Page 251 of Roberto

I sobbed in defeat.

I’m sorry, Roberto…

I’m so, so sorry…

PART III

88

Roberto

As dusk fell over Hong Kong, I looked down at the city from the bay window of my penthouse suite.

Han stood beside me. In his hand was the Glock I’d bought from the gun merchant.

When I’d pulled it out of my suitcase three minutes ago, Han had aimed his own pistol at my head the entire time.

“What were you planning to do with this?” he asked mockingly.

I didn’t answer.

“Doesn’t matter. It’s over now,” Han said as he pocketed the Glock. Then he jerked his thumb at the two gangsters behind us – young thugs in suits with shoulder holsters under their jackets. “Ming and Jin will guard you. If you need anything, ask them. Don’t try to leave… or else.”

When I didn’t reply, Han turned to go.

“Did you know?” I asked, though I kept looking out the window.

“What – about Mei-ling?”

“Yes. Did you know?”

“Of course.”

I turned and glared at him hatefully. “Did you take me to De Sade that first night just so I’d meet her?”

Han looked puzzled for a second. Then he broke into a smirk – one of the few times I’d seen him smile when he wasn’t drunk.

“No – but where do you think we got the idea to use her?You.You were obviously infatuated with her. She works for us, so I told Mr. Lau about it. He told her to do whatever it took to keep you in Hong Kong.” Han shook his head like I was a fool.“Youwere the one who picked her. We just used her against you.”

I had to turn away from him.

If I’d had the Glock in my hand, I would have shot him right then and there – even if it meant the other two gangsters killed me.

Han didn’t say anything else to me, though he spoke in Chinese to the two gangsters before he walked out.

I kept staring down at the city, wondering if I had brought about my family’s destruction –

Over a woman.

Except…

There was one thing I couldn’t account for.

When I’d unwrapped the Glock and handed it to Han, I’d waited for him to say,Where are the plastic explosives?

But he didn’t.

He never even mentioned them.

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