White Tiger

innocent. ‘Why are you asking me all of this, Alan?’
    ‘Our next-door neighbour, Shane, is a black belt in karate,’ Amanda said. ‘Alan’s probably wondering if you’d be able to take him down. He keeps skiting about how good he is.’
    I glared at them. ‘I am not entertainment.’
    They shared a look.
    ‘I mean it,’ I said. ‘What I’m learning isn’t for fun. The Arts are serious, they’re for self-defence, and I won’t use them merely to put your neighbour in his place.’
    ‘You’ve changed, Emma,’ my mother said softly. I glanced at her. ‘You say that like it’s a bad thing.’ ‘I’m not sure that it isn’t.’
    ‘Elbow him in the ribs,’ I said, demonstrating. ‘Then switch hands, step back, over his back and lift his arm behind him.’ Shane fell to one knee in front of me. ‘If he doesn’t go down, you help him along with your toebehind his knee. If you twist his wrist just so ,’ Shane grunted with pain, ‘sorry. If you twist his wrist a little, he can’t move his arm. His other arm can’t reach you, he’s effectively helpless.’
    Amanda performed the same move and quickly had Alan on his knees in front of her.
    ‘Ease up, sweetheart,’ he said.
    ‘Yeah, don’t lift his arm too high, you’ll break it,’ I said.
    She glanced up at me. ‘I could break his arm?’
    ‘Easily,’ I said. ‘Dislocate it at the least.’
    She released him and stepped back.
    Alan shook his head and rose. ‘I was completely unable to move.’
    ‘No, you could have moved,’ I said. ‘You could have fallen on your face on the grass. Apart from that, she had you.’
    ‘Yeah,’ Alan said. He grinned at Amanda. ‘You’re pretty good.’
    Amanda watched him silently for a moment, then smiled up at me. ‘Teach me another one.’ I laughed. ‘Sure.’
    Everybody came to see me off at the airport. Amanda noticed that I checked in at the first-class counter, but didn’t say anything.
    ‘We’re coming to visit you as soon as we’re organised,’ my father said as he hugged me. ‘I want to meet your Mr Chen, this mystery rich man who’s changed you so much.’
    I pulled back, held his arms and looked up at him. ‘I haven’t changed that much, have I?’
    ‘You’re stronger and fitter, you’re doing these martial arts, and you obviously care deeply about them,’ my father said. ‘But I want to hear the whole story when we get there.’
    ‘Me too,’ my mother said. ‘Just let me sort myself out, and then we’ll come over. I want to buy some more of those pretty things you gave me.’
    I smiled at them. ‘I’ll be happy to show you around.’ Inside I desperately willed them not to come. I didn’t want to see them in danger.
    ‘Keep in touch, sweetheart!’ my mother shouted as I went down the escalator to immigration.
    ‘Miss Donahoe, yes?’ the flight attendant said, checking the passenger list. ‘Welcome aboard.’ She raised the bottle she was holding. ‘Champagne?’ ‘No, thanks.’
    ‘As soon as we take off, I’ll provide you with the menu. Just order anything you want, any time you like.’
    ‘Thanks,’ I said, and settled into the large comfortable seat. I looked out the window at the clear blue Brisbane sky and felt a wrench. I’d miss the fresh air and the sunshine.
    But I was going home. To Simone, to Leo…and to John.
    Something really began to hurt. I’d lost two precious weeks of time with him that I’d never be able to make up.
    I leaned back and closed my eyes. He felt the same way too. And there was absolutely nothing we could do about it.
    Except enjoy what we had for the little time we had left.

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
    L eo and Simone were waiting for me when I emerged at the arrivals gate. Simone raced to me and tackled me with a huge grin. I lifted her, hugged her, then put her down again and led her to Leo. He was subdued. ‘Hey.’
    I looked around, concerned. ‘Where’s Mr Chen? Is he okay?’
    ‘He’s fine. He’s at home in a meeting.’ Leo took the trolley from me and pushed it towards the car park. ‘Nothing but meetings since we came back. How’s your family?’
    ‘They found my weapons. Completely freaked them out.’
    ‘Trust you to goof it up,’ Leo said caustically. ‘Wouldn’t be surprised if you killed one of them by accident.’
    I stopped and stared at him. ‘That’s not like you, Leo. What’s the matter?’
    He didn’t stop pushing the trolley. ‘My turn next.’
    I rushed to keep up with him. ‘Your