Kurt was frustrated. The meeting with Xan had not gone as well as he wanted. There was absolutely no news about Akihiko or any intel about what his plans might be.
"How can someone just disappear from the face of the Earth?" Kurt said, frustrated.
"Someone who is used to hiding and has a Ninja background!" Xan grumbled.
"I guess you have increased security for the syndicate's meetings?" Kurt said.
"Yes! The guests will start arriving tomorrow. " Xan said with a sigh.
"Good! I just have this feeling..." Kurt said.
"Me too. Something is definitely brewing, so keep your eyes open. Not that you have much to worry about with Alannah by your side. I am sure going to miss her when she goes, " Xan said.
"You've known her for a while?" Kurt said.
"Oh yes, she kicked my arse so many times growing up. Alannah kept my feet grounded, that is for sure." Xan said with a chuckle.
"I can also fight, you know!" Kurt pointed out.
"Yeah, but to be honest, very few people are at Alannah's level. Of course, it makes sense now considering her lineage. Speaking of that, how is Theo taking it all in? " Xan said.
"Theo is stunned and not sure what to do. He says he will take her away from me if I hurt her. " Kurt said, with an eye roll.
"Ah, he said the same thing to me with Grace!" Xan said, waving his hand dismissively. Xan continued, "One thing I know is Evans women can look after themselves!"
"Isn't that the truth? That doesn't mean that we don't want to protect them! " Kurt admitted.
"No, we just have to be a bit canny about it. Like Grace's Maids are all black belts in martial arts, she does not know that of course!" Xan said with a smirk.
"I am surprised you didn't employ Alannah to be a maid!" Kurt said, trying to keep his mind off of Alannah, in a maid's costume. That is something he would like to see!
"Alannah? I did think about it, but to be honest, she is a fighter and enjoys the hunt too much. Alannah gets bored easily and then becomes a pain in the arse. Thinking about it, she would be an excellent leader of the Mad Dogs! " Xan said.
"Not going to happen!" Kurt said firmly.
"You may not have a choice, my dear friend. It is better to have some say than no say at all. Alannah is never going to be a traditional housewife. She would go insane and then drive you insane! " Xan said.
"Hmmm," Kurt said. A couple of hours later, Kurt was in a car waiting for his best friend and second in command, James White. James had fallen in love with Grace's best friend Annie. He was smart, quick-witted, and could talk his way out of most kinds of trouble.
James was handsome; there was no denying that. Standing at 6 feet 2 with brown hair and hazel eyes, he definitely had his way with women. That was until he met Annie, the prison physicist. James had fallen head over heels in love and would pretty much act like a lovesick puppy around her. As James walked out of the airport with his leather bag, he hopped in the back of the car where Kurt was.
"Kurt! So good to see you, man! " James said, hugging his best friend.
"Good to see you too. Please tell me you brought some of those red velvet cupcakes Grace keeps pestering me about." Kurt said. James owned a chain of very successful bakeries. Their cupcakes were delicious.
"Of course, one could not disappoint our grace now! Talking of women, Who is this latest fling?" James asked.
"Alannah is not fling!" Kurt growled.
"Right, because you have only had one-night stands since Grace and Nancy!" James said, and Kurt growled.
"Her name is Alannah, and you will behave, James!" Kurt ordered.
"Alannah? That sounds.." James said confused.
"British? That is because she is. "
"What is she doing over here in China?" James asked.
"Alannah is currently a cursed one."
"Dude...please tell me you are not having a serious relationship with cursed one! They are only after one thing, money. " James said troubled.
"Alannah is not like that James!" Kurt snapped.
"Man, she has got her claws right into you. Come on Kurt, she's using you as a ticket to freedom! " James said scornfully.
"Can you at least meet her before being a judgemental arsehole?" Kurt said as the driver drove up to the hotel's entrance.
James pointed out, "I am just trying to warn you mate, there are plenty of girls who would be a more suitable prospect."
"Look, James, don't screw this up for me, OK? Now, you are going to the penthouse, whilst I am going to get her from the workout area. The cleaner should be just about finished, so you make yourself a cup of coffee and do your fucking job! " Kurt said, and James nodded.
Meanwhile, Alannah was enjoying a warm shower. Theo had gone easy on her and let her go early. She had come straight up and told the cleaner to finish early. Whilst in the shower she heard the front door band and someone plonked down a bag. Alannah quickly turned the shower off and dried herself off. Alannah heard the person dial a number on his mobile phone and start talking.
"Hello Annie, yes love, I made it to China safely. No, no, I have not met the latest whore yet. I did learn she is a cursed one, someone who is sold to pay their debts. Yes, I know it is barbaric, but it means she is only after his money and power. Do you know what Kurt is like? He can't see the wood for the trees sometimes! "
"Who is this arse hole?" Alannah thought as she quickly got dressed.
"No, I guarantee she won't hold a candle to Grace, it is a shame that did not work out. But, I am happy Grace is happy with Xan!" The man paused.
Alannah felt like she had been kicked in the gut. "Kurt went out with Grace?"
"No, I very much doubt this relationship will go anywhere. You know what he is like, he gets bored easily and moves on to the next one. The British Syndicate would never accept someone of such lowly status. Apparently, she is part of a group called the Nine-Tailed Fox, which sounds like a whore house if there ever was one! Anyway, I have been told by Kurt I am on my best behaviour. Got to go, love you too!" The man said.
Alannah walked out of the bedroom.
"Have you finished? Ah, you must be the cleaner. Can you speak English? " The man said, looking her up and down.
"Yes!" Alannah said quietly.
"Good. I am James, you need to go now as people are coming!" James said in a slow patronising tone.
"OK," Alannah said walking out still stunned at what she had heard. All her fears seemed to be confirmed and she cursed herself about being so stupid!
"Of course, Kurt's syndicate would not accept her. What a fool she had been!" Alannah thought as she got out onto the street. Alannah put her hands in her pocket and started to walk.
About 10 minutes later, Kurt opened the door and walked into the penthouse. He saw James drinking a cup of coffee. "Well, where is this special one?" James said sarcastically.
"She finished training with Theo early and came up here for a shower," Kurt said as he walked into his bedroom and checked the bathroom. Alannah? " He called.
"She is not here, the only person that has been here was a weird redhead cleaner girl!" James said.
"A redhead? Was it curly and did she have green eyes?" Kurt asked quickly.
"Yeah!" James said, and then he closed his eyes, realising. Oh shit, don't tell me that was her?
"Yes, where is she?" Kurt said seeing James's face.
"I dismissed her!" James said.
"You did what? Did she not say anything?" Kurt said his eyes narrowing as a guilty look formed on James's face. "What did you say?" Kurt growled and James looked down. "Answer me!" Kurt snapped.
"She might have heard me talk to Annie on the phone," James said carefully.
"And what did you say?" Kurt demanded.
"I might have said how ...how..." James said nervously as Kurt's face became dark and furious. James sighed and closed his eyes, there was no way he was getting away with this!
"How she won't hold a candle to Grace, how you two used to go out, how Alannah was a cursed one and is only after your money. How your relationship would not go anywhere, as you get bored easily and how the Nine-Tailed Fox was a whore house," James said and as expected he felt a punch to his nose.
"You fucking idiot! Do you know what you have done?" Kurt roared hurling the cup of coffee at the wall.
"I am sorry, I had no idea!" James said.
"Which part did you have no idea about? The fact she is the most elite female fighter in China or that you have screwed up the best thing that has ever happened to me!" Kurt said distraught.
"But, I thought Grace was.." James said.
"I don't care about Grace! She was a stupid obsession of a sick man. Grace is my friend and that is it. Alannah is my soul mate and I can't live without her! I love Alannah and I am not leaving China without her!" Kurt shouted.
"I didn't realise you were that serious. Are you sure she feels the same way?" James said quietly.
Alannah did not even know I was the Chairman until a few days ago! I posed as a businessman, and she loved me then. She even saved me twice from other gangs! It took all my willpower to get her to stay here and not go back with the Nine-Tails. It has taken all this time for me to gain her trust and get her to believe how important she is to me. Now you set me back to square one. Bloody square one James! " Kurt said, sitting down and putting his head in his hands.
"Look Kurt, I am sorry and I will fix it! Take me to where she is and I will take whatever punishment she dishes out! James said?
"I wish it was that easy!" Kurt mumbled.
"It is worth a try!" James said as he rang for a car.
==============================
James and Kurt made their way to the Nine Tails' home. "Are you sure we are in the right place?" James said looking at the outside of the warehouse. Kurt said nothing and got out. When they both entered the warehouse, James saw all the Nine-Tails men training and Theo sipping a beer. Theo saw them and walked over.
"James! Good flight I hope. " Theo said cheerfully.
"Hey, Probie!" Ethan and Aiden said in unison.
The rest of the fighters stopped and gathered round.
"Hey everyone, this is James White my second in command. He has come over for the Syndicate meeting." Kurt explained.
Another Probie! I guess we will have to call Probie, Kurt now! " Ethan said and the Nine-Tails chuckled.
"What can I do for you Chairman Blackwood?" Tao's voice boomed as he walked over with Maya.
"We are looking for Alannah, we desperately need to talk to her!" Kurt said.
"Alannah? She is not here, she is with you!" Theo said suddenly concerned.
"Something happened and we thought she would be here," Kurt explained.
"What happened?" Tao said glaring.
"I said some unsavoury things about Alannah and she heard," James said. There was no point in lying.
What the fuck do "unsavoury" things mean? Aiden asked.
She said, "It means he insulted Alannah and she heard. Isn't that right? " Bruce said. The mood of the group suddenly changed from happy and friendly to angry.
"What did you say?" Maya demanded.
"Lots of things, but I think the worst was she was a whore and the Nine-Tails sounded like a whore house. I am so sorry, I did not know at the time.." James said trying to talk his way out of it.
"You said what?" The Twins exploded rushing forward. But they were too late, Theo threw the first punch at James and then slammed him against the wall. Theo then held James by the neck, picking him off the ground.
"Theo?" James said surprised.
"How dare you talk to my daughter in that way? You are not fit enough to kiss her feet! You are nothing compared to her, understand? Nothing!" Theo roared.
"Your daughter?" Tao gasped.
"Of course! The Lion on the locket makes sense now, she is an Evans!" Maya said happily.
"Shit! She is a founding descendant!" Ethan said unhappily.
"Meaning she will leave us!" Adam said unhappily.
"I didn't know!" James gasped going purple.
"My daughter is now walking the streets with him stalking her!" Theo roared.
"What? Who?" Kurt said.
"That prick Akihiko! He has been sending her flowers and notes, saying how they will be together soon and shit" Theo said.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Kurt roared.
"Because Alannah promised not to meet him and that she would tell you today!" Theo explained.
"Shit! This is not good!" Matt said.
"Akihiko was always a bit intense. He seems to have only gotten worse" Bruce said.
"We need to find her now! Theo drop James now!" Kurt ordered and Theo did begrudgingly.
"I swear to God if something happens to her, I will use your ball sack skin as my dick pouch!" Theo threatened and James nodded.
"Let us split up and search," Tao said.
"I will get my boys!" Theo growled.
================================
Meanwhile, Alannah was sitting on a bench munching some meat buns she had brought. The bench was in a popular park and was pretty enough. The bench was also secluded and Alannah was enjoying the moment of peace.
"I wondered when you would turn up. Do you want a bun?" Alannah said.
"Why not?" Akihiko Said with a chuckle as he sat down.
"So why are you here?" Alannah asked.
"I thought that was obvious, I am here for you Alannah. I have come to take you home with me" Akihiko said with a smile.