TIGERLILLY- THE BRAVO BOYS [book two]

Chapter THREE

Frankie Xiao

The sound of a single gunshot echoes around the lot.. But I feel nothing.. No pain..

Am I dead?... No..

I crack my eyes open to see The Tiger approaching me, prowling cautiously closer to crouch down before me..

My eyes flitter across the asphalt to his friend, Beckett.. The man he had been arguing with, now on the ground, a stream of shiny red trickling out from beneath the deathly still body..

"Don't scream." The Tiger growls as he reaches up to tear the tape from my lips, fast, like ripping off a band-aid..

"Ah-ow.." I wince before sucking in lungfuls of the clove spiced Chinatown air..

"Who are you?" He demands, reaching out to brush the hair away from my cheek, taking my chin between his fingers to get a better look at me..

I wince away and say nothing..

Really, what am I supposed to tell him? I doubt any answer would make him happy, least of all the truth..

"Where did ye' come from, do ye' speak English, girlie?" He tips his head curiously, his gaze trailing over my cheek to the tattoo behind my ear and down my neck to the bruises I wear..

Still I don't speak.. I can't..

"Nǐ shì zhōngguó rén ma?" He asks if I have come from China, in Mandarin spoken so fluently that mine almost pales in comparison..

I blink in disbelief.. A Mandarin speaking Irish man? I never thought I'd see the day!

"Neon eoneu nala-eseo wassni?" When he speaks again, it is in another dialect.. This time I really don't understand him, though the inflection is distinctly Korean to my ear.

"China? Korea? Japan? Where the fuck are ya from?" His temper rises and his jaw twitches with impatience..

I just stare at him and shake my head, that is when he assumes I don't understand..

Maybe if he thinks I can't speak he will let me live.. I am nothing to him.. A mute stranger, so I can only wish upon wish he will find the goodness inside of himself and let me live..

"Easy feckin' money my arse.." He groans to himself.. "You don't understand a single bloody word I'm sayin', do ya?" He taps the barrel of his gun against his temple thoughtfully, reminding me that he is dangerous..

I need to do something..

"H-Halp m-mei.." I stutter, pretending to shape the English words as best I can and his gaze snaps to mine..

"Help you?" He squints..

I nod, copying the way he says the words.. "Heelp yuu?.."

He scrubs s a hand down his face.. "Lord'O'mercy, I know I'm gonna regret this.." The Tiger mutters his disgruntled musings, taking a switchblade from his boot and flicking it open..

"Ah!" I gasp and cower on my sore knees before he hushes me gently..

"Arite', shh I'm not gonna hurt ya, Lass.. I'm gonna cut the tape.." He taps his wrists, trying to communicate what he is saying through pantomimes..

Of course I know what he is saying, I am more American than he is within his mouthful of Irish slang.. I'm second generation, born and educated in this country.. Well, up until my sophomore year.. But I don't want The Tiger to know any of that..

He can't know where I have come from, or else he might return me.. I have been missing for so long, I don't know what that would mean, or if I would even be accepted..

Still I can't help appreciating his sudden change of approach and the gentlemanly gestures he uses while trying not to scare me..

I watch him carefully from my vulnerable places at his feet, remaining cautiously fearful as he rises to circle around me and cut my hands free from behind my back..

The relief is instant and I clutch my bleeding wrists to my chest as he leans down to tuck the knife away in his boot.."Some of those nicks look pretty nasty, Lass.. How bad are ye' hurtin'?" He looks me over as I stare at him blankly, dumbstruck by ..

Who on earth is this man?.. This merciful strawberry-haired angel.

"Hurt-- Like-- Ouch? Can ye' walk, girl?" He asks softly, offering me his hand to help me up from the ground...

Slowly but surely, I take it.. Because I can't stay here.. Master Li will be looking for me by now and I have nowhere else to go..

Even if I was sure I could go home, I wouldnt know how to get there.. Its been so long since I have navigated on my own, I can barely remember how I ever managed it..

His hand is twice the size of mine, warm and welcoming he lifts me up effortlessly.. Though I still don't make a peep..

"Rite.." He sighs.. "I guess yer comin' with me then.."