Chapter Twenty Five

Memory Lane

The sun just began to rise, I hadn't been able to sleep. Unable to take it anymore I banged on Jacks door. Though I know I should feel guilty. I knew I could trust him and he wouldn't hold last night against me. I was partly at fault I had used him to taunt Ren and in a way led him on to think I had feelings for him other then as a friend. I chew on my lip thinking about it as I walk the quiet lit streets. The sun slowly starts to rise. Jack without missing a beat almost seemed happy when I asked him to let everyone know to get there gear together and to make arrangements for our stay to be else where. "We won't becoming back to Feng manor." as I said it to Jack his smile grew but so did my pain. After that I left the manor without anyone noticing. I just needed some air. Least that's what I tell myself, though I really know I'm just being a chicken shit. I don't want to be there when Ren is informed that we will be refusing his hospitality and leaving. Though I have no intention of leaving town yet. Until then I can wait for Jacks call to tell me where to meet them.

Walking down the business section of town feels nostalgic. Looking around the early morning you'd never guess that the streets are in chaos right now with Candy, and random attacks. A gentle breeze brushes my hair that's tied up in a long pony tail toward my face. The hairs gently kiss my cheek as I brush them away observing the area. Hashiro Corp. that had been destroyed has been rebuild the building looks smaller but was build in record time I swear. I look up at it even though its different I recall the first time I came there. Before that it was just another big wig company with a conceited CEO out to make a name for himself. Passing the park I remember how I often stopped there to ponder about who I was. The video store where I made an ass out of myself after meeting Ren was closed now. Covered with graffiti and boarded up windows. I Run my hands across the boards. Traffic was starting to come to life on the street as I walked. I look up, before me was Glam and Fashion News Weekly. I once dreamed to be a journalist but fate had taken me down a different path. Funny as it is to think about my world is completely different from what I had planned. Till I had met Ren that night I had just started to assume I would never get a chance at being a journalist. I still don't get why I had been asked to take on that job I had never written before for the magazine and then suddenly I was told to write the biggest scoop which ended up being my last. I sigh turning away when I see a yellow and white taxi cab coming my way down the road. With a sudden urge I flag it down. Screeching to a stop. The cab driver is a short man with thinning hair line in his mid forties. He looks at me weird as if put off by how I was dressed in black leggings, bicker combat boots, loose spaghetti strap tank top with a leather jacket to hide my gun holsters. I smile at him as I greet him climbing in. I give him the address to where this all began.

****

"What the hell do you mean shes not here!" I growl at Maliki. He had just informed me when I woke that Anna had decided that they would not be staying at Feng manor, would not be staying with me. Her adviser came to Maliki this morning to inform him of there departure saying she wouldn't need our services anymore. I stood marching toward her corridors when he calls after me to yet deliver another blow; that she had snuck out early this morning like a coward. She was fucking running away.

"Find her!" I barked over my shoulder at Maliki before storming out of the manor slamming the door behind me. I told her at the start if she ran from me I'd make sure she'd regret it. She belongs to me I made her and if she wanted to be enemies and test me then I'd fucking break her.

****

Even in the sun the Golden Dragon Hotel looked Dazzling. After Ren had taken over It I would have thought the name would have been changed but, nope the sign still hangs high. I thought this was once a normal hotel. The front doors slide open suddenly catching me off guard. A man I remember seeing once before exits grumbling as he rubs at the back of his neck. Though looking more worn down then he had in Rens room. His black hair graying, his face looking exhausted, his crows feet can be noticed even at this distance. He looks up, our eyes lock. There is no way to mistake it with his blue eyes. It's one of the first things I noticed about this man. His sharp blue eyes, which is why I hadn't wanted to speak in front of him. What in the word had the Chief of Police been doing at the Golden Dragon Hotel?

"Anna right?" His gruff hoarse voice echoed out taking me from my thoughts. Realizing he was smiling at me sheepishly as if he just got caught with his hand in the cookie jar. I narrow my eyes at him. What was he up to?

"You don't need to be that suspicious." He says his face going serious his smile fading as he drops his hands to his side. He starts to walk toward me I step back placing my hand in my jacket to reach for my gun. "I wouldn't do that if I where you. Unless you want to be arrested for threatening an officer." He says stopping, his eyes on my hand. I glare at him, I find it annoying that his seems to find it amusing and smiles again at me instead.

Don't worry officer you're not the one she needs to be worrying about at this moment. A raspy voice cracks a laugh causing me to spin around.