"Are you really exhausted, or was that just an excuse to give them time alone?" He settled the tray down on the kitchen counter.
Christine yawned again, dropping Erik's robe and climbing back into the rumpled bed. "Both." She held up the covers, patting the mattress beside her. "Join me?"
He wanted to, gods knew he did. But the old fears rose up in him, holding him to the floor. Instead, he busied himself wrapping up the food and putting it away. "Why are you here, Christine?"
"I love you. Don't you believe me?"
"I want to." He hesitated, unable to find the words to explain the fear clawing at his heart.
She pulled the covers up, smoothing them over the empty side of the bed. "Come here." Sliding her hand across the duvet top. "Lie down next to me. That's all."
He moved hesitantly, sitting down on the bedside opposite where she lie. Then he pulled off his boots, loosened his collar and stretched out on top of the duvet. Her hand slipped into his and his fingers curled around her softness.
"Erik, do you doubt me?"
He didn't know how to answer. He knew he loved her. But his memories were at war with his heart. He couldn't forget that she left him once. Left him to face an angry mob alone and heartbroken.
"I understand if you do," she continued, squeezing his hand lightly. "If I could go back, change things…"
"No." His fingers tightened around hers. He forced the words past the tightness in his throat. "You made the right decision."
"I couldn't let you kill Raoul." She bit her lip, turning her head to look at him. "I don't know why I said what I did to you. I regret it deeply. Your soul wasn't distorted, it was torn, bleeding, and I just couldn't see it."
He shook his head, turning to look at the ceiling. "No, Christine; you were right. At that moment, you were right. I'd become the monster everyone always said I was." He blinked against the moisture filling his eyes.
"Not a monster, never a monster. A man who'd fought desperately all his life and for one moment, weakened against the onslaught. A man who made a terrible mistake." She turned on her side to fully face him. "Mistakes can be forgiven, Erik. For the truly penitent, there is forgiveness. I believe that with all my heart."
"I wish I could," he sighed. "But I've done too much evil to be forgiven. It wasn't just at the opera. It began long before you knew me.
"You asked if I doubt you, Christine. Perhaps I do, but it's not you I truly doubt; it's me. At the back of my mind, I'm always afraid that he'll rise up and I'll fall back into madness again. There were times, even now, when I struggle to keep the depth of my anger in check. Even Nasir is afraid that sometime the Phantom may return."
"Why? Why would he?"
He rose from the bed, moving to stare out the windows. It was still dark and the city lights were still shining. "Look at it. The city is so beautiful. It shines in the day and it glitters at night. But beneath all the sparkle is darkness. For a time, after the earthquake, it was gone. Everyone was too busy pulling their lives back together and rebuilding. But now that's done, and the darkness is rising again."
"What do you mean?" She stood beside him, wrapped up in his robe again.
"Lillian told you how she and I found each other again."
"Yes. She said you were being robbed, attacked in an alley and she intervened."
"There was no robbery. It was a message from a man who'd become an enemy." He left the window, moving across the open space to the living room grouping at the other end of the loft. "Have you heard of San Francisco's Chinatown?"
"A little. I don't know anything about it." She'd joined him, lowering herself into a chair.
"Six years ago, when the club was first showing signs of being a success, a man named Ping Sai came to see me. He was a leader in one of the Tongs in Chinatown. They'd started threatening small businesses and then offered protection against attack in exchange for payments.
"When he came to me, I refused and offered a bargain. I think he was intrigued that anyone would stand against him, but he knew that by then I was starting to garner influential acquaintances through the club and somehow he learned of Nasir's strong connections with the police."
"What did you offer him?"
He quirked a smile. "It was simple really, a non-aggression pact, if you will. He'd leave Club Incognito alone and I wouldn't interfere with his other dealings. I think I my hand on his windpipe may have influenced him a bit. In any case he agreed and that agreement held until three years ago when he decided to declare war."
"That was just at the time of the earthquake."
"Yes. He would have been a serious threat if it weren't for Chinatown being almost completely destroyed. Things have been quiet, but now the Tongs are back in business. That's what Nasir and I were meeting about when I became ill last May.
"Ping Sai has moved on from the protection racket. There are other gangs trying to break into that market, and the police have always had a strong presence here. If anything, according to Tom Walsh, the Tongs are losing their grip outside of Chinatown and Ping Sai has refocused his efforts on opium peddling."
"How does that involve you?" Christine looked puzzled. She was smart enough to follow what he was saying, but she was unfamiliar with the opium trade.
"Since we already serve liquor and sell cigarettes and cigars to our patrons, it would be an almost natural step to expand our product line to include opium. At least, that's Ping Sai's reasoning. I've heard he or one of his minions have already approached several of the other clubs."
"I don't know anything about opium," Christine admitted. "Maybe I've been too sheltered. Is it any worse than alcohol or tobacco?"
"Oh yes," Erik's tone darkened. Living in the East before returning to France, he'd seen the effects of opium. To his shame, there had been times he'd even experienced them himself. "Much worse. In the Western world, a derivative of opium is a component of laudanum. You've heard of that."
"Yes. Mr. Sholokhov gave laudanum to Lillian. I can't believe he'd do anything to hurt her."
"He wouldn't," Erik shook his head adamantly. "In the proper hands, it's a very effective painkiller. I'm sure that's why he gave it to her."
"But that's not the reason this Ping Sai wants you to start offering it in your club."
"No. Opium is highly addictive. Getting it into the clubs is only the first step. I think his ultimate goal is to have opium dens scattered throughout the city. My club and the others offer him a conduit to the rich and powerful outside of Chinatown. That's his real goal, I think. To be able to influence them.
"From what Nasir has heard through his contacts there's a power struggle going on. Ping Sai's hold is slipping. He needs a decisive victory to retain his control. I think he's going to make a move soon."
"And you think you'll be his target." The thought of Erik caught in the middle between rival Chinese gangs and the police terrified her. He'd already been through so much. Why was he being tested again with this?
"I do." His voice was flat, devoid of emotion. "Even though I'm not as involved in running the club as before, I'm still the face of it as well as controlling partner. And now with The Masque, the business is expanding. He'll make his move and he'll make it soon. I have to be ready." He'd never wanted to fight, he simply wanted to be left alone in peace. But if that was to be denied him, he'd fight with everything he had.
His words sent a chill down Christine's spine. She drew the robe even tighter around herself. This conversation was scaring her. She could see Erik placing himself in real danger.
They'd finally reunited and she was still struggling to earn his trust. The thought of him being taken from her now was almost too much to bear. She knew she couldn't stop him but she could and would stand with him.
"The sun's coming up and we've got to get you back to your hotel." He looked down at her, still wrapped in his robe. He never realized how desirable a woman could be wearing a shapeless oversized garment. "Gods you're beautiful. I want to drape you in gold and precious gems but you'd outshine all that."
"Gold and gems?"
"Mmmm." He wanted to take her back to bed and spend the day making love to her. After all the years of almost complete celibacy, he wanted to make up for lost time.
"Gold?" She ran her fingers along his jawline.
"Yes."
"Diamonds? Sapphires?" Her fingers whispered down his neck, dipping into the hollow between his collar bones.
"Yes. Yes." He pulled her closer to him, enjoying the feeling of her softness pressed against him.
"Emeralds?" She opened the top buttons of his shirt, slipping her hand inside.
"Of course." His hands slipped down her spine curving over her bottom.
"Rubies?"
He froze, dropping his hands and taking a step back. "No. Not rubies." He looked at her, seeing the question on her face. "I don't care for rubies." He quirked up the corner of his mouth. "They're not the right color for you."
She stepped back, puzzled. What just happened? One moment he was playful, almost seductive, the next he was a block of ice. "I..I suppose I must be getting back to the hotel. Can't have people making wrong assumptions."
They had to be circumspect, even the internationally known diva could have her reputation destroyed by the wrong sort of gossip. She dropped his robe to the floor and crossed the room to where her gown lay across a chair. Balancing first on one foot and then the other, she worked the garment up her body. "Oh dear."
She'd pulled up the dress but it appeared to be falling off her shoulders. "What's wrong?" Then he remembered. "Oh." He could feel the delicate fabric of her gown tearing under his fingers. There were small pearl buttons scattered around her feet on the floor. "Ah, I see. Well, hold it on and let me see what I can find. "Excuse me a moment."
A dressing room occupied part of the walled off section of the room next to the bathroom. Erik slipped inside and pulled open a small drawer under his shirts. "Ah. There they are." Alma Imperiali gifted him with a small box of safety pins when he first moved into the loft. She'd assured him they were something no bachelor could do without although he'd yet to find a use for them until now.
"Here we are," he said, stepping up to Christine and turning her away from him. Deftly, he used several pins to close up the back of her gown and then covered the opening with her evening wrap. "There you are. Problem solved."
"You're assuming I have someone at the hotel who can unfasten the pins."
"The hotel will provide you with a lady's maid if you haven't one of your own."
"And how do you come by this knowledge, Mr. Dantes?"
The side of his mouth quirked up. "A gentleman knows these things, Miss Daaé." A quick glance at the windows told him full daylight was fast approaching. "Come, we must get you back before it's too late. Even people arriving after a New Year's celebration are expected to return very soon after dawn at the latest."
Christine smiled, gathering her wrap around her and walking through the open loft door. She thought it charming that he was so concerned for her reputation while thinking nothing of his own. He'd changed so much since she'd first known him. There was almost nothing about him now to suggest the tortured man he once was. If only Lillian could see Erik now. She'd be so happy.
She spared a quick glance heavenward as she followed him down the stairs. I understand now, Lillian—the bond between us. Thank you for bringing my heart back to me. I promise to fulfill your last request.
. . . .
"Erik, just a moment," Nasir called after him.
Erik stopped on his way down the last flight of stairs to the ground. It was just past six in the morning, and he wanted to get an early start at the hospital. The opening was scheduled for February fifteenth, just a few weeks away and the marble tiles for the lobby floor had only just arrived. They'd already lost a week's time on the installation due to shipping delays and the floor needed to be laid and set so heavy pieces of medical equipment could be rolled over it for access to the rest of the hospital.
"I'm late, Nasir. Can it wait?"
Nasir looked grim. He was wearing his Daroga face, something Erik hadn't seen in a very long time and something that never boded well. "I'm afraid not."
"All right." Erik followed Nasir down to the man's private office. The Persian unlocked the door and gestured him inside, locking it behind him. The short hairs on the back of Erik's neck rose. What was so urgent that Nasir felt they needed the privacy of a locked office?
After settling himself down behind his desk, Nasir folded his hands on the blotter and looked at his partner. "Ping Sai sent two of his men over last night."
Erik hadn't been in the building then, he'd taken Christine and the Imperialis to dinner at The Masque. "What happened?"
Nasir shook his head. "Nothing. Bobby and I handled them. But they were just the advance guard delivering a message. Ping Sai has every intention of getting opium into the club. 'One way or another.' was how they said it."
He knew this was coming, had told Christine on New Year's day. "You took that as an open threat."
"Of course." Nasir leaned back in his chair. "Bobby's already told Tom, so the police have been alerted. But we have to be ready when they come."
Erik nodded, his mouth set in a grim line. Somehow, he'd always known the day would come when his enemy would rise again. "I'll go see Ping Sai." He mentally started shuffling his day so he could get the work accomplished at the hospital that needed to be done and still have time to confront the man in Chinatown.
"No. That's too dangerous. I think it's best to wait until he approaches us. You know he will."
Nasir was right. Three years' time had done nothing to teach Ping Sai how to deal with the opposition, especially opposition like Erik. Dealing with the other gangs in Chinatown was one thing, but dealing with a man who'd done and been everything he'd done and been, was beyond the Tong leader's experience. "Very well, we'll wait. But when he does come, Nasir, he's mine." Erik's face was set. "You do whatever is necessary to protect the club and our people, but Ping Sai is mine."
. . . .
The attacks came that very week, nothing too serious, but enough to send a message. Fortunately, the assaults were aimed to damage property, not people. They struck before the club was open, when staff were setting up for the day. Nasir and Erik had prepared well and no one was hurt but the attacks were escalating. Sooner or later there would be injuries.
"We cannot allow this to continue," Erik said, looking at the two men sitting opposite his desk. Tom Walsh and Nasir had arrived at the architectural firm's offices just before he was closing up for the day. "What are you thinking?"
Walsh leaned forward. "I met with the Commissioner this afternoon. It's not just your club that's been the targets of these attacks. The violence is escalating rapidly across the city. We've got to break the hold and Nasir and I have come up with a plan we think will do the trick."
"What is it?"
"We're going to strike at the source." Nasir picked up the narrative. "I've been in touch with my friend in Sacramento. He's given me some valuable information that will allow us to strike at the heart of their operation."
"And I've coordinated with the Commissioner and several other precincts in the vicinity." Walsh continued. "We've received the same information as Nasir's friend, so we know it's legitimate. I've been working with this informant for over a year."
"And you trust him?"
Walsh and Nasir exchanged glances. "Ping Sai has threatened his family. We've arranged to get them out of San Francisco at the same time the raid takes place. He'll be there with me, so I can keep an eye on him."
"So you don't completely trust him?"
"I don't completely trust anyone anymore—with two exceptions." Walsh looked Erik in the eye. "I learned that from you."
"And what do you want from me?" Erik knew he'd be involved somehow. He'd just waited to see whether he was included in their plan or if he had to make arrangements of his own.
"We're raiding an opium shipment due on the docks tomorrow. I'll have men stationed at various locations on the dock." Walsh, pulled a notepad and pencil from the desk, roughly sketching out the placement of his men. "There'll also be guys in plain clothes along with the uniformed officers. We hope to be able to grab the shipment without too much trouble."
"And if there is trouble?" Erik asked, sitting back in his chair.
"Then we will handle it." Nasir said looking pointedly at Erik. "You remember I've done that, don't you?"
Erik nodded. He remembered. He'd been sent on assignment by the Shah. The information the Shah's spies had received was false. It was a trap and if not for the Daroga, he wouldn't have survived. It was the first time Nasir saved Erik's life, and it wasn't the last. No other words were necessary. "And what part do I play in this?"
"You're the distraction," Walsh said. "Nasir says there's already bad blood between you and Ping Sai. Your job will be to distract him. He never goes to the docks himself, but we need to make sure he's away from his base."
Erik set down the pencil he'd been using to sketch while they'd been talking. He considered the situation for a minute before speaking. "All right, I can do that."
"Good."
"If I'm to be the distraction." He picked up the pencil again, sketching absently on a different side of the paper. "What do you want me to do?"
"Arrange a meeting with Ping Sai. Insist that it's tomorrow night, just the two of you," Walsh spoke quickly. "Keep him occupied while we conduct the raid on the docks."
"How long will you need?"
"No more than half an hour," Nasir said. "We're finalizing timing tonight and I will let you know the exact time we need him out of the way. It will be after dark."
"All right. I'll arrange a meeting. If Ping Sai is as desperate as you say, he'll meet on my terms."
"Good." Walsh stood, shaking Erik's hand. "I've got to get to another meeting. I'll coordinate with Nasir and he can keep you up to date."
Nasir waited until Walsh was gone before turning to Erik. "You must be careful. There's a lot at stake here. More than just the club."
"I know." Erik said, turning his attention back to his sketch. "I'll take care of Ping Sai."
Glancing down at the paper, Nasir paled seeing a sketch of a black mask. "Erik. No."
Erik raised his head, allowing Nasir to see the cold anger burning in his eyes. "Do not try to stop me, Daroga. Do not."