The Rules Series

to some of the questions I’ve always had. Again, did you kill her? If so, why?”
Chang’s jaw clenched. ”There was only one way out of my home. She wanted out. I gave her an out.”
“You killed my mother because she wanted to leave you after forcing her to watch her children grow up only to know her as a lowly servant? Why not just let her leave?” Gina knew the answer to that already. Control. Chang demanded utter and complete control from everyone.
He ignored the question. “How long have you known?”
Gina waved her hands back and forth. “I’ve known since I was seventeen. I hope you know there is a small part of me that hates the fact you let Nina and me treat her like a servant. It would have been nice to have a mother.”
“She was a servant! I treated her better than any man would, even taking care of her daughters. Considering…” His voice trailed off.
Gina couldn’t hide the simmering anger in her voice. She’d held on to it for too long. “Considering what? That she was black, and we looked so much like her? For the record, we’re your daughters too.”
“I won’t tolerate this insolence from you. I am done with this conversation.” His voice was dangerously low. “Why didn’t you tell me about Cecily Manchetti?”
Calmly but boldly Gina spoke. “Because you would have used her to bring the Manchetti’s to their knees. She’s not a part of this game.”
“So what? Are you so weak that you wouldn’t do anything to protect this family?”
Gina raised her voice. “She is family! She’s Nina’s daughter.”
“She’s a Manchetti. I have no loyalty to that family, and I hold nothing but hate in my heart for all of them. They ruined Nina. The whole lot can rot in hell which is where I hope Luciano is right now.”
Gina’s exasperation grew. “Nina’s only fault was that she loved him. He didn’t deserve to die because of it.”
“Nina was weak! She dishonored this family and me when she disobeyed my orders to return home and marry the man I’d chosen for her. The death of Luciano was about business. I can’t help it if it also gave me pleasure to know he would no longer be walking the face of this earth.”
“Don’t speak like that about Nina! She wasn’t like us. She was good and pure.”
The disappointment was evident in his eyes. “I had such high hopes for you. Maybe Joseph should take over the business. He knows how to follow orders and to do what is necessary to remove a threat. Apparently, I will have to call him to get rid of my Manchetti problem once and for all.”
“I have no problem removing threats when necessary. There are certain lines I will not cross, though. Cecily is one of them. I won’t have her tainted by the Xiou family legacy.” Sadly, it crystallized in Gina’s mind, that although Chang was her father, he was an even bigger monster than she’d thought.
“You are weak and will end up just like Nina.”
Gina’s brows furrowed. “What do you mean by that?”
“I meant exactly what I said.” He took a long sip of tea.
Her voice came out in almost a whisper. “Was her car accident really an accident? Or, did you have Nina killed for her disobedience too?”
“What does it matter, she’s dead.”
She looked at her father as if she’d never seen him. The pain and anger that coursed through her body almost stopped her breath. She was so angry that she could see herself picking up the knife on the table and stabbing him in the neck. Instead, she would be patient.
As Chang raised his cup to his lips, he paused and said, “You should really have a biscuit and tea. It might wash away all the bitterness I can see flowing through you. Maybe it’s good. You can take that emotion and use it. It’ll come in handy when you’re forced to make tough decisions.”
Instead, Gina pushed her plate away and sat back in her chair. She folded her arms across her chest as she stared at him. “I am my father’s daughter.”
“Excuse me?”
Her voice turned sinister. “I hope you’re enjoying your tea and biscuits.” She reached over and grabbed the decanter full of apple juice and poured herself a glass. “Since I might have put just a wee bit of something in it. You know the kind of something that will mimic a heart-attack but is also medically undetectable.” She leaned over and looked into his cup; it was just about empty. “I was told one cup is all it would take to do the trick.” Gina looked at her watch. “You’ve got maybe another couple of minutes before you start to feel the effects.”
The color drained from Chang’s face. He was horrified. Immediately, he tried to stand but quickly sat back down as he began to clutch his chest.
“I guess my timing was off. It looks like the show starts now.”
Somehow Chang managed to croak out. “You would do this to your father?”
She hissed, “I’ve been waiting more than half my life for this moment.”
Chang fell out of his chair gasping for breath still clutching his chest.
Gina took a biscuit out of the dish and buttered it. She took a small bite as she continued to watch him writhe around on the floor. Then, placed it back on the plate. “You killed my mother. You planned to kill your granddaughter – Nina’s child, and now I find out that you killed Nina! There is no question you would have killed me too. I hope both you and Joseph rot in hell.”