[fic] cruel intentions - revelation chapter 12
OMG I have been gone for two months!!! *gomen* But this chapter has been done for a while before I left for Italy, and when my dear beta abandoned me because she's so busy right now *hugs her* I kind of feel a bit unconfident about posting on my own T_T But anyway, here it is and I have to get back to work *cries some more*
Title: Revelation Chapter 12
Rating: PG13
Warning: Angst.... and romance (for those with allergies)
Characters: Fei Long, Mikhail, Yan.
Disclaimer: All characters belong to YA sensei.
Note: Previous chapters and the prequel to Revelation "Cruel Intentions" can be found on the side bar of my lj kajornwan without having to friend me.
Comments: All comments and rotten tomatoes welcome if you don't mind me throwing it back in a friendly manner and drowning in the mess with me XD
Revelation Chapter 12
A black limousine closely led and followed by two black BMWs came to a stop at the gate to an unreasonably large estate befitting of a residence in Victoria peak, Hong Kong's most expensive address. The first car’s driver rolled down the solidly tinted window and announced his master's visit to one of the guards that were as heavily armed as the excessive number of security cameras that occupied the area like a fortress. A few minutes of waiting for the permission from the inside, the cars were allowed to pass.
Fei Long stepped out of the limousine in a clean, white shirt and a sleek, black jacket. His long black hair was tied back neatly, showing off his uniquely beautiful face and well-defined cheekbone. Five bodyguards surrounded him as he ascended the steps toward the front door where a butler had been waiting to receive the unexpected guest. Fei Long frowned at the old man as he was greeted. For a man of his status, it was considered rude for the master of the house to not come out and greet him in person. But considering their relationship at that moment, Fei Long had already predicted the said public display of disrespect for Baishe and him in particular. Fortunately for his host, that day it only contributed to heighten his satisfaction when he thought about what he was about to do during his surprise visit.
As they came to another door, his bodyguards were stopped and asked to remain outside while their master was thoroughly frisked for concealed weapon. Fei Long signaled his men to comply with a slight nod. Having no weapon or bodyguard had never been a problem for him. He didn't like getting his hands dirty, but when the situation calls for it, they could easily finish the job just as effectively as a knife or a gun, if not better in the sense that they leave no evidence, and the job is usually much easier to clean up afterwards.
Inside, a Chinese man clad in light blue cheongsam sat behind a large, teak desk with excessive carvings on its legs and sides- one Fei Long would have ordered to be burned down at the first sight of it had it been in his study. And for a second he thought of how foolish he was for believing the lie he had been fed with less than twenty-four hours ago. How could he not see it that the truth had been right in front of him all along. It simply wasn't possible that this man could have attracted Mikhail in any way.
"I never thought in a million years that you would pay me a surprise visit, Fei Long," greeted the man behind the desk with no intention to hide his sneer. Toh's brown eyes traveled up and down the unexpected guest whose presence seemed to overshadow his every time they'd met, even when the man was wearing a remarkably simple attire. Fei Long could always irritate him just for being in the same room.
"Don't be alarmed. I'm only here to give you back what belongs to you," Fei Long replied as he seated himself on the chair across the desk, bringing his long leg over to rest comfortably on the other and ignoring the lack of hospitality from the man he knew despised him more than anyone.
"And what might that be?" Phillip Toh asked with a fake smile. For a man as proud as Fei Long, he could imagine what had happened last night, right after the arrival of a certain evidence, which should explain why the man had come to see him. To keep his dignity as the head of Baishe, Fei Long had to show just how insignificant his Russian love interest was to him rather than admitting defeat.
"A man with very intriguing eyes," Fei Long replied as he leaned back on the chair in a more comfortable position.
"They're not blue, are they?" Toh asked with a somewhat triumphant look on his face. He had been waiting for this moment ever since his men had informed him of Fei Long's sudden and hostile visit to the Arbatov villa the night before.
"Unfortunately, they're brown," the silky-smooth voice suddenly showed a hint of playfulness as the Baishe leader reached into his pocket and placed a small box in front of him - an action that had instantly brought about a change of expression on Toh's face. Fei Long suppressed a smile as he watched his rival reached for it in curiosity before he slowly opened the lid to see the content inside.
There was a long pause from Toh, followed by a hint of irritation in his eyes that seemed to have slipped from the man's attempt to control his anger and remain calm. The young leader of the Toh family looked at the dark brown human eyeball in the box for a few seconds before closing the lid and placing it back on the desk.
"Pity," Toh said as he carelessly pushed the box away with the tip of his fingers. He knew exactly whose eyeball it had been even without checking. The mole he had sent into Baishe had not yet reported back since the day before.
"Indeed," Fei Long added. Toh should never have expected him to sit still and allow himself to become a victim of some sick and tasteless drama the man was trying to create. He was, after all, Liu Fei Long of Baishe. Anyone who took his patience for granted had to be taught a lesson. "The rest of your men will be delivered in the same manner, unless, of course, you'd prefer to receive other parts instead. I'll be happy to arrange it for you."
For a while, Phillip Toh sat across the table in absolute silence, his hawk-like eyes held Fei Long's unyielding gaze without any intention to back down from the challange. The fact that Fei Long had come to his home and confronted him in such a manner had filled him with rage he hadn't felt ever since he'd found his mother's dead body hanging from the ceiling - the consequence of his father's obsession with none other but the woman who gave birth to the man now sitting in front of him. This man, or to label him correctly, his father's bastard son, had been a pebble in his shoe for longer than two decades that to kill him just wouldn't be satisfying enough.
"You're here to declare war with me then, Fei Long?"
"As far as I'm concerned, you've already declared one with me the moment you've decided to interfere with my personal life." Fei Long countered with a glare. An attack through business dealings was something Fei Long had to deal with on a daily basis and could still find patience for, but an assault aimed at his personal life or family was something he did not forgive. Phillip Toh had crossed the line the moment he had brought Mikhail Arbatov into their quarrel.
"I take it you like my little present then?" Toh asked with a sneer. How he wished he could have seen Fei Long's face when the pictures arrived.
"I admit it made a rather big impact," Fei Long replied as he tilted his head to one side, revealing the nape of his bare neck rising from the collar of his shirt whose first few buttons had been left undone on purpose. "But then again, I have to thank you for such an exhilarating night I haven't had for quite a while." As always, Mikhail had left his marks bold and clear. It was one of Mikhail's bad habits - intentionally bruising him in places that were the hardest to hide. But that day it had proven to be rather useful, for at the sight of them, even though the man had tried to conceal it, Fei Long could see clearly the jealousy in Toh's eyes.
"How strange," Toh commented in a calm manner despite the anger that was continuing to rise in his chest. "He seemed quite agreeable about coming to me when I made him an offer."
"I wouldn't believe everything Mikhail says," Fei Long countered with a devilish smile. "On top of that he usually changes his mind every five minutes or so," Anyone who knew anything about Mikhail wouldn't doubt Fei Long’s words. And if that was Toh's second attempt to break him then it had failed miserably. The Mikhail he knew had no conscience. Had he desired Toh he wouldn't have thought it was necessary to go through the trouble of lying about it or concealing it in anyway. After all, this was a man who openly told his wife without shame that he was going to cheat on her with no trouble whatsoever. As cruel as it may seem, to Fei Long it was an act of a true gentleman.
Before Toh had responded, Fei Long abruptly straightened himself in his chair as he suddenly sensed someone else's presence inside the room.
"How many times exactly have you allowed that filthy foreigner to take you?" a familiar voice sounded from behind.
Fei Long recognized that voice without having to turn around to see the intruder. There was only one man who'd ever spoken to him with that tone - one that was filled with familiarity and yet at the same time noticeably dominating in the most degrading way. Only Yan Tsui could make him feel so insignificant and worthless with just a few words. Only the man he'd considered his only brother, still, and after all that had happened, could make him despise himself that much.
"Too many times than you can imagine, brother," Fei Long replied sarcastically as he turned around to face the brother he hadn't seen for over seven years.
Behind him, Liu Yan Tsui was standing proud in his cheongsam with the usual air of arrogance surrounding his presence. He had gotten much thinner, and in his brown eyes showed a man with troubled and dreadful past. There were obvious signs of aging on his face that made him resemble their father much more then than he used to. That fact alone made Fei Long feel sick to his stomach, feeling as if the old man had been there to reprimand him in person in the form of his son. But the one thing Fei Long could see with utmost clarity was that this man he'd still found it in him to call a brother still despised him to the core.
"I see now you're doing it openly. You intend to shame father and the Liu family as much as you can now, don't you?" Yan Tsui commented scornfully as he always had, never forgetting to bring up their father to strike him where it would hurt the most.
"No more than you've intended to shame both by siding with our enemy." Fei Long stood his ground. Yan's unaccompanied appearance in that room had proven he had not been captured, but rather invited to stay with the Toh. By then Fei Long understood it clearly, his brother and Toh had been conspiring against him to give Yan Tsui back the power, which was probably why Mikhail had felt the need to interfere.
"There's no shame in trying to get back what has been taken from me by an illegitimate son," Yan reminded his brother.
Fei Long clenched his fists as he faced the same insult he'd had to swallow quietly everyday ever since he was a child. He had thought all the time he'd had to endure these insults and degrading remarks had been over, and even if it hadn't, then he would have grown strong enough to no longer be affected by them. But despite all his efforts to appear impervious to Yan's words, deep down he was still the same child he was decades ago. It had never occurred to him until then, that the only thing that had changed was his ability to hide it.
"This illegitimate son is the one in power whether you like it or not," Fei Long shot back with a glare. He wasn't going to show his weakness in that room, not with Toh sitting there, obviously enjoying the scene. "If you want to get back in, you'll have to come and work for me."
"I see you've gotten more ambitious," Yan Tsui responded sneeringly as he stepped closer and reached out his hand to touch his brother's flawless face. Fei Long had always been beautiful, but maturity certainly had turned him even more striking and magnificent in appearance. So much that Yan Tsui found himself holding his breath at the first sight of his brother after nearly a decade of being apart. And at that moment, the need to possess the little brother he'd both loved and despised at the same time had overcome him once more. "That's an improvement, among other things."
Fei Long felt his stomach turn from the inappropriate and unnecessary contact that brought back memories he thought he'd already left behind. He backed away slowly, trying to remain calm and compose when in truth he wanted to leave that very second.
"Ambitious? Not at all. But I'm not going to sit still and watch anything or anyone be taken away from me ever again. You'd do well to remember it, brother."
At the end of the sentence, Fei Long spun around and left the room without taking another glance back at either of the men he'd then declared his enemies. How pathetic it was that his half brother and his stepbrother, both of them being the only family members he had known that was still alive in this world had turned out to be his worst enemies. By then he hated his fate to the core, but most of all, he hated himself for still allowing Yan Tsui to have so much power over his emotion.
Fei Long rushed out of the house, leaving his bodyguards running to catch up with their master. Stepping into the car without waiting for the door to be opened for him, the Baishe leader sank himself into the leather seat and opened wide the window. He could still feel that touch from Yan's hand that made his stomach turn. Waves of memories came crashing into his head like lightings, making him want to vomit at every strike. The frustration of not being able to escape the dreadful past that had finally caught up with him made him wish he could leave his body that seemed more and more like a cage in which he had been confined for decades.
"Where to, sir?" the driver asked cautiously, sensing immediately that something had gone wrong in that house.
"Take me back to HQ," Fei Long responded with his eyes closed and his head tilted back on the headrest, wishing that there were something he could take or do to stop the sickening feeling that seemed to have spread underneath every inch of his skin.
Without thinking, he reached for his mobile phone and dialed a number. It rang twice before Fei Long realized what he was doing and decided to hang up abruptly.
'He truly was out of his mind,' Fei Long thought to himself.
More than half an hour of being stuck in Hong Kong's traffic before the limousine had reached Baishe headquarter had left Fei Long both tired and restless. He stepped out of the car as fast as he could and headed straight to the building's entrance. From the corner of his eyes, just before he'd entered, something caught his attention.
A bright yellow Lamborghini.
Fei Long paused and turned around to the obscenely conspicuous car only one man he knew of had been bold enough to ride and park in the no-parking zone in front of his building. And just as he thought, Mikhail was standing by the car, most likely waiting for him.
With a simple gesture from Fei Long, the bodyguards complied and obediently provided their master the privacy he commanded. Fei Long walked across the street and paused just an arm's length before the man in a leather jacket as eye-catching as his ride.
"What are you doing here?" Fei Long asked. Having just left the Arbatov estate the day before, he certainly hadn't expected to see Mikhail again so soon.
Mikhail smiled. "You called me."
"I dialed the wrong number," Fei Long turned away from those blue eyes in an attempt to hide his expression. He knew he was blushing not to mention it had to be the lamest excuse he'd ever come up with.
"The Fei Long I know never dials a wrong number. And if he does, then there's even more reason for me to be here," Mikhail argued. The fact that Fei Long had called him and hung up was clear enough for him to know something had gone wrong. "Especially right after you've been to see Phillip Toh."
Fei Long frowned at the leaked information no one was suppose to know. "How many moles do you still have in Baishe?"
"Only the ones you've decided to turn a blind eye to," Mikhail replied casually as if he'd never had an intention to keep it a secret. Fei Long may have a heart of gold when it comes to those he loves, but he was far from being naive and innocent. For Mikhail to try to hide it would have been considered and insult. They were both criminals and equally crooked in their ways of dealing with life and business, and neither of them had ever intended to hide or pretend it was otherwise. It was in that sense, that their relationship was both honest and mature.
Fei Long smiled at the rather casual confession. For Mikhail to have sent several moles into his organization was undoubtedly deceitful which was among the man's bad habits that still infuriated Fei Long every time it had entered his mind. But somehow Mikhail could always find a way to get himself out of trouble and made him forget the issue in the most flattering way. He had always known about Mikhail's moles just as Mikhail had been gaining satisfaction in the knowledge that he knew and had decided to leave them there. It was one of the games they played hat kept their relationship interesting.
With both hands still in his pockets, Fei Long leaned forward and rested his forehead on Mikhail's masculine shoulder. He didn't want to appear weak or that he was in need of support and had kept his contact minimal for that purpose. But at that moment he knew he was in no condition to go through with the exchange that was happening that night and Mikhail had been the only one in his life who could always give in the strength he needed.
"I saw him," Fei Long confessed.
"Who?" Mikhail asked, trying the best he could to suppress the urge to wrap his arms around the slender body in front of him. Something about Fei Long that day told him it wasn’t what he needed.
"Yan," Fei Long replied quietly as he closed his eyes and buried himself in the soft lambskin jacket that covered Mikhail's solid shoulder.
"Did you beat the crap out of him?"
Fei Long chuckled quietly in his throat as he heard the unexpected response. "I'm not so sure what he said was entirely wrong."
Mikhail just shrugged. "I'd still beat the crap out of him if it makes you feel better."
This time Fei Long's laugh could be heard more clearly. He'd almost forgotten how Mikhail always had a way of justifying an immoral act and made them seem appropriate. The Russian's strange personality could always make the weight in his chest miraculously disappear with just a few simple words. But that day it wasn't just his twisted logic that made Fei Long breathe better, it was the implication in those words, that no matter how the world saw him, what he had done in the past, whether he was an orphan, an unwanted child, or a someone who had been severely tainted and damaged, none of it made a single difference to Mikhail. In this man’s eyes, he would always be someone worth protecting at all costs whether or not he needed the protection.
"You must think I'm stupid," Fei Long couldn't help but asked. He too was beginning to think it was a bad idea to confront his enemies that way.
"Well, it was rather stupid. But if you'd been any less passionate and more boringly logical I would have left your ass the first time I had it," Mikhail replied laughingly. Without his passion and fire, Fei Long would have been just another pretty face he'd sleep with once or twice and leave. Whether or not he had Baishe under his control, Fei Long remained a fascination he would never grow tired of. The very fact that Fei Long had always acted from his heart's desire had set him apart from an otherwise uninteresting human being he had no interest in. The only problem, and how unfortunate it was, that Fei Long's past and upbringing had convinced him of quite the opposite, never allowing him to see his true value.
"Even though it might be the death of me?" Fei Long asked unsurely. Most people would say he had done a stupid thing to initiate a war at the time when he could not afford one, especially when he had done it just to fulfill his own ego.
"As oppose to living a boringly long life where you never get to do what you want? Hell, yes," Mikhail pointed out with a devilish smile. “I’m not going to judge you for being who you are.”
Fei Long looked up and saw no mockery in those blue eyes that sparkled like a pair of sapphires. Mikhail had always looked at him exactly the same way as Tao - with nothing but pride and admiration for the man standing in front of him. It was in those eyes that he could see a reflection of himself that differed from what he had been brought up to believe. Whatever Yan had said and whether or not his father had found him worthy, there was someone who appreciated him just as he was - with all his flaws.
"What a great life's philosophy from a spoiled brat," Fei Long commented as he straightened himself.
“Oh but you love me this way,” Mikhail countered with his trademark wink.
“Very funny,” Fei Long sneered at the man’s marketing attempt even though it wasn’t so far from the truth.
"How did you get here so fast anyway? You should've been in Macau."
"It's only a 15-minute helicopter ride," Mikhail explained briefly, clearly trying to avoid giving details.
"So what did you do? Haul your Murcielago in from the air?" Fei Long gave him a suspicious glare. He may not have been in his best state, but his logic still worked fine. There was no way Mikhail could have taken a helicopter from Macau, picked up his yellow Lamborghini from his penthouse and drove to Baishi in less than half an hour in Hong Kong's traffic.
Like a child who had just been caught doing something naughty, Mikhail turned away and pretended to look at something across the street that didn’t exist. "I lied. I was in the area."
"That area had better not be Victoria harbor," Fei Long said suspiciously. He'd rather have Mikhail stay as far away from his casino ship as possible, especially when the exchange was going to take place there that night.
"Oh come on," Mikhail protested. "Your brand new casino ship is sailing for the first time tonight and you're not inviting me. That hurts my feeling, you know?"
"I will hurt more than your feeling if you turn up on my ship tonight," Fei Long warned. There was no telling what would happen if Mikhail were there. Depending on his mood, the man could always come up with some irrational ideas to mess things up to his liking. It was either that, or else life would seem too plain for Mikhail Arbatov.
"Fei Long," Mikhail caught his arm before he could walk away. Suddenly those playful blue eyes had turned serious and deeply concerned. He paused for a while thinking about what to say that would have made a difference. And of all the things he'd wanted to warn Fei Long against or asked of him, knowing he was about to get on that ship and confront the one and only man who had the power to take Fei Long away from him, it all came down to one simple request, "don't go."
Fei Long's amethyst eyes softened as he heard those words and clearly understood what it meant. He could feel Mikhail’s pain and worries through the strong, rough hand that held his arm so tight as if to let go would mean losing him forever.
"I'm just going to get back the deed and return the boy. It is what you want, isn't it?" Fei Long responded with a reassuring smile. "Besides," he added, his fingers moved slowly toward his shirt collar as they parted the fine silk fabric to reveal a sparkling cylindrical jewelry hanging from a fine chain around his neck. "I am wearing this for a reason."
A faint smile full of affection appeared on the Russian's face even though those words that were meant to comfort him had failed miserably. His hand lingered for a moment, caressing the back of Fei Long's gently with his thumb as if to remember the touch by heart before letting go. In his heart he knew that night would be the turning point in their relationship. Fei Long's refusal to acknowledge his feelings toward Asami so far had given him the chance to get closer to the dragon. But that night Fei Long was finally giving himself a chance to face both his feelings and the man who had haunted him for nearly a decade. He wasn’t worried about Asami who’d made his disinterest in Fei Long quite clear, but what Fei Long might come to realize about the hidden truth in his heart that could very well mean the end of their relationship as they knew it. Fei Long was, after all, someone who would give his all for the person lucky enough to earn a place in his heart.
***
Casino ship, Victoria harbor.
The penthouse suite on the upper deck was decorated in classic Chinese style with warm, luxurious fabric and teak furniture. Mikhail paced around the living room full of his men with irritation clearly etched on his face. His idea of a perfect cruise was far from a large suite full of thugs and guns, and the large balcony with two empty sun lounger had made his mood even worse. He knew he wasn't on vacation, but a setting as such had reminded him he should have been on one, especially with Fei Long on the very same cruise ship but somewhere else and with someone else.
"Do you have the feed?" Mikhail asked as he bent down to look at the screen of a laptop computer on the bar table.
"Of course," replied Dmitry as he brought up several security camera views on the screen, "you hired me for a reason."
"I've also hired you for a lot of money which I know you overcharged," Mikhail reminded, rolling his eyes at his old friend from college.
"Hey, with the fact that I'm the only one who can hack into Baishe's security system on the biggest casino ship ever built in Asia aside, if it wasn't for me you'd have flunked your calculus and got your Lamborghini confiscated by daddy back then. This is what I call a reasonable price, my friend," Dmitry argued with a thick, Russian accent as his fingers continued to work on the computer.
"You're back charging me half a million for hacking into a lame college sever over exam papers and you call that a reasonable price?" Mikhail protested.
"Well, if you'd spent some time studying with that amazing brain of yours instead of spending time fucking every hot chick available in the entire dorm you wouldn't have needed me to do that, would you?" Dmitry recalled. Mikhail could always get his straight A's if he wanted to, the problem being there was always something more interesting to do than getting them, which meant that he had to get them through some other way when it was required of him - including convincing his female professors in bed that he deserved one, and of course, getting friends like him to do the dirty work in exchange for something he had stolen from daddy's shipment whenever all his credit cards had been completely maxed-out. That day, however, Dmitry had a hunch hacking into Baishe's security cameras wasn't really for 'work,' not to mention Mikhail smuggling a bunch of his men onto the ship they couldn’t easily escape owned by one of the most powerful crime lord in Hong Kong had been the most dangerous idea he'd ever had to endure among all of Mikhail's suicidal ideas in the past.
"Study calculus?” Mikhail asked as if he couldn't believe his ears. “I’ll tell you what. When a once in a lifetime situation occurs that requires me to find a goddamn X or Y, I can afford to pay about a hundred people to find it for me, that is if I haven't shot the bastard who try to make me find those damn values in the first place. Now shut up and work," Mikhail shot back with a bored expression before changing the subject. "Where's the high roller room?"
Dmitry rolled his eyes before moving on to identifying the images on the screen. Those who had been close enough to Mikhail Arbatov would know better than to argue with him and expected to come out with victory.
"This is your high roller room. That's the main hall, the banquet room, and the owner suite..." Dmitry's finger paused over the screen as he looked at the last image he was identifying that revealed two good-looking men sitting on a couch, one with extraordinary long hair and wearing a cheongsam. "Tell me this isn't about you getting your hands on that exotic beauty that screams your type, is it? We can get killed for this, do you realize?"
"We won't if you do your job. And don't talk about him that way," Mikhail warned before picking up his cell phone that had begun to ring a few seconds before. "Yes?"
"The Japanese are about to board from a smaller boat. They are preparing for the exchange right now," the man on the other end of the line reported.
"Is Fei Long planning to go in person?" Mikhail’s voice became noticeably tense the moment he’d been updated.
"No, sir, it looks like he's not going to be involved..." the man's voice trailed off at the end of the sentence as he remembered something important. "Although he has stationed an unreasonably large number of armed guards to secure the area, many of which carefully hidden. There're too many of them, I might say, for a straightforward exchange."
Mikhail paused for a while before sighing heavily as he finally understood what it meant.
'I'm just going to get back the deed and return the boy,' Fei Long said to him, or rather, lied to him. Having so many guards hidden in the area and making the exchange happen on a ship where he supposedly had complete control of anyone coming or leaving can only mean one thing - Fei Long was planning to get them all - the deed, the boy, and Asami.
Mikhail sighed and closed his eyes for a few seconds. He’d almost forgotten who Fei Long was and what he was capable of. At times, the man’s stubbornness was an exact match of his own if not worse.
‘What a fine pair we make,’ Mikhail thought to himself as he opened his eyes, only this time those bright, playful blue eyes had turned as malicious as his smile.
If it was going to be that way, then he had no other choice but to do what he had to. Considering how everything was already one big mess, he might as well jump in on all the fun.
"Bring that Japanese boy to me."
***
P.S. Anyone want to suffer being my beta in dear hsyang's place please let me know (I don't guarantee your sanity or the deterioration of your English afterwards due to mine, BTW) *runs*
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Title: Revelation Chapter 12
Rating: PG13
Warning: Angst.... and romance (for those with allergies)
Characters: Fei Long, Mikhail, Yan.
Disclaimer: All characters belong to YA sensei.
Note: Previous chapters and the prequel to Revelation "Cruel Intentions" can be found on the side bar of my lj kajornwan without having to friend me.
Comments: All comments and rotten tomatoes welcome if you don't mind me throwing it back in a friendly manner and drowning in the mess with me XD
Revelation Chapter 12
A black limousine closely led and followed by two black BMWs came to a stop at the gate to an unreasonably large estate befitting of a residence in Victoria peak, Hong Kong's most expensive address. The first car’s driver rolled down the solidly tinted window and announced his master's visit to one of the guards that were as heavily armed as the excessive number of security cameras that occupied the area like a fortress. A few minutes of waiting for the permission from the inside, the cars were allowed to pass.
Fei Long stepped out of the limousine in a clean, white shirt and a sleek, black jacket. His long black hair was tied back neatly, showing off his uniquely beautiful face and well-defined cheekbone. Five bodyguards surrounded him as he ascended the steps toward the front door where a butler had been waiting to receive the unexpected guest. Fei Long frowned at the old man as he was greeted. For a man of his status, it was considered rude for the master of the house to not come out and greet him in person. But considering their relationship at that moment, Fei Long had already predicted the said public display of disrespect for Baishe and him in particular. Fortunately for his host, that day it only contributed to heighten his satisfaction when he thought about what he was about to do during his surprise visit.
As they came to another door, his bodyguards were stopped and asked to remain outside while their master was thoroughly frisked for concealed weapon. Fei Long signaled his men to comply with a slight nod. Having no weapon or bodyguard had never been a problem for him. He didn't like getting his hands dirty, but when the situation calls for it, they could easily finish the job just as effectively as a knife or a gun, if not better in the sense that they leave no evidence, and the job is usually much easier to clean up afterwards.
Inside, a Chinese man clad in light blue cheongsam sat behind a large, teak desk with excessive carvings on its legs and sides- one Fei Long would have ordered to be burned down at the first sight of it had it been in his study. And for a second he thought of how foolish he was for believing the lie he had been fed with less than twenty-four hours ago. How could he not see it that the truth had been right in front of him all along. It simply wasn't possible that this man could have attracted Mikhail in any way.
"I never thought in a million years that you would pay me a surprise visit, Fei Long," greeted the man behind the desk with no intention to hide his sneer. Toh's brown eyes traveled up and down the unexpected guest whose presence seemed to overshadow his every time they'd met, even when the man was wearing a remarkably simple attire. Fei Long could always irritate him just for being in the same room.
"Don't be alarmed. I'm only here to give you back what belongs to you," Fei Long replied as he seated himself on the chair across the desk, bringing his long leg over to rest comfortably on the other and ignoring the lack of hospitality from the man he knew despised him more than anyone.
"And what might that be?" Phillip Toh asked with a fake smile. For a man as proud as Fei Long, he could imagine what had happened last night, right after the arrival of a certain evidence, which should explain why the man had come to see him. To keep his dignity as the head of Baishe, Fei Long had to show just how insignificant his Russian love interest was to him rather than admitting defeat.
"A man with very intriguing eyes," Fei Long replied as he leaned back on the chair in a more comfortable position.
"They're not blue, are they?" Toh asked with a somewhat triumphant look on his face. He had been waiting for this moment ever since his men had informed him of Fei Long's sudden and hostile visit to the Arbatov villa the night before.
"Unfortunately, they're brown," the silky-smooth voice suddenly showed a hint of playfulness as the Baishe leader reached into his pocket and placed a small box in front of him - an action that had instantly brought about a change of expression on Toh's face. Fei Long suppressed a smile as he watched his rival reached for it in curiosity before he slowly opened the lid to see the content inside.
There was a long pause from Toh, followed by a hint of irritation in his eyes that seemed to have slipped from the man's attempt to control his anger and remain calm. The young leader of the Toh family looked at the dark brown human eyeball in the box for a few seconds before closing the lid and placing it back on the desk.
"Pity," Toh said as he carelessly pushed the box away with the tip of his fingers. He knew exactly whose eyeball it had been even without checking. The mole he had sent into Baishe had not yet reported back since the day before.
"Indeed," Fei Long added. Toh should never have expected him to sit still and allow himself to become a victim of some sick and tasteless drama the man was trying to create. He was, after all, Liu Fei Long of Baishe. Anyone who took his patience for granted had to be taught a lesson. "The rest of your men will be delivered in the same manner, unless, of course, you'd prefer to receive other parts instead. I'll be happy to arrange it for you."
For a while, Phillip Toh sat across the table in absolute silence, his hawk-like eyes held Fei Long's unyielding gaze without any intention to back down from the challange. The fact that Fei Long had come to his home and confronted him in such a manner had filled him with rage he hadn't felt ever since he'd found his mother's dead body hanging from the ceiling - the consequence of his father's obsession with none other but the woman who gave birth to the man now sitting in front of him. This man, or to label him correctly, his father's bastard son, had been a pebble in his shoe for longer than two decades that to kill him just wouldn't be satisfying enough.
"You're here to declare war with me then, Fei Long?"
"As far as I'm concerned, you've already declared one with me the moment you've decided to interfere with my personal life." Fei Long countered with a glare. An attack through business dealings was something Fei Long had to deal with on a daily basis and could still find patience for, but an assault aimed at his personal life or family was something he did not forgive. Phillip Toh had crossed the line the moment he had brought Mikhail Arbatov into their quarrel.
"I take it you like my little present then?" Toh asked with a sneer. How he wished he could have seen Fei Long's face when the pictures arrived.
"I admit it made a rather big impact," Fei Long replied as he tilted his head to one side, revealing the nape of his bare neck rising from the collar of his shirt whose first few buttons had been left undone on purpose. "But then again, I have to thank you for such an exhilarating night I haven't had for quite a while." As always, Mikhail had left his marks bold and clear. It was one of Mikhail's bad habits - intentionally bruising him in places that were the hardest to hide. But that day it had proven to be rather useful, for at the sight of them, even though the man had tried to conceal it, Fei Long could see clearly the jealousy in Toh's eyes.
"How strange," Toh commented in a calm manner despite the anger that was continuing to rise in his chest. "He seemed quite agreeable about coming to me when I made him an offer."
"I wouldn't believe everything Mikhail says," Fei Long countered with a devilish smile. "On top of that he usually changes his mind every five minutes or so," Anyone who knew anything about Mikhail wouldn't doubt Fei Long’s words. And if that was Toh's second attempt to break him then it had failed miserably. The Mikhail he knew had no conscience. Had he desired Toh he wouldn't have thought it was necessary to go through the trouble of lying about it or concealing it in anyway. After all, this was a man who openly told his wife without shame that he was going to cheat on her with no trouble whatsoever. As cruel as it may seem, to Fei Long it was an act of a true gentleman.
Before Toh had responded, Fei Long abruptly straightened himself in his chair as he suddenly sensed someone else's presence inside the room.
"How many times exactly have you allowed that filthy foreigner to take you?" a familiar voice sounded from behind.
Fei Long recognized that voice without having to turn around to see the intruder. There was only one man who'd ever spoken to him with that tone - one that was filled with familiarity and yet at the same time noticeably dominating in the most degrading way. Only Yan Tsui could make him feel so insignificant and worthless with just a few words. Only the man he'd considered his only brother, still, and after all that had happened, could make him despise himself that much.
"Too many times than you can imagine, brother," Fei Long replied sarcastically as he turned around to face the brother he hadn't seen for over seven years.
Behind him, Liu Yan Tsui was standing proud in his cheongsam with the usual air of arrogance surrounding his presence. He had gotten much thinner, and in his brown eyes showed a man with troubled and dreadful past. There were obvious signs of aging on his face that made him resemble their father much more then than he used to. That fact alone made Fei Long feel sick to his stomach, feeling as if the old man had been there to reprimand him in person in the form of his son. But the one thing Fei Long could see with utmost clarity was that this man he'd still found it in him to call a brother still despised him to the core.
"I see now you're doing it openly. You intend to shame father and the Liu family as much as you can now, don't you?" Yan Tsui commented scornfully as he always had, never forgetting to bring up their father to strike him where it would hurt the most.
"No more than you've intended to shame both by siding with our enemy." Fei Long stood his ground. Yan's unaccompanied appearance in that room had proven he had not been captured, but rather invited to stay with the Toh. By then Fei Long understood it clearly, his brother and Toh had been conspiring against him to give Yan Tsui back the power, which was probably why Mikhail had felt the need to interfere.
"There's no shame in trying to get back what has been taken from me by an illegitimate son," Yan reminded his brother.
Fei Long clenched his fists as he faced the same insult he'd had to swallow quietly everyday ever since he was a child. He had thought all the time he'd had to endure these insults and degrading remarks had been over, and even if it hadn't, then he would have grown strong enough to no longer be affected by them. But despite all his efforts to appear impervious to Yan's words, deep down he was still the same child he was decades ago. It had never occurred to him until then, that the only thing that had changed was his ability to hide it.
"This illegitimate son is the one in power whether you like it or not," Fei Long shot back with a glare. He wasn't going to show his weakness in that room, not with Toh sitting there, obviously enjoying the scene. "If you want to get back in, you'll have to come and work for me."
"I see you've gotten more ambitious," Yan Tsui responded sneeringly as he stepped closer and reached out his hand to touch his brother's flawless face. Fei Long had always been beautiful, but maturity certainly had turned him even more striking and magnificent in appearance. So much that Yan Tsui found himself holding his breath at the first sight of his brother after nearly a decade of being apart. And at that moment, the need to possess the little brother he'd both loved and despised at the same time had overcome him once more. "That's an improvement, among other things."
Fei Long felt his stomach turn from the inappropriate and unnecessary contact that brought back memories he thought he'd already left behind. He backed away slowly, trying to remain calm and compose when in truth he wanted to leave that very second.
"Ambitious? Not at all. But I'm not going to sit still and watch anything or anyone be taken away from me ever again. You'd do well to remember it, brother."
At the end of the sentence, Fei Long spun around and left the room without taking another glance back at either of the men he'd then declared his enemies. How pathetic it was that his half brother and his stepbrother, both of them being the only family members he had known that was still alive in this world had turned out to be his worst enemies. By then he hated his fate to the core, but most of all, he hated himself for still allowing Yan Tsui to have so much power over his emotion.
Fei Long rushed out of the house, leaving his bodyguards running to catch up with their master. Stepping into the car without waiting for the door to be opened for him, the Baishe leader sank himself into the leather seat and opened wide the window. He could still feel that touch from Yan's hand that made his stomach turn. Waves of memories came crashing into his head like lightings, making him want to vomit at every strike. The frustration of not being able to escape the dreadful past that had finally caught up with him made him wish he could leave his body that seemed more and more like a cage in which he had been confined for decades.
"Where to, sir?" the driver asked cautiously, sensing immediately that something had gone wrong in that house.
"Take me back to HQ," Fei Long responded with his eyes closed and his head tilted back on the headrest, wishing that there were something he could take or do to stop the sickening feeling that seemed to have spread underneath every inch of his skin.
Without thinking, he reached for his mobile phone and dialed a number. It rang twice before Fei Long realized what he was doing and decided to hang up abruptly.
'He truly was out of his mind,' Fei Long thought to himself.
More than half an hour of being stuck in Hong Kong's traffic before the limousine had reached Baishe headquarter had left Fei Long both tired and restless. He stepped out of the car as fast as he could and headed straight to the building's entrance. From the corner of his eyes, just before he'd entered, something caught his attention.
A bright yellow Lamborghini.
Fei Long paused and turned around to the obscenely conspicuous car only one man he knew of had been bold enough to ride and park in the no-parking zone in front of his building. And just as he thought, Mikhail was standing by the car, most likely waiting for him.
With a simple gesture from Fei Long, the bodyguards complied and obediently provided their master the privacy he commanded. Fei Long walked across the street and paused just an arm's length before the man in a leather jacket as eye-catching as his ride.
"What are you doing here?" Fei Long asked. Having just left the Arbatov estate the day before, he certainly hadn't expected to see Mikhail again so soon.
Mikhail smiled. "You called me."
"I dialed the wrong number," Fei Long turned away from those blue eyes in an attempt to hide his expression. He knew he was blushing not to mention it had to be the lamest excuse he'd ever come up with.
"The Fei Long I know never dials a wrong number. And if he does, then there's even more reason for me to be here," Mikhail argued. The fact that Fei Long had called him and hung up was clear enough for him to know something had gone wrong. "Especially right after you've been to see Phillip Toh."
Fei Long frowned at the leaked information no one was suppose to know. "How many moles do you still have in Baishe?"
"Only the ones you've decided to turn a blind eye to," Mikhail replied casually as if he'd never had an intention to keep it a secret. Fei Long may have a heart of gold when it comes to those he loves, but he was far from being naive and innocent. For Mikhail to try to hide it would have been considered and insult. They were both criminals and equally crooked in their ways of dealing with life and business, and neither of them had ever intended to hide or pretend it was otherwise. It was in that sense, that their relationship was both honest and mature.
Fei Long smiled at the rather casual confession. For Mikhail to have sent several moles into his organization was undoubtedly deceitful which was among the man's bad habits that still infuriated Fei Long every time it had entered his mind. But somehow Mikhail could always find a way to get himself out of trouble and made him forget the issue in the most flattering way. He had always known about Mikhail's moles just as Mikhail had been gaining satisfaction in the knowledge that he knew and had decided to leave them there. It was one of the games they played hat kept their relationship interesting.
With both hands still in his pockets, Fei Long leaned forward and rested his forehead on Mikhail's masculine shoulder. He didn't want to appear weak or that he was in need of support and had kept his contact minimal for that purpose. But at that moment he knew he was in no condition to go through with the exchange that was happening that night and Mikhail had been the only one in his life who could always give in the strength he needed.
"I saw him," Fei Long confessed.
"Who?" Mikhail asked, trying the best he could to suppress the urge to wrap his arms around the slender body in front of him. Something about Fei Long that day told him it wasn’t what he needed.
"Yan," Fei Long replied quietly as he closed his eyes and buried himself in the soft lambskin jacket that covered Mikhail's solid shoulder.
"Did you beat the crap out of him?"
Fei Long chuckled quietly in his throat as he heard the unexpected response. "I'm not so sure what he said was entirely wrong."
Mikhail just shrugged. "I'd still beat the crap out of him if it makes you feel better."
This time Fei Long's laugh could be heard more clearly. He'd almost forgotten how Mikhail always had a way of justifying an immoral act and made them seem appropriate. The Russian's strange personality could always make the weight in his chest miraculously disappear with just a few simple words. But that day it wasn't just his twisted logic that made Fei Long breathe better, it was the implication in those words, that no matter how the world saw him, what he had done in the past, whether he was an orphan, an unwanted child, or a someone who had been severely tainted and damaged, none of it made a single difference to Mikhail. In this man’s eyes, he would always be someone worth protecting at all costs whether or not he needed the protection.
"You must think I'm stupid," Fei Long couldn't help but asked. He too was beginning to think it was a bad idea to confront his enemies that way.
"Well, it was rather stupid. But if you'd been any less passionate and more boringly logical I would have left your ass the first time I had it," Mikhail replied laughingly. Without his passion and fire, Fei Long would have been just another pretty face he'd sleep with once or twice and leave. Whether or not he had Baishe under his control, Fei Long remained a fascination he would never grow tired of. The very fact that Fei Long had always acted from his heart's desire had set him apart from an otherwise uninteresting human being he had no interest in. The only problem, and how unfortunate it was, that Fei Long's past and upbringing had convinced him of quite the opposite, never allowing him to see his true value.
"Even though it might be the death of me?" Fei Long asked unsurely. Most people would say he had done a stupid thing to initiate a war at the time when he could not afford one, especially when he had done it just to fulfill his own ego.
"As oppose to living a boringly long life where you never get to do what you want? Hell, yes," Mikhail pointed out with a devilish smile. “I’m not going to judge you for being who you are.”
Fei Long looked up and saw no mockery in those blue eyes that sparkled like a pair of sapphires. Mikhail had always looked at him exactly the same way as Tao - with nothing but pride and admiration for the man standing in front of him. It was in those eyes that he could see a reflection of himself that differed from what he had been brought up to believe. Whatever Yan had said and whether or not his father had found him worthy, there was someone who appreciated him just as he was - with all his flaws.
"What a great life's philosophy from a spoiled brat," Fei Long commented as he straightened himself.
“Oh but you love me this way,” Mikhail countered with his trademark wink.
“Very funny,” Fei Long sneered at the man’s marketing attempt even though it wasn’t so far from the truth.
"How did you get here so fast anyway? You should've been in Macau."
"It's only a 15-minute helicopter ride," Mikhail explained briefly, clearly trying to avoid giving details.
"So what did you do? Haul your Murcielago in from the air?" Fei Long gave him a suspicious glare. He may not have been in his best state, but his logic still worked fine. There was no way Mikhail could have taken a helicopter from Macau, picked up his yellow Lamborghini from his penthouse and drove to Baishi in less than half an hour in Hong Kong's traffic.
Like a child who had just been caught doing something naughty, Mikhail turned away and pretended to look at something across the street that didn’t exist. "I lied. I was in the area."
"That area had better not be Victoria harbor," Fei Long said suspiciously. He'd rather have Mikhail stay as far away from his casino ship as possible, especially when the exchange was going to take place there that night.
"Oh come on," Mikhail protested. "Your brand new casino ship is sailing for the first time tonight and you're not inviting me. That hurts my feeling, you know?"
"I will hurt more than your feeling if you turn up on my ship tonight," Fei Long warned. There was no telling what would happen if Mikhail were there. Depending on his mood, the man could always come up with some irrational ideas to mess things up to his liking. It was either that, or else life would seem too plain for Mikhail Arbatov.
"Fei Long," Mikhail caught his arm before he could walk away. Suddenly those playful blue eyes had turned serious and deeply concerned. He paused for a while thinking about what to say that would have made a difference. And of all the things he'd wanted to warn Fei Long against or asked of him, knowing he was about to get on that ship and confront the one and only man who had the power to take Fei Long away from him, it all came down to one simple request, "don't go."
Fei Long's amethyst eyes softened as he heard those words and clearly understood what it meant. He could feel Mikhail’s pain and worries through the strong, rough hand that held his arm so tight as if to let go would mean losing him forever.
"I'm just going to get back the deed and return the boy. It is what you want, isn't it?" Fei Long responded with a reassuring smile. "Besides," he added, his fingers moved slowly toward his shirt collar as they parted the fine silk fabric to reveal a sparkling cylindrical jewelry hanging from a fine chain around his neck. "I am wearing this for a reason."
A faint smile full of affection appeared on the Russian's face even though those words that were meant to comfort him had failed miserably. His hand lingered for a moment, caressing the back of Fei Long's gently with his thumb as if to remember the touch by heart before letting go. In his heart he knew that night would be the turning point in their relationship. Fei Long's refusal to acknowledge his feelings toward Asami so far had given him the chance to get closer to the dragon. But that night Fei Long was finally giving himself a chance to face both his feelings and the man who had haunted him for nearly a decade. He wasn’t worried about Asami who’d made his disinterest in Fei Long quite clear, but what Fei Long might come to realize about the hidden truth in his heart that could very well mean the end of their relationship as they knew it. Fei Long was, after all, someone who would give his all for the person lucky enough to earn a place in his heart.
***
Casino ship, Victoria harbor.
The penthouse suite on the upper deck was decorated in classic Chinese style with warm, luxurious fabric and teak furniture. Mikhail paced around the living room full of his men with irritation clearly etched on his face. His idea of a perfect cruise was far from a large suite full of thugs and guns, and the large balcony with two empty sun lounger had made his mood even worse. He knew he wasn't on vacation, but a setting as such had reminded him he should have been on one, especially with Fei Long on the very same cruise ship but somewhere else and with someone else.
"Do you have the feed?" Mikhail asked as he bent down to look at the screen of a laptop computer on the bar table.
"Of course," replied Dmitry as he brought up several security camera views on the screen, "you hired me for a reason."
"I've also hired you for a lot of money which I know you overcharged," Mikhail reminded, rolling his eyes at his old friend from college.
"Hey, with the fact that I'm the only one who can hack into Baishe's security system on the biggest casino ship ever built in Asia aside, if it wasn't for me you'd have flunked your calculus and got your Lamborghini confiscated by daddy back then. This is what I call a reasonable price, my friend," Dmitry argued with a thick, Russian accent as his fingers continued to work on the computer.
"You're back charging me half a million for hacking into a lame college sever over exam papers and you call that a reasonable price?" Mikhail protested.
"Well, if you'd spent some time studying with that amazing brain of yours instead of spending time fucking every hot chick available in the entire dorm you wouldn't have needed me to do that, would you?" Dmitry recalled. Mikhail could always get his straight A's if he wanted to, the problem being there was always something more interesting to do than getting them, which meant that he had to get them through some other way when it was required of him - including convincing his female professors in bed that he deserved one, and of course, getting friends like him to do the dirty work in exchange for something he had stolen from daddy's shipment whenever all his credit cards had been completely maxed-out. That day, however, Dmitry had a hunch hacking into Baishe's security cameras wasn't really for 'work,' not to mention Mikhail smuggling a bunch of his men onto the ship they couldn’t easily escape owned by one of the most powerful crime lord in Hong Kong had been the most dangerous idea he'd ever had to endure among all of Mikhail's suicidal ideas in the past.
"Study calculus?” Mikhail asked as if he couldn't believe his ears. “I’ll tell you what. When a once in a lifetime situation occurs that requires me to find a goddamn X or Y, I can afford to pay about a hundred people to find it for me, that is if I haven't shot the bastard who try to make me find those damn values in the first place. Now shut up and work," Mikhail shot back with a bored expression before changing the subject. "Where's the high roller room?"
Dmitry rolled his eyes before moving on to identifying the images on the screen. Those who had been close enough to Mikhail Arbatov would know better than to argue with him and expected to come out with victory.
"This is your high roller room. That's the main hall, the banquet room, and the owner suite..." Dmitry's finger paused over the screen as he looked at the last image he was identifying that revealed two good-looking men sitting on a couch, one with extraordinary long hair and wearing a cheongsam. "Tell me this isn't about you getting your hands on that exotic beauty that screams your type, is it? We can get killed for this, do you realize?"
"We won't if you do your job. And don't talk about him that way," Mikhail warned before picking up his cell phone that had begun to ring a few seconds before. "Yes?"
"The Japanese are about to board from a smaller boat. They are preparing for the exchange right now," the man on the other end of the line reported.
"Is Fei Long planning to go in person?" Mikhail’s voice became noticeably tense the moment he’d been updated.
"No, sir, it looks like he's not going to be involved..." the man's voice trailed off at the end of the sentence as he remembered something important. "Although he has stationed an unreasonably large number of armed guards to secure the area, many of which carefully hidden. There're too many of them, I might say, for a straightforward exchange."
Mikhail paused for a while before sighing heavily as he finally understood what it meant.
'I'm just going to get back the deed and return the boy,' Fei Long said to him, or rather, lied to him. Having so many guards hidden in the area and making the exchange happen on a ship where he supposedly had complete control of anyone coming or leaving can only mean one thing - Fei Long was planning to get them all - the deed, the boy, and Asami.
Mikhail sighed and closed his eyes for a few seconds. He’d almost forgotten who Fei Long was and what he was capable of. At times, the man’s stubbornness was an exact match of his own if not worse.
‘What a fine pair we make,’ Mikhail thought to himself as he opened his eyes, only this time those bright, playful blue eyes had turned as malicious as his smile.
If it was going to be that way, then he had no other choice but to do what he had to. Considering how everything was already one big mess, he might as well jump in on all the fun.
"Bring that Japanese boy to me."
***
P.S. Anyone want to suffer being my beta in dear hsyang's place please let me know (I don't guarantee your sanity or the deterioration of your English afterwards due to mine, BTW) *runs*
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