Passion and Power

Chapter 77

Hanni woke to a harsh ringing sound, causing her to try to sit up and figure out where she was. When she moved, arms tightened around her, causing her to halt. As she came into awareness, the main events of the previous day came crashing into her consciousness. The trial. The verdict. Then, the horrible feeling of an arm tightening around her neck, the sharp pain stabbing into her throat, and then the terror of seeing a gun pointed roughly against Minji's temple. The horror of the knife slicing her throat, Minji's face at the sight, then her own terror when Taehyung pointed a gun at Minji's head all came flooding back.

She was now fully awake and felt a rising panic. In the end they saw Taehyung convicted and hauled away. But they still had to wait on the sentencing. Part of her was starting to wonder if Minji was right, that they would never be rid of him despite everything she had done and sacrificed to ensure it. Hanni lifted herself off Minji's stomach, disentangling her limbs so that she could check the phone. Somehow, Minji hadn't heard her ringing phone or Hanni's movement. Hanni leaned across her body to peer at Minji's phone, wondering if it was anything urgent, and whether she would need to wake Minji.

At the sight of the name, Hanni did a double take. The screen showed a single name - "Xiaoting" flashed just before it went to voicemail.

Just as well she slept through that one. Hanni thought. The last thing Minji needed right now was to deal with another difficult person who had tried to take advantage of her.

Hanni began to climb out of bed. For once she felt she needed some air and space to think more than she needed to stay longer in Minji's arms. She went to make coffee and assess the breakfast situation to try to tamp down the fear rising in her stomach, but before she could get far Minji's phone rang again. She peered again at the screen, this time seeing the name "Choi Beom-gyu" Hanni decided she should pick it up. She knew he was the Director of the National Intelligence Service, which was the facility they had taken Taehyung to for recovery after the dramatic scene in the courtroom. The combination of top-notch medical facilities and the highest security level, the judge decided that he should stay there while waiting for his sentencing.

"Hello, Director. This is Hanni Pham."

"Hanni? What are you...I mean...Are you Ok? That was quite a scene in the courtroom."

"Yes, I'm fine, director. I woke up to some disturbing memories from yesterday, but he didn't seriously hurt me."

"I'm glad to hear it. I received a full report of the events yesterday. I'm so sorry about what happened to you. I know it must have been terrifying."

"I'm fine, Director." What he said was true but she had no desire to discuss it further at that moment. "Did you need to speak to Minji?"

"Yes, I'm sorry to call so early."

"It's OK. She is still asleep though, can it wait till later?"

"Probably not. Her brother seems to have taken a turn for the worse last night. Since Minji is the only person we know of that is familiar with this drug, we're hoping she can help us."

Oh. Fuck. Hanni thought, and moved to wake up Minji.

***

Just over an hour later Hanni sat alone in the penthouse, wondering how she might be able to help the situation. Since she didn't have security clearance she wasn't allowed to go with Minji to the National Intelligence Service. Not that she could have been any help. Feeling useless, she decided to call the one person she could always count on to listen, who already knew the story and wouldn't need to be brought up to speed.

"Hey, little sister." Danielle picked up after the first ring. "You OK?"

"Yeah, I..." At the sound of Danielle's concern she felt herself breaking down, her voice cracking as she fought off a sob. She held in so much the day before, determined to be strong for Minji. "I just...um..."