Diamonds and Gold {Paul Lahote}

Prologue

Baba had brought all five of his kids home for a special business meeting. The business partner was an aggressive man who has always wanted to kill him. Li Na showed up to the penthouse in the early morning after a flight was sent to her from London. Still, in her boarding school uniform, Li Na made her way upstairs to her room. The main living area was empty except for the maids, their loyal butler, and chef.

Li Na's room was still the same as she left it when she had departed for school from the winter holidays. The white chic room was spotless as it always was, clothes still filled the closet. Everyone at school was envious of Li Na, especially because of her economic status. The Chu family was a family of nine brothers and each brother had children of their own, like Li Na and her four older brothers.

•••••

Li Na's name was being called from downstairs as the guests showed up, the businessman had brought several partners with him. The light sound of voices floated upstairs. She had a bad feeling deep down in her stomach. Her heels clicked as she descended down the stairway. The four brothers stood at the end of the stairs, each in a business suit. As she reached the last step her brother Ming Hua placed an arm out for her, which she took. The two followed the rest of the family to the dining room, the table was set with Chrystals and fine china. The large chandelier hung high above the table, the light bounce off the crystals.

Throughout the dinner, no one spoke other than the two businessmen. Li Na kept her head down as she ate quietly. On the opposite side of the floor to ceiling windows, you could see the city lights of Singapore. The sound of someone dragging their knife along the plates made Li Na lookup. Her grip on the chopsticks tightened when a sickening feeling overcame her. Chills ran down her back, goosebumps rose on her arm. 

It happened all so fast, at one moment they were eating quietly, the next the sound of bullets sprayed the table. Li Na ducked under the table as the bullets broke the glass from above her head. As she viewed up at the table, she saw her brothers, each had a Chinese traditional sword in their hand. Li Na rolled her eyes as she was weaponless, she hated how her brothers kept her out of the loop. Looking across the table and the knife to cut the meat was still intact. With a swift motion, she dove across the table, plates and glasses tumbled with her as her hand clutched the meat knife.

From above the chandelier swayed as the bolts got looser. Li Na plunged her knife into the closest man who came after her. She was grateful her father was a drill sergeant about learning self-defense. Li Na looked up as she saw the shadows of chandelier move, as soon as she looked up the thousand-pound decoration crashed against the table. The loud crash made Li Na dive to the ground and away from the table as crystal chunks became bullets.

Looking for her brothers, they all stood back up, everyone was a bit beaten up but alive. However, her father laid motionless on the ground. "Baba" Li Na whispered, already knowing he was dead. Blood soaked the table and the ground, glass was everywhere along with bodies.

•••••

"Pack everything" Lei Wei, the eldest brother, said as he reentered the penthouse. The thick British accent came through as he spoke. The door slammed as he entered, the sound of his shoes clicked on the tile. "What?" Li Na asked as she stood up from the couch she was sitting on, "Da Ge (oldest brother), where is baba". The youngest of the five siblings asked as she saw her other brothers come into the door. After the fight, the brothers disposed of the dead bodies including their father's body.

"We leave in five days, so pack" Wang Yong, the second son says as he heads to the family study. The usual fun and joyfulness had left the four brothers each headed to their separate ways. Li Na still stood silently by the couch, confused as the why this all happened so suddenly. She watched her older brothers retreat from the family room. The penthouse was silent as she looked back at the stairs. She huffed as she threw the throw pillow back on the couch. "What the fuck" she hissed as she stomped up the stairs.