The phone was vibrating a hole in his pocket before Xander Lan could pull it free from the natural linen Kimono, designed by one of his oldest childhood friends, so he answered with a curt, "Yes? I am reviewing the show for Nico's latest collection."

"The BASTARDS have stolen my WIFE, Xander. Your Sister, you asshole. Why was your phone on mute, for gods' sake? "

"Zahava? Who the fuck would abduct Zahava? Are they insa..."

"I sent a goddam LINK. Don't you EVER check messages? They filmed her being led out to a car from the interview she had today. She was obviously loaded"

"One second. Yul. Bringing it up right now. Here it comes."

A moment of silence. Yul listened as he heard a sharp intake of breath from Xander

"They slipped her something! It wouldn't take much. She has zero tolerance for drugs or alcohol."

'STOP BEING SO ANALYTICAL, FOR CRAP'S SAKE! THEY TOOK MY WOMAN!"

"Yul! Stop screaming in my ear. You wanted analytical, or you would not have called."

There was a despairing silence on the phone.

"Brother-in-law. Think outside the box." 

Despite the way he wanted to scream his own rage to the heavens, Xander's voice turned into a balm, thicker than Manuka honey, and just as soothing. He did not need Yul riding, half-cocked, into a high noon confrontation, perhaps setting himself up as well 

"They did not kidnap, simply, your wife. They kidnapped one of the world's most talented, rising actresses. She is also trained in seven different techniques of self-defense, most of which I taught her myself. She can be meaner than a spitting cobra when pissed off. AND SHE IS MY FUCKING BABY SISTER.

We will get her back in your arms, unscathed, got me?

And they will die when we do."

Yul Wilder disconnected and, as usual, his lock screen, popped into view. The exquisite face of his wife stared out at him. Long, jet black hair, pale, jade complexion, eyes still golden, but swirled with delicate threads of copper this lifetime. Purely feminine, but still clearly, his Lan Zhan. The full, pouting lips smiled lovingly at him. 

Z, Z, where are you? Are you well?  Oh fucking hell, I want you home right this very minute.

He gripped his shoulder-length, unruly hair in both fists as he paced. Inaction did not suit him and his silver eyes had burned into a dark, furious, and worried steel. He forced himself deep within as he felt a black tendril rise within his core, which immediately surrounded the new visitor. The core, .hammered back into existence, slowly over several earlier lifetimes after the first one, strived to keep it in abeyance. 

Not now. Not now. You will be called when it is the right time. But not now.

The tendril slowly, reluctantly obeyed.

Thank you. I am pleased with your choice, whispered Yul.

Yes. But I am not. Hissed his resentful silent partner, as it disappeared.

Zahava, golden eyes narrowed to infinitesimal slits, watched her prey while keeping her breath steady yet shallow. Every second that these assholes thought she was still under the influence was time on her side. 

Five thugs. Three, armed with steel batons, two with guns in hand. She settled on the gunmen first. Once the bullets became unimportant, the batons would be easy pickings. She shifted just enough to expose a superbly fashioned calf, and about an inch of thigh, one-half of the famous Billion Dollar Pair. That insurance policy had been a brilliant borrow from the 1940's actress, Betty Grable. A pang ran through her. Wei's idea, as was the publicity blitz that followed. She wanted her baby in bed with right now. No time, she scolded herself, and she shifted the pale blue silk a little further up in another subtle move. 

 She kept working a small, long, and thin blade, from a small space sewn into her belt. It was pliable and conformed perfectly to her slim, ridiculously tiny waist. As soon as she had it out, and in her nimble fingers, she quickly cut through the nylon bands. 

The sugar bait she had sent out with the exposure of her leg was working. One of the gunmen had taken a tentative step forward.

"Dude! The boss wants to play first. Payback for that wine in the face last night." Warned one of the burly majorettes, fidgeting nervously with his baton.

"Just gonna steal me a feel! She's out, so who the hells is gonna know?"

He approached hand out, palm down, and he could feel the heat from the smooth leg, just as he was kicked in the crotch. The gun was wrenched from his suddenly numb hand, and a surprisingly strong arm was around his neck before he could blink the pain-filled tears from his eyes. 

A voice whispered sweetly. 

"Back up slowly toward the door. The rest of you stay where you are! STAY BACK I SAID!" She thundered as a majorette tried to sidle around. She crept backward with her shield and as she reached the door, she felt it open behind her and the cold barrel of a gun pressed against the back of her head. 

"Drop the gun, Zahava!"

"Alright. If you say so." But not before she pulled the trigger and put a bullet in her captive's head. She let him drop, as disgusted as if he were yesterday's leftover salmon pate. She looked down at the red stains on sky-blue silk.

"You bastards made me ruin a really nice Chanel!"

She turned to look at her abductor and was glad of all her training back in her first life. It helped her stay unreadable as she stared into eyes she knew well and hated with all of her being.

"Who the hell are you?"

He grinned in merry madness.

"All in good time. Meanwhile...Harry, did all of that get caught on camera?"

A man emerged from the shadows with a phone in his hands.

"Yes, Boss."

"Keep filming.  Hello, Wei Ying... Long time, no see!"

"You Motherfucker, don't you hurt her!!! Who are you and what do you want?"

"You'll find out soon, Yul." He giggled insanely. "Awww. Now, you got to admit that was funny! Laugh a little, you'll live longer! Maybe not your girlfriend, but you might."

"Lan Zhan, got anything you want to say to little Wei Ying before we hang up? Bring the phone   over." We need a close up, don't you think? Cue the tears and the tremulous smile. Zahava."

She looked deeply into the lens, her eyes trying to speak.  Her voice was strong and unafraid.

 "Remember, what we would say, especially back, in our first life? I will love you to the Milky Way and back. From Mars and back as well, my Love."

And the connection was suddenly severed.

'

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