“I have spoken with the other families. They want you to start attending their meetings, but I told them that I would sit with you. Additionally, I have convinced them to allow you to still take classes while we figure everything out.” She tipped her head with an expectant look in her eyes. “I had to fight for you against these powerful men.”
Instant dread filled his body. Stifling the panicking breaths, he climbed to his feet using the wall as support. “I will do my best not to disappoint, but I don’t know what Infinite actually does. Ge always kept his work private.”
“That’s why I’m graciously offering myself to stay by your side while you attend your first few meetings.” Annoyance dripped into her voice.
She wants me to thank her.Aiden’s stomach lurched.I need to thank her.He opened his mouth to speak, but his body refused to stop rattling. Determined to gasp for air, he instead concentrated on breathing, not even noticing his stepmother grabbing his hand and leading him to the door of the basement instead of a room.
She opened the door. “This is where you’re staying,” she said and nudged him down.
He stumbled down the stairs and almost crashed into a pile of boxes.
“There are no more rooms to spare, but I figured you’d be okay down here considering your apartment was so small.” She descended the stairs, glancing at the mountains of cardboard. “We had nowhere else to put the boxes. Do bear with us.”
Sitting under dim lights, he heard her footsteps retreating back up, followed by the sound of the basement door slamming shut. Panting, he crawled toward the small bed prepared for him, left without even a mattress cover, and collapsed on top of it. The wires creaked beneath his body.
Blood. So much blood. Pain in his leg. His brother calling for him. His father’s animalistic eyes.
His mother’s cold hand grasping his small one.
“Be strong. Do your duty. Be like him.” His shivering hands managed to grasp his wallet to take out the photograph of his brother. “Be like him. Be smart, strong, and dutiful like him.”
Bullets destroyed the body. Brain matter spilled onto the ground. A gaping hole amongst thick black hair. Red dripped over his eyes.
“Don’t be weak. Do what’s best for the family.” Aiden managed to hide the photograph in his wallet before closing his eyes and succumbing to numbness.
• • •
The sound of his stepmother’s footsteps trickled into his consciousness. Body still trembling, he forced his eyes open and pushed himself up.
He needed to show he cared.
Surprisingly, her eyes softened when his met hers. She grabbed a nearby chair and lowered herself onto it. “There is something you must know. The other families didn’t want me to tell you, but I think it’d be wrong to keep it from you.” She took a deep breath. “We have reasons to believe that Hui Ye was murdered by someone inside Infinite. Potentially someone very close to him. Close to everyone.”
Cold sweat poured down his face, spreading the freezing numbness more. “Why?” he whispered. His heart twisted and turned. His hand grasped at his shirt.
“There have been federal agents snooping around the business. Not just the Hui family business. The other families’ as well. They disguise themselves as customers and try to fish for information. They’ve actually managed to upturn a few gambling dens and arrested people. It is a sign that the government is getting tipped off. Here and in Hong Kong. We suspect Hui Ye was hunting for the traitor when he was killed.” She dropped her gaze to the floor. “I know that this information isn’t easy to hear, but I decided to tell you because I think it’s wiser if we all work together. You were closest to Hui Ye. Do you know anyone close to him that might have a hand in this?”
The sparkling green dress shone in his memories. He never saw a woman that could’ve hinted at the mysterious wearer. “Ge was seeing a woman. He said her name was Celia.”
His stepmother groaned. “Hui Lang, your brother has had many, many women. I lose count.”
“No. I promise.” Heart jumping, Aiden shoved himself forward, grabbing onto her arm. “You have to believe me. She’s different! I know!”
She turned away, clicking her tongue. “Hui Lang, I am asking for anyone from the business. Hui Ye’s women are always trash. They’re prostitutes or whatever they are, and they certainly do not have the capabilities to tip the federal agents about us.”
“I don’t know anyone from the business—Ge always kept them from me. Idoknow that this woman was heavily involved in his life!” He tightened his grip.
A growl of disgust slipped from her lips. She shoved him back sprawling onto the bed, bouncing from the impact of which he landed. “Rest. You are clearly too emotional, and the other family heads will be coming tonight. You must be calm for them then,” she said.
Please believe me.The words refused to leave his mouth as he remained sitting on his bed, head spinning. Annoyance and disappointment blended on her face. She glanced at him with a shake of her head. “Useless,” she mumbled, climbing up the stairs and closing the door.
• • •
The basement lit up in sudden brightness, and Aiden shot up from his bed at the explosion of light.
“Get up.” His stepmother threw a set of matching pants and dress shirt onto the bed beside him. “You need to wear this. You cannot wear whatever you are wearing right now.”
Aiden blinked. The remaining sleep continued to fog his brain.
