. I was beginning to worry Rosolini might tire of stalking you and start naggingme, so it’s nice to know he has you as a distraction again. What did the two of you purchase from Chaoxiang this morning?”

I didn’t answer.

Lau sighed, then said in a bored voice, “Mr. Han.”

Han pushed down on my shoulder, forcing me into my office chair.

Then he pulled out a cigar cutter – the kind with a razor-sharp blade that slides over a circular hole.

He grabbed my arm. I fought back, but he cranked my wrist painfully and nearly broke my pinky sliding it through the hole.

“Stop – please!” I begged Lau.

“Tell Mr. Lau the truth, or I’ll start with your finger,” Han said coldly. “Then I’ll move on to your clit.”

---