Kray gurgled, his eyes bulging.
“I swore to them that I would find you and make you suffer for what you did.” Red misted Wei’s vision as he squeezed harder. “It would be so easy to smother you with your own pillow and say you had a fit and choked to death. No one would know. No one would care.”
Wei saw the moment Kray gave up the fight. Felt the bastard going limp, his head lolling in acceptance of his fate. Maybe even welcoming it.
And Wei let go.
Kray gasped at the sudden rush of air.
“But I am not going to do it,” Wei said with cold finality. “Because you deserve to live out this miserable existence you have earned. Yuan fen has done my job better than I ever could. My revenge will be leaving you here.” Gripping the arms of the chair, he leaned down and stared his demon in the eyes. “Right where you are.”
He turned and walked to the door.
The screech stopped him. The inhuman sound raised the hairs on his nape and was followed by thumping. Pivoting, Wei saw Kray banging his head against the back of his chair as he emitted awful sounds.
Although Kray could only move his head, he managed to move his chair with his thumping, knocking it against the table. The shaving implements rattled; the newspaper flapped to the ground. The noises were so loud that Bremerton and Mrs. Swann burst into the chamber.
“What is going on?” Mrs. Swann asked sharply.
“Your uncle is having a fit of lunacy, I’m afraid,” Bremerton said. “As I mentioned, the same thing happened earlier.”
The attendant hurried to Kray’s side.
“There, there, Walter. Calm yourself now, or we’ll have to use restraints. You wouldn’t like that, would you now? Why don’t I read something to take your mind off whatever’s bothering you, eh?” Bremerton picked up the newspaper. “Well, here’s an interesting article on the Duke of Ranelagh and Somerville and Emmett Rothwell—”
Kray’s shrieks filled the room. This time, the sounds had the shape of words.
“Kill her…kill her…” Spittle flew from Kray’s lips, his eyes wild. “Kill her…”
“I think we’d best take our leave,” Mrs. Swann said with a brittle smile. “I am afraid my visit brought out the worst in my poor uncle. Are you ready to go, Mr. Wong?”
Watching Kray bang his head, thrashing his withered, frozen body, Wei told the truth.
“More than ready,” he said.
Thirty-Five
“Sweeting, you shouldn’t have come here.”
Wei’s actions belied his words, for he strode toward Glory as she dashed toward him. They met in the middle of his study, his arms enfolding her in a fierce embrace. She held him just as tightly as their mouths fused with tender passion. Even when the kiss ended, they stayed as they were, breathing each other in.
“I had to see you,” she said tremulously. “When I got your note about going after Kray, I was mad with worry. Are you all right? What happened—”
“I will tell you everything. After you answer my question, impatient one.”
When she saw the smile in his eyes, relief percolated through her. She hadn’t known what state she would find him in after he confronted his enemy at long last. Yet whatever events had occurred, Wei seemed none the worse for the wear. He was calm and composed, every bit the commanding shifu in his elegant dark-blue tunic and trousers.
She tilted her head. “Ask away.”
He sized her up, taking in her outfit, which was considerably less elegant than his. She’d thrown on a shirt and pair of trousers, jamming her hair beneath a battered cap.
“How did you manage to slip out?” he asked.
“It wasn’t difficult.” She shrugged. “After the luncheon, I told my parents I was feeling peaked. They went to bed early themselves. Once everyone was abed, I made my exit.”
Wei aimed a stern look at her. “You didn’t climb down the drainpipe again?”
“Oh no. I used the tried-and-true method of tying bedsheets together.”
