“Oh, Father, I have no words. It is so beautiful.”
“No more than you. You’ve grown into a beautiful young woman, Jade,” Onyx said softly. “Almost as beautiful as your mother.”
It was the highest compliment he could have paid her, and Jade felt her throat constrict.
“I’d like you and your mother to join me downstairs for a special birthday dinner,” he said.
Downstairs. With the guests. It was a rare occasion indeed. “Thank you, honorable Father.” Jade glanced shyly at her mother and saw that she, too, was surprised. Though Jade had grown up in this business, she was kept apart from it. “I would like that.”
“Good. Your mother and I will go now. Join us when you’re ready.”
Onyx caught Ahn Lin’s hand and the two strolled from the room.
When she was alone, Jade danced around and around, pausing only long enough to examine each of her gifts again. Then, when a maid arrived to help her dress, she felt the smooth slide of silk against her flesh. Her waist-length hair was brushed until it gleamed. The maid secured it with jeweled combs and draped it over Jade’s shoulder, allowing it to spill across one breast.
When Jade examined herself in the looking glass, she caught her breath. She looked different somehow. Older, maybe. Or was it only her imagination?
Laughing, she danced from the room and down the stairs to join her parents. Finding the private dining room empty, she hurried into the more public rooms. There the air was scented with French perfume, incense and the rich sting of cigars. There was the deep rumble of male voices and the higher trill of feminine laughter. Glasses clinked. In the background music played softly. A lute, a violin, a piano. All carefully calculated to soothe away the cares of the outside world.
Jade stepped through the doorway into yet another room. Several men sat around a table holding cards. A woman in a shimmering, low-cut gown held the deck, dealing slowly.
As Jade watched the players, one man’s head came up and his gaze locked on her. For the space of a heartbeat she couldn’t move.
He was not dressed like the others, in the garb of a gentleman, but rather in the rough garments of the trail. There was an aura of danger about him. Except for a tattered cowhide jacket, he was all in black. Black shirt and vest over black trousers tucked into black boots. He wore a wide-brimmed black hat from which streamed a lion’s mane of golden hair. His bearded face was in shadow. It was obvious that he had been on the move, and hadn’t taken time to shave. A stubbly growth of dull red-blond hair covered his cheeks and chin, masking his features. But she saw his lips, full and sensuous, curve into a lazy smile. And saw his eyes gleam like a cat’s. Smoke curled from a cigar in his hand. On his finger was a ring of twisted gold, with an amber stone that caught and reflected the light of hundreds of candles massed on the mantel. From the pile of chips in front of him, it was obvious that he was winning.
Jade had grown up in a house that catered to such men. None had ever affected her. But standing here, feeling his gaze on her, she couldn’t move, couldn’t even breathe. He was the most arresting, fascinating man she’d ever seen.
“Here you are. Cook has prepared a special dinner.” Onyx, with Ahn Lin beside him, halted next to his daughter. “We’re eating in that little alcove.” He offered his arm, and Jade moved along at his side until they reached their table.
All through dinner she could feel the stranger’s eyes watching her. Even when he seemed engrossed in the cards, she could feel his attention wandering to her. And though she didn’t know why, she felt strangely exhilarated. Deliciously wicked.
When a servant brought tea and special little cakes with candles, Jade closed her eyes and made a wish, then blew out the candles.
“What did you wish for?” Ahn Lin asked gently.
Jade felt her cheeks grow hot.
“If she tells, she won’t get her wish,” her father admonished.
Grateful for his words, Jade expelled her breath in a long sigh. For in truth she had wished for something… someone… dangerous. Someone forbidden to her. Never before had she entertained such thoughts. And she knew she had no right to them. Not now. Perhaps not ever.
Onyx reached into his pocket. “I have one more gift for you, Jade.” He removed a small jeweler’s case. Lifting the lid, he said, “I want you to wear this always.” He held up a gold rope on which rested two magnificent stones. One was black, the other green. “The black stone is onyx. The green is jade,” he explained. “They represent the two of us.”
Jade felt tears sting her eyes as her father placed it around her neck and fastened it. Sharing her emotion, he kissed both of her cheeks, then caught her hands in his and stared deeply into her eyes. “I can’t always be the father I’d like to be. But know this, my darling. No matter what, I will always be with you. Even after I leave this world, I’ll move heaven and earth to watch out for you.”
“Oh, Father…” She was so touched, words failed her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him fiercely.
“I’m glad you like my present. I—” When Onyx felt a hand on his arm he straightened and looked up.
“It isn’t fair.” The man facing Onyx was impeccably dressed in a gray evening suit with high starched collar, gold and diamonds winking at his cuffs. In his hand he held a wad of money. But all the money in the world couldn’t gloss over the fact that he was very drunk. “Here you are with two of the most beautiful women in the world….” The man’s slurred words were loud enough to cause everyone in the room to turn toward him in stunned surprise. “And here I am all alone. You should be willing to share.” He held out the money and pointed at Jade. “I’ll take the younger one off your hands and—”
Onyx stood so quickly he sent his chair toppling backward. His hand fisted in the man’s shirtfront, cutting off his words, cutting off his very breath. His face a mask of fury, his words choked with anger, Onyx growled, “You’ve just insulted my family. The young lady is my daughter. Now get out of here. And don’t ever set foot in the Golden Dragon again.”
The man brought up his hand, revealing something shiny that reflected the glint of candlelight. He jammed it tightly against Onyx’s chest.
“Onyx,” Ahn Lin cried. “He has a gun.”
Reflexively Onyx shoved Jade and Ahn Lin behind him and drew his own weapon, though he knew it was too late. Before he could fire, the sound of a gunshot thundered through the room. For long moments there was an eerie silence. No one moved. No one spoke. Then, with a strangled cry, the man facing Onyx crumpled to the floor.
Across the room the man in black had upended the table, scattering cards and money everywhere. In his hand was a smoking gun.
For the space of several heartbeats Onyx and the gunman faced each other across the room, and the crowd seemed to hold its breath, waiting for what was to come. But instead of the expected gunfight, the man facing Onyx calmly returned his pistol to his holster, signaling an end to the incident.
Pandemonium broke out. While almost everyone in the room gathered around the fallen man, the one who had shot him watched without emotion. With the grace of a mountain cat he strolled to a side table, where he lifted a tumbler of whiskey to his lips and drained it in one long swallow.
Onyx dropped to his knees and checked for a pulse, then shook his head. “He’s dead. Otherwise…” He left the words unspoken. But everyone knew that he would have been the one lying dead had it not been for the quick thinking of the mysterious gunman.
Jade, pale and shaken, heard only snatches of the excited words being spoken.
“…been in here before. Name’s Nub Harkness.”
“Always causing trouble…”
“Can’t