Nalowale Take Two

Chapter Four

Zebraboymom

Disclaimer: They are not mine.

Author Notes: It's time for the switch.

Steve dialed the number again. He hated the personae he had to use. The idea of being like this guy made him sick. It had only been four hours, but with the governor's help they had found three women who would work for the exchange. One woman was being flown in from another island precinct, but he couldn't wait. He wanted to set everything up and go as soon as she arrived. He had assured the governor over and over that they would not be in much danger. He would see to that, but it had not been that hard to get her to agree when the dealer had called Steve back to say that his "girl" wanted to bring a girl back with her and he needed a second blonde. It had to be the ambassador's daughter. The governor told him he could have whatever he wanted as long as he got Robin. Steve wanted more than that. He wanted to bust the whole ring and maybe catch some overseas buyers as well. More than anything else, he wanted to take this guy down. He chuckled to himself as he waited for the dealer to answer. Kono was amazing. She had negotiated with this dealer even as he held her captive. She was gutsy, but he had already seen that on multiple cases. He couldn't wait to look into those big brown eyes again. He had to tell her how he felt, but he was scared she would push him away. She was a closed book a lot of the time. He knew she had been badly hurt, but he didn't know to what extent. He prayed she hadn't been violated by this guy or any of his men. He hoped that Robin was okay as well. She was so young to have to experience something so terrifying. He was glad she had Kono right now. The dealer picked up on the second ring.

"In a hurry are we? Too bad, I was just getting "acquainted" with your beautiful young lady. She's quite the spitfire isn't she?"

"You hurt her and so help me God, I will track you down and I will kill you!"

Danny put his hand on Steve's shoulder in an attempt to calm him down.

"Tsk, tsk. So much emotion isn't good for someone in our line of work. You've let yourself get too personally involved with this one. What is so special about this girl, hmmm?"

"Look, just tell me where we are meeting and let's get this over with." Steve shifted into his personae and moved the conversation along. "Besides, if this transaction goes well, maybe we can work together on a joint auction. What do you say?"

"Very tempting, but I think not. Meet me in one hour at Waianae Harbor right where Waianae Regional Park starts. I will have the girls with me. You won't be able to miss me. I'll be on the biggest yacht there. Don't bring too many men along with you, I don't want a war, just a friendly exchange of property. Mister…I never got your name."

"It's Steve. And you are?"

"Call me Wo Fat. Don't be late, Steve. I might have to keep my two little treasures if you don't show up with alternative goods."

"One hour. I'll be there."

He hung up the phone and almost threw it across the room. He hated this guy. He had never met anyone as cocky in his entire life. The man's voice made him want to punch a wall. He tried to focus on Kono as his breathing slowed. He had to be in complete control. Kono and Robin's lives depended on it. He could do this. He needed to put his intense feelings for her aside and concentrate on the plan.

"Chin, Danny, this is how it's going to go down…"

On Wo Fat's yacht:

The women were led out of the basement and on board a very fancy yacht moored outside the warehouse. Robin cowered in Kono's arms and wouldn't make eye contact with any of them. Kono held her head up and dared any of the men to even look at her funny. This had to be it. Steve had negotiated an exchange or a deal of some sort. She wondered how he would react when she behaved like they had a relationship. She knew he could read her most of the time when they were in a tense situation. She had to trust that relationship and know that he would go with whatever she did. The dealer was sitting at the back of the boat having a meal. There was caviar and champagne and lobster. What a creep. He flaunted his wealth at her. Kono was hungry. When he offered the two women a seat at his table, Kono sat down and ate ravenously. She might as well enjoy this. She had paid dearly for it. Her face hurt so badly, it was hard to chew. Robin followed her move, but only nibbled at some salad.

As the yacht steered out of the moorage and headed down the coast he spoke. "So, Steve said to say hello and he is on his way to meet us."

Kono's head jerked up. Steve had told him his real name? What the…

"He didn't leave a last name. Mine is Wo Fat, by the way. You need to get used to hearing it. It may be that Steve and I will be doing more business together in the near future. I look forward to the opportunity to get to know you on a more personal basis too."

Kono picked up the lobster tail and tossed it into the basket in the middle of the table.

"Don't count on it. When Steve picks a girl, he's pretty much exclusive and as far as I'm concerned I don't want anyone else in my life"

That was the truth. Kono didn't need to pretend that she loved him. She smiled to herself. She did. She really loved him and there was no way someone like Wo Fat could even hope to hold a candle to her Steve. Did she actually call him her Steve? Oh brother, captivity has made you weak girlfriend. Pull it together.

"I am sorry to hear that my dear. You know, you never told me your name."

"Nope. I didn't." Kono started on another lobster tail.

Twenty minutes later they idled into Waianae Harbor and dropped anchor. Several women were led on deck to join them. They were all very beautiful. Kono knew he was trying to rub Steve's nose in his wealth. She wondered if they were there of their own free will or if they were part of Wo's enterprise and afraid to fight back. Kono leaned over to whisper in Robin's ear as they sat on the couch that ran along the back of the boat.

"Stay close to me. No matter what happens, stay with me." The girl looked up at her and nodded. She looked like she was going to throw up. "Take deep breaths, okay?" Again a slight nod. Kono looked up when she heard the engines of a powerboat and saw one cutting through the water towards them. She could see Steve at the wheel and Danny and Chin beside him. There were three women in the boat as well. Kono figured they were all police officers. How did he find them so fast? It didn't matter. He was here. He was finally here.

Steve slowed and came alongside the boat. Chin and Danny tossed ropes to tie them off and Steve jumped easily on to the yacht. His eyes immediately went to Kono's. He caught his breath when he saw the bruises on her face. He stepped to her and pulled her up. He held her chin in his hands and turned her face from one side to the other to look at both bruises. She knew she looked bad. One of her eyes was swollen. It probably looked worse than it was, but she could see the emotions playing across his face as he put his arm around her, pulled her close and whispered in her ear. "He is going to pay for this Kono. I promise." He turned to face Wo Fat seething with anger.

"I thought I said no one was to hurt her."

"Well now Steve, we had to defend ourselves. The girl has a mean right hook. Come sit down and let's talk."

"No. Let's get down to business."

"Same thing." Wo Fat looked over into the boat at the three women who were pretending to be cowering under Danny and Chin's watchful eyes. "Nice choices. You do good work Steve. Let's switch out and then we'll chat for a bit."

"That sounds good to me." Steve motioned to Kono and Robin. Kono helped Robin onto the powerboat and Danny helped her sit down. He slipped his arm around the girl's shoulder as she looked at Kono and started to cry. "No, she told me to stay with her."

"It's okay sweetie, Danny has you now."

Kono turned back and crossed to stand by Steve again, slipping her arm around his waist. Steve looked down at her in surprise, but wrapped his arm around her shoulders protectively.

"Kono, you should get in the boat."

"Ah, so it's Kono is it? Pretty name for a pretty girl."

Kono could feel Steve tense up when Wo said her name. She squeezed his side in an attempt to calm him down. She looked up at him with intensity. "I stand with you no matter what."

Chin helped the undercover women on to the yacht. Several of Wo's men grabbed the women and pulled them over to sit on the couch where Kono and Robin had been. Wo Fat got up and "examined" the girls, having them stand one at a time. He looked them over, touching, feeling, watching Steve and Kono as he did. Feeling bold and wanting to show off for Steve, he reached under the skirt of one of them. He felt it then and the woman's eyes flew to Steve's. Wo Fat's hand had found the cold steel of a pistol strapped to her thigh. That's when all hell broke loose.