Bitter Winds by Kay Bratt

Author:Kay Bratt
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub, mobi
Tags: Mystery, Historical
ISBN: 9781477848999
Publisher: Amazon Publishing
Published: 2014-04-07T14:00:00+00:00

“Kuai yi dian.” Benfu tapped his fingers on the door rest and urged the driver to go faster. As much as he hated the usual kamikaze recklessness of the city taxi drivers, this time he appreciated it. He didn’t know what Ivy was up to, but knowing his daughter, it couldn’t be good.

As the driver stomped on his brake, rammed the gas, then pounded out a vicious litany of horn blasts, Benfu once again wondered how they’d stumbled into such bad luck. Everything had been going well, and now this. He couldn’t deny that finding Li Jin and opening Rose Haven were still a blessing, but why did such a blessing have to mean his other daughters must suffer? Couldn’t the gods let all his children be happy at once?

The driver finally pulled up to the curb in front of the hospital.

“Eighteen reminbi,” he said, without turning his head. He held his hand up to receive the money and Benfu put a twenty on his palm. He opened the door and scooted out.

The area around the hospital was already starting to get busy. Beggars, vendors, and people seeking medical intervention clogged up the walkway and hurried around him. Benfu paused to put his money clip back in his pocket—he didn’t want to fall victim to a pickpocket. When he looked up again, his jaw dropped.

There was Lily coming out of the automatic doors of the hospital with no cane and no one to guide her! What was she doing free already? And where was her sister? He watched as her lips moved silently and she paused at the top of the concrete stairs, then took her cane from under her arm and began to unfold it.

“Lily! Wait!”

Her head jolted up at the sound of his voice. “Ye Ye?”

Benfu hurried across the walk and up the stairs. He gave her a quick hug, then stepped back. “What are you doing out here and where’s Ivy?”

Lily bit her lip. A sure sign she didn’t want to tell him something.

“Lily? What is it?” He guided her out of the way of the many people coming in and out of the doors. They stood next to the hospital wall. Benfu watched as she took a few hard swallows, then pulled her shoulders back.

“We switched places,” Lily said quickly, then flinched. “Ivy made me do it. I swear.”

Benfu shook his head. He should’ve known. He’d watched as Ivy had made it her life goal to protect her sister since the day they’d arrived on his doorstep. While he should’ve been angry, he wasn’t—he was just relieved to have one of them to take home.

“I can’t say I’m surprised. That sister of yours is more than a little protective of you. I’m surprised she didn’t take the entire hospital staff hostage to get you sprung.” He sighed as he looked at the glass doors behind her. “Well, what’s done is done. Now we have to get her out of there. But first, I need to get you home.

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