Page 6 of Logan

Approaching her uncle Ming, Emily noted the air of authority that surrounded him. Ming’s reputation preceded him, and anybody who met him was wise to fear him. He sat with a steaming cup of coffee before him, his gaze fixed on the world beyond the window as if lost in thought.

As Ming gestured for her to take a seat, Emily complied, her movements wooden as she settled into the chair opposite him.

“I hear there was some trouble with your last job,” he said conversationally, as if they were talking about a shift at a local Starbucks.

Ming had taught her to word their conversations as if someone was listening, and likely they were. “Yes, the customer was upset.”

“You can’t please everybody,” Ming said.

“I wasn’t given the correct order. Some of the information was missing.”

Ming shot her a warning look. “People make mistakes. It happens.”

Emily grunted and glanced toward the kitchen when her oldest cousin emerged. Jun’s lip curled slightly when he saw her. None of the family accepted her, but his hatred of her reached a new level every time she was in his presence. There seemed to be more meetings and more hatred lately.

Ming waved his hand dismissively. “I need you to fulfill another order.”

She shook my head. “I can’t.”

Jun walked over, placed his hand over her wound, and squeezed slightly. The pain would have been a lot worse had she not taken the meds before she left, but it still lanced her shoulder as if a hot poker were stabbed in the wound. “You will do as you’re told.”

She glanced at Ming without reacting to the pain. “I’m tired and hurt. I need to recover first.”

Ming shook his head. “You will do as you’re told, or there will be consequences.”

Emily was well aware of the consciences. Death. She had no family, nobody who cared about her, and now she had two creatures hunting her. She knew what the first monster wanted, but the second remained a mystery. What was she holding on for? Her life was a nightmare. “I can’t do it. If you can’t accept that, then just kill me now. I’m too tired to fight with you.”

Jun squeezed her shoulder, and blood spread across the white cotton shirt.

Ming’s eyes narrowed on the wound. Then he hissed a command in Chinese, and Jun released her. “You never said she was shot. You said she was hurt.”

Jun shrugged. “Choe didn’t see the wound when she was in the dry cleaners. He just knew she was hurt.”

Ming looked her over slowly. “You realize the penalty fordefying me.” It was rare for her uncle to drop the pretense of civility and being a legitimate business man while in public. He was mad, and she wasn’t sure if it was with her for defying him, or Jun for not providing an accurate report. Perhaps both.

Emily shrugged. “I know. I am just too tired to care. I can’t physically do what you are asking right now, so this isn’t a debate.”

Ming spoke to Jun in Chinese and Emily could tell his oldest son wasn’t happy about the order. Her understanding of the language was limited, but she believed he ordered her food.

Ming took another sip of his coffee. “What has happened to instill this insolence?”

“Nothing new. I just have nothing to live for anymore. I no longer remember what freedom feels like or what I would do with it if I attained it.”

Jun returned with a plate of dumplings. They had been her favorite when she was a child. Back when they visited here as a family, Ming and his sons pretended to accept Emily and her mother. How naïve had she been?

Ming motioned to the plate. “Eat. You need to regain your strength.”

“Why? There is nothing left for me to fight for.”

Ming leaned forward. “There is honor.”

She grunted. “I am a Hapa. Nothing to you, despite being your niece. You would kill me as easily as taking that next sip of coffee. I have no delusions. There is no out for me. Kill me and be done with it.” She grabbed a dumpling with the chopsticks on the table, allowing the sweet taste to coat her tongue. If it was to be her last meal, she might as well enjoy it.

Her body froze as he manifested in her mind.I do not like the nature of your thoughts,the creature that had come to her during the heist said.

Go away.Her uncle was talking to her, and she was sure he was droning on about family, but it was all bullshit.

I will not. You must return to your apartment and rest. You are exhausted. I expected to find you there, but you left almost immediately.

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