The Frenchman's Revenge Read Online Free PDF Page A

that all she had to do was flash those sapphire eyes at me and toss that red hair and I was a goner. But it’s more than that, Alex. Elena loves Bai . T hree days from now , they will marry . Bai will be Elena’s husband and your brother - in - law.”
    Alex’s face flushed a s he visibly struggled to control his fury.
    “ Father, do you know who he is? Truly is? He is famous in China. Infamous! Notorious! Everyone is talking about him. He is a goddamn warlord . They call him the modern day Genghis Khan . S eizing territory , g rabbing leadership , k illing anyone who gets in his way. That’s how they see him in China, Father. He is despised, hated!”
    Wyatt ’s lips twisted in a half smile . Th inking back , he remembered how many people ascribed to him all the things Alex was saying about Bai. He asked in a mild voice, “Is it hatred they feel for him, S on ? O r a combination of fear and respect , with a little envy thrown in ?”
    “I can’t believe you are saying that, Father. I can’t believe that you want Elena to be a part of that life. She has everything . S he is beautiful . Sh e is talented . She’s wealthy. She could have any man in the country and you are willing to let Bai have her ? S ubject her to his lifestyle ?” He gripped the edge of the table with both hands and said in a harsh whisper , “Father, please tell me you will not let Elena marry that arrogant bastard . P lease , Father?”
    Wyatt looked his son in the eye . “Number one, Alex, Bai is not a bastard . H e is my wife’s brother, your grandfather’s son. And , yeah, Alex, now that Bai has taken over for Wan , he is the leader of the Sing Leon, the largest and most violent Tong this side of China. I’m not surprised he is a legend in China. Hell, he’s one here in this country and he isn’t even thirty years old.”
    Alex shook his head . His voice was bitter. “If I didn’t know better , I ’d think you admire him, Father.”
    “Alex, Bai saved Elena’s life twice. Not only that , when he was eighteen years old he save d D eshi’s life. Like me, he is a k ung fu grandmaster . He lives that creed in every element of his life. You and Elena are both k ung fu masters . Y ou know first hand the discipline and talent it takes to be a grandmaster. Bai was a grandmaster at the age of seventeen, a record as far as I know. ”
    Pinning his son with a hard glare, Wyatt took a drag off his cigarette .
    “M ost important, Alex, Elena has chosen Bai to be her husband. She deeply loves him and he loves her. And yeah, Alex, I admire Bai . W hen he and Elena marry on Friday , I will be honored to call him my son - in - law .”
    Alex stared at his father in disbelief . He s a t frozen for a moment, then stood and stalked out of the tavern , unable to stop the frustrated tears that rolled down his cheeks.
    Wyatt shook his head in resignation . Downing the last of his whiskey , he walked over to the bar and threw down several large bills.
    The wizened up tavern owner , who had know n Wyatt for years, smiled and bowed , acknowledging his generosity. Wyatt , the famed moneyman and former governor of Wyoming , was well-known in the Chinese community. Years ago , the Triads had ordered him killed for breaking the prohibition against non-Chinese practicing k ung fu. Wyatt killed the assassin they sent and over the years killed his way to the top of thei r violent art and became a hero to the Chinese. His reputation was further enhanced when he married Lei Chang, the daughter of Wan Chang, the legendary leader of the Sing Leon. I f that wasn’t enough , now his only daughter was about to marry t he Frenchman , the closest thing to a folk hero among the immigrant Chinese, young and old alike.
    “ I have a question , g overnor. How come you ’re the same good-looking son of a bitch you were twenty years ago? You gotta be pushing fifty . ”
    “Hell , Charlie , I been fifty for two years now. ”
    “And all you got is a little grey in that