Chapter Three ~
The sun was beginning to set over the New York skyline as Diandra's private limo crossed the George Washington Bridge heading for the Four Seasons Hotel in downtown Manhattan. She, Tony, Terrence, and two other bodyguards; Jonny DiSilva and Darren Wilson rode the entire way in silence. The guards dared not to stare too long at their boss for she was not in the best mood. Just before they left her mansion for the party, Diandra received phone call from an associate in Milan, Italy. Whatever it was he told her had made her so upset that she hurled an expensive crystal vase into the red brick wall over the fireplace in the living room then shattered a cherry wood bench pieces by swinging it into a marble pillar. Needless to say, they had found their reason to stay out of her way at the party.
Diandra pulled her mirror compact out of her black evening bag and checked her make up. She smiled with satisfaction that her temper tantrum hadn't ruined her face. "What the f**k are you staring at, DiSilva?" she barked when she caught him looking at her.
"No-nothing, San Gi," he answered nervously. "I was just thinking about how nice you look in that dress, that's all."
"Oh, well thank you for the compliment," she calmly replied. "That bastard Mishima's got me all worked up."
Tony's eyes stretched a little when Diandra hinted at the source of her foul mood. He looked at the others as if to say, 'Whatever you do from this point on, do not, I repeat do not piss her off at all costs. Make her mad and you will pay dearly.'
The limo driver tapped on the window dividing the front from the back before letting it down. "Miss San Giacomo, we're here."
"Thanks, Frankie," she replied before he let the window back up. "Okay, guys, for your information I'm flying solo at this party. I'm sure Tony has informed you of my little surprise for Mishima."
They all nodded in agreement. "I want it clean. That means no fingerprints, absolutely nothing left behind that can be used as evidence if the police should decide to investigate. No slip-ups, one mistake on either of your parts; you're ass is mine. GOT IT!"
"Yes, ma'am," they all murmured as an usher opened the limo door. "Have fun, boys," she said as she got out. After adjusting the black floor- length, wrap dress she wore, Diandra closed the door and walked up the short flight of steps and went inside the hotel.
"Diandra's got a nice ass and all but she's mean as hell," Jonny remarked as he breathed a sigh of relief once his boss was out of sight. "I would be afraid to go to sleep after doing her."
"You're afraid she'll take your 'manhood', Jonny?" Tony chuckled.
"No, I'll be afraid that she'll kill me afterwards, you know, like the black widow spider. After the female mates with the male, she kills him either by poisoning or eating him."
Tony, Terry, and Darren busted out laughing at their comrade. "I'm serious, guys; I wouldn't put it past her. I look at this way: you sleep with her, you fall asleep in her arms, and then BOOM you've got a knife in your heart."
"Jonny, man, you've got quite an imagination," Terry said. "I believe you when you say San Gi would probably kill her lover, especially if he 'disappointed' her."
"Man, I already pity, Mishima. He doesn't know what kind of hell she has in store for him. If we were to place bets on this situation between her and Mishima, my money's on the boss-lady. There no way in Satan's f**king hell he's going to survive this encounter with the spawn of Satan."
"I have to agree with Jonny on this one," Tony said as he lit a cigarette. "If this turns into a bloodbath, it's gonna be Mishima's blood dripping from San Gi's hands."
~~~?~~~
Kazuya and Lee were standing near the entrance to the phone banks taking in the scenery. Kazuya kept his battered hand concealed in his pants' pocket for he didn't want anyone asking what had happened to it. 'If only I actually hit the f**king bitch,' he thought as he sipped on a glass of gin tonic. "Do you see Satan yet?" he finally asked Lee.
"The devil incarnate in a dress, no not yet. Considering what happened on that elevator today, I wouldn't be surprised is she doesn't bother to show up tonight," he replied. "But then again, Diandra San Giacomo is not you 'average' woman."
"Ain't that the truth," Kazuya mumbled under his breath. "I wouldn't be surprised if she does show up. Spiting me in any way she can only gives her the motivation to show up, Lee. It would make her night to say the least."
"I'm still trying to figure out what you did to her to make her hate you so much. What did you do, screw her on a one night stand then left without saying 'thank you' or 'goodbye'?"
He glared at his younger brother and Lee immediately got the message. "Okay, so you didn't screw her. Just a guess, I mean, I wouldn't blame you if you did. After all Diandra is one fine-assed woman. I definitely wouldn't mind a one-night stand with her."
"Speak of the devil, here she is in all her glory," Kazuya said when he saw Diandra make her entrance into the ballroom. The black wrap dress she had on fitted snugly to her figure, showing off every voluptuous curve of her body. The thigh high slit on the left side ended four inches below her hip showing plenty of leg. Her long jet hair was gathered up into a loose French pleat with locks of silky curls hanging about her lovely oval face to soften the style. Kazuya cocked his brow at her in disgust; to him she was nothing more than a virgin whore in designer clothing.
"Like what you see, brother," Lee asked him. "I must admit, I most definitely like what I see."
"Lee, you like anything in a skirt and anything that's says its female."
"I resent that, Kazuya. No wonder you can't seem to get a date."
"I don't need a woman to make me happy, unlike some people I know. All women are just cheap thrills that give you a temporary high while you kill time. They're nothing more than a distraction for the male mind."
"Kaz, you have a really twisted view of women, you know that."
Kazuya smirked slyly at Lee before he drained the rest of the gin from the glass. "Here, hold this. I see an opportunity I can't pass up."
'Why do I have the feeling that she's going to bitch slap him before the night is over?' Lee thought to himself as he watched his older brother disappear in the crowds, heading for a meeting with the devil herself.
~~~?~~~
Diandra was looking for her uncle when Kazuya walked up to her. Her eyes flickered with the intense hatred that had been burning deep within her soul for so long. He had a sheepish smile on his face as he looked down at her. "Go to hell, Mishima," she said in a low threatening voice as she stepped around him. Kazuya grabbed her by the shoulder and pulled her back. His touch was burning the bare skin of her shoulder. "Will you please remove your filthy hand from my shoulder? And I'm only asking once."
"Only if you would talk to me, it's very important," he whispered to her.
"What do you want this time?" Kazuya removed his hand from her shoulder as she folded her arms over her ample chest. "And you better make it worth my while before I start bitch slapping you all over the place."
"I would like to see you try that, San Gi," he muttered under his breath. "I suppose you've heard the news."
"What news?"
"About your uncle selling SG Pharmaceuticals to the Tekken Zaibatsu."
"Liar! He would never sell SG Pharmaceuticals without first consulting with me, Mishima. Even if it were true, the deal would never go through."
"I'm serious, Diandra," he said in a softly, gentle tone. "Benicio asked me if I was interested in buying out SG Pharmaceuticals. I told that I would have to think about it for a while."
"Bulls**t, if you expect me to believe that my own uncle would sell a part of my property to you, you have to be out of your f**king mind if you expect me to believe that bullcrap. Besides, he doesn't even own SG Pharmaceuticals, I do. I own the building, I hold the deed to the land its sits on, and I'm silent partner and financier to the business. Nice try, though."
"What if I told you that legally, I can take SG Pharmaceuticals from under you?"
"I would say don't waste your breath on a situation you can't win."
"All I have to do is call up the US Attorney's Office in Albany, tell them of your little mob enterprise, give them the evidence, and then watch and wait until after they seize all your properties, business, assets, and back accounts. One phone call, Diandra, and everything you own is mine."
Diandra narrowed her eyes as she stared right into those dark, obsidian eyes of her rival. "I'm calling your bluff, Mishima. You make that call and you can forget about living a life of peace and tranquility; because I'm gonna make your life a living hell. I'll make sure you never go to sleep both eyes closed, because fear and certain death will be your constant companions."
Kazuya leaned closed to Diandra's ear and whispered, "That we shall see about, San Gi. Don't forget, I know where you live also. You put a contract out on me and I will guarantee that you never sleep another day without looking over your shoulder."
"We'll see about that," she sneered as she stepped around him one more and walked away. A sinister smile of satisfaction played upon his lips as he watched her make her way through the crowds. Kazuya knew that he had struck a nerve with Diandra, he had succeeded in striking fear into the cold- hearted bitch for her eyes echoed the fear he had so longed sought out in her. She had played right into his hands, or was it the other way around?
~~~?~~~
Diandra immediately went into the ladies' room and after making sure that she was alone, she pulled out her cell phone and punched in the number to an associate in Milan. After several rings, a groggy male voice answered. "Mario, it's me, we've got a problem."
"What is it?" he replied in halting English. "Can we speak in Italian? You know how horrible my English is."
"Fine. I want you to find out why Mishima is doing business in Milan, Mario. He's hinting something and I want to know what it is."
"You must have seen him."
"I did, in fact Uncle Benicio invited him to a party, which I am attending at this moment. He threatened to call the US Attorney's Office on me, detailing my business dealings. Then I want you locate all the building and properties in and around Milan that belong to either the Tekken Zaibatsu or Mishima Syndicate; once you do, start destroying everything he owns. I want out of Milan and any other place in Italy he decides to set up shop."
"It's as good as done, Lady San Giacomo. One question, why is Benicio hanging around the bastard?"
"I don't know yet. Uncle Benni refers to Kazuya Mishima as a friend but what kind of friend? Do what you have to do find out any information on the Mishima Syndicate in Milan. Money is not a problem."
"Good deal, San Gi. It will give the boys something to do."
"Call me with whatever information you have on the Syndicate. Then tell the boys to get ready to have fun. And the most important thing is to leave no eyewitnesses and no evidence. The last thing I need is to have the Italian and US authorities on my ass. Got it?"
"Got it. And don't let that son of bitch spoil your fun at your uncle's party. Tell your Benicio and Helena hello for me, and if possible, bitch slap the bastard Mishima for me."
"I'll Aunt Helena and Uncle Benicio hello for you, Mario. But as for bitch slapping Mishima, I'll have to think about that one. I'm wearing a new dress and I don't want to ruin it, but if the opportunity should present itself, maybe. You have a goodnight, Mario."
"And you have a pleasant night, boss lady."
Diandra ended the call and tucked her phone back into her purse. She then pulled out her compact and powdered her nose and forehead. Her confrontation with Kazuya caused her nose and forehead to shine. After calming herself down, she exited the ladies room and rejoined the party.
~~~?~~~
It was almost nightfall by the time Tony, Terry, Jonny, Darren, and a few others finished wiring the explosives to the warehouse on Shanghai Avenue. As Terry set the charges, the others stood guard watching for signs of the Syndicate's guards. "All set," Terry said as he stood up. "Now all we have to do is take the detonator back to San Gi. I think she'll get a kick out of doing it herself."
"She will be most pleased," Tony concurred. "Let's get out of here before anyone sees us."
The four guards for the San Giacomo mob climbed back into the waiting limo and rode off into the night.
~~~?~~~
Kazuya watched from a distance while Diandra talked and laughed with various guests at the party. He had to admit that she was a gorgeous woman but still she was too hot-blooded for his taste. For a brief moment their eyes met, the fires of hatred were still smoldering in her eyes. 'I'll own you one day, Diandra. I'll be the master to whom you bow.'
A few moments later, something else caught his attention. Four men dressed in black walked into the ballroom and went straight to the table to where Diandra San Giacomo was sitting. One of them leaned and whispered something to her and almost immediately got up and walked into an adjacent room. "What the f**k?" he muttered as he motioned for Lee to come over. "Who where those guys talking to Diandra?" he asked Lee.
"I recognized two of them as Tony Lucci and Terrence McMahan, members of her security detail. The others are unknown to me."
"Find out what they're up to. Their presence here disturbs me, and knowing San Gi, she's probably plotting something that involves me."
~~~?~~~
The lounge was empty as Tony led Diandra to a table in the corner with a laptop computer set up. Jonny pulled the chair out for her as she sat down. Tony then handed her a pen, a pen with a red button on top. The detonator. "Excellent picture," she commented as she looked at the crystal-clear picture of the warehouse on the screen.
"Which would you rather have?" Terry asked her. "A single view or the four- split screen view?"
"Put it on the four-split view. I want to enjoy this moment from all possible angles."
"There you go," he replied, the screen set to four views. The warehouse was visible from the front, back, and both sides. On the right-hand corner of the screen, the timer read 1 min and 10 sec until she could press the button. A twisted smile came to her lips as she watched the counter go down to zero.
"Sayonara, warehouse 24," she said as she pressed the button. A minute later, the screens were filled with a fireball as the warehouse went up in flames. Pieces of debris were falling from the sky as smoke and fire filled the screens as the warehouse burned to the ground. "TNT for the brain," she then said as she handed the detonator back to Tony. "Thank you, I feel much better now."
"Feel better about what?" a deep male voice asked from the shadows of the lounge. It was Lee Chaolan.
"What the f**k do you think you're doing hiding in the shadows like a coward, Chaolan?" Diandra calmly asked him. Her bodyguards immediately backed up for they knew that things were about to turn ugly, very ugly. They often referred to her calmness as 'the calm before the catch-hell storm. She got up from her seat and walked over to the empty bar where Lee was standing. He didn't know whether to be angry or scared of the five-nine and a half belladonna as she stood only inches from him. "Your brother must have sent you to spy on me, Lee. It's just like you to jump like his little bitch whenever he calls."
"You're a bold bitch yourself, Diandra. I've never met a woman as sneaky and conniving as you."
Lee froze suddenly for Diandra had planted the spike heel of her shoe into his foot, causing him to wince slightly in pain. "What's the matter, Lee? Does your foot hurt?" she asked as she dug her heel deeper and deeper into the top of his foot. "You find dangerous women like myself appealing, don't you?"
He gulped as he answered yes. She then put her hands on his chest and slid them up to his broad shoulders. "Nice build, Chaolan, only one problem."
"What's that?"
"You're not man enough for me. In fact, you would be my bitch. I would be the daddy and you would be my bitch." Her heel pressed even deeper into his leather covered foot. "Now, I want you to relay a message to that asshole you call a brother. Tell him to go to Shanghai Avenue tonight and there he will find a surprise courteous of me. ." Lee felt himself becoming aroused by Diandra. His body ached with the sado- masochist desire to be punished by her but he wouldn't let her know that she was getting to him. He now saw why men were afraid of her; she was a threat to every man's sexuality. In her world, submission was the key to her dominating pleasure. "Um, San Gi, would you please quit digging your heel into my foot? You're-you're."
"I'm hurting you? Of course, where are my manners?" She then drove her heel hard into his foot causing Lee to whimper in pain. Drawing his head down to her, she whispered seductively in his ear, "Give your bastard brother my message." After releasing him from her grasp, Lee limped out the lounge. Diandra smiled smugly as she turned to face her guards. They were all shivering in fear as she walked back over to them. After telling them to go back to the limo, she walked out the lounge and returned to the party.
"That is one sick and twisted bitch," Tony remarked.
"I agree with you on that one," Darren replied.
Terry and Jonny nodded in agreement with their colleagues. They all felt a little sorry for Lee for they knew from personal experience that being a man in Diandra San Giacomo's world was both sexually humiliating and intimidating.
~~~?~~~
Lee was fuming by the time he got back to where Kazuya was sitting. "What's wrong with you?" Kazuya asked his brother as he sat down in the chair beside him.
"That sadist bitch dug her spike heel into my foot then stomped on it. I have never met a woman who finds it amusing to torture others. Next time you want to find out what's she's up to, you go do it yourself."
Kazuya suppressed a smile as he watched as his brother mumbled in pain. He had to admit that the woman had plenty of moxie to spare. "Oh, and also, she called me your bitch and told me to tell you that she left a surprise for you on Shanghai Avenue."
"What kind of surprise?"
"I don't know and I really don't care. All I know is that the bitch has one mean stomp. She must have put weights in her shoes before she came here tonight."
"Here," Kazuya said as he pushed a packet of cigarettes across the table to him, "for all your trouble and pain and suffering."
"Like that's gonna ease my pain," he mumbled under his breathe as he took the cigarettes and tucked them into his coat pocket.
"Come on, we're leaving. I'm a little curious as to what Diandra left for me in Chinatown."
Kazuya and Lee discreetly left the party, heading for the limo bound for Chinatown.
The sun was beginning to set over the New York skyline as Diandra's private limo crossed the George Washington Bridge heading for the Four Seasons Hotel in downtown Manhattan. She, Tony, Terrence, and two other bodyguards; Jonny DiSilva and Darren Wilson rode the entire way in silence. The guards dared not to stare too long at their boss for she was not in the best mood. Just before they left her mansion for the party, Diandra received phone call from an associate in Milan, Italy. Whatever it was he told her had made her so upset that she hurled an expensive crystal vase into the red brick wall over the fireplace in the living room then shattered a cherry wood bench pieces by swinging it into a marble pillar. Needless to say, they had found their reason to stay out of her way at the party.
Diandra pulled her mirror compact out of her black evening bag and checked her make up. She smiled with satisfaction that her temper tantrum hadn't ruined her face. "What the f**k are you staring at, DiSilva?" she barked when she caught him looking at her.
"No-nothing, San Gi," he answered nervously. "I was just thinking about how nice you look in that dress, that's all."
"Oh, well thank you for the compliment," she calmly replied. "That bastard Mishima's got me all worked up."
Tony's eyes stretched a little when Diandra hinted at the source of her foul mood. He looked at the others as if to say, 'Whatever you do from this point on, do not, I repeat do not piss her off at all costs. Make her mad and you will pay dearly.'
The limo driver tapped on the window dividing the front from the back before letting it down. "Miss San Giacomo, we're here."
"Thanks, Frankie," she replied before he let the window back up. "Okay, guys, for your information I'm flying solo at this party. I'm sure Tony has informed you of my little surprise for Mishima."
They all nodded in agreement. "I want it clean. That means no fingerprints, absolutely nothing left behind that can be used as evidence if the police should decide to investigate. No slip-ups, one mistake on either of your parts; you're ass is mine. GOT IT!"
"Yes, ma'am," they all murmured as an usher opened the limo door. "Have fun, boys," she said as she got out. After adjusting the black floor- length, wrap dress she wore, Diandra closed the door and walked up the short flight of steps and went inside the hotel.
"Diandra's got a nice ass and all but she's mean as hell," Jonny remarked as he breathed a sigh of relief once his boss was out of sight. "I would be afraid to go to sleep after doing her."
"You're afraid she'll take your 'manhood', Jonny?" Tony chuckled.
"No, I'll be afraid that she'll kill me afterwards, you know, like the black widow spider. After the female mates with the male, she kills him either by poisoning or eating him."
Tony, Terry, and Darren busted out laughing at their comrade. "I'm serious, guys; I wouldn't put it past her. I look at this way: you sleep with her, you fall asleep in her arms, and then BOOM you've got a knife in your heart."
"Jonny, man, you've got quite an imagination," Terry said. "I believe you when you say San Gi would probably kill her lover, especially if he 'disappointed' her."
"Man, I already pity, Mishima. He doesn't know what kind of hell she has in store for him. If we were to place bets on this situation between her and Mishima, my money's on the boss-lady. There no way in Satan's f**king hell he's going to survive this encounter with the spawn of Satan."
"I have to agree with Jonny on this one," Tony said as he lit a cigarette. "If this turns into a bloodbath, it's gonna be Mishima's blood dripping from San Gi's hands."
~~~?~~~
Kazuya and Lee were standing near the entrance to the phone banks taking in the scenery. Kazuya kept his battered hand concealed in his pants' pocket for he didn't want anyone asking what had happened to it. 'If only I actually hit the f**king bitch,' he thought as he sipped on a glass of gin tonic. "Do you see Satan yet?" he finally asked Lee.
"The devil incarnate in a dress, no not yet. Considering what happened on that elevator today, I wouldn't be surprised is she doesn't bother to show up tonight," he replied. "But then again, Diandra San Giacomo is not you 'average' woman."
"Ain't that the truth," Kazuya mumbled under his breath. "I wouldn't be surprised if she does show up. Spiting me in any way she can only gives her the motivation to show up, Lee. It would make her night to say the least."
"I'm still trying to figure out what you did to her to make her hate you so much. What did you do, screw her on a one night stand then left without saying 'thank you' or 'goodbye'?"
He glared at his younger brother and Lee immediately got the message. "Okay, so you didn't screw her. Just a guess, I mean, I wouldn't blame you if you did. After all Diandra is one fine-assed woman. I definitely wouldn't mind a one-night stand with her."
"Speak of the devil, here she is in all her glory," Kazuya said when he saw Diandra make her entrance into the ballroom. The black wrap dress she had on fitted snugly to her figure, showing off every voluptuous curve of her body. The thigh high slit on the left side ended four inches below her hip showing plenty of leg. Her long jet hair was gathered up into a loose French pleat with locks of silky curls hanging about her lovely oval face to soften the style. Kazuya cocked his brow at her in disgust; to him she was nothing more than a virgin whore in designer clothing.
"Like what you see, brother," Lee asked him. "I must admit, I most definitely like what I see."
"Lee, you like anything in a skirt and anything that's says its female."
"I resent that, Kazuya. No wonder you can't seem to get a date."
"I don't need a woman to make me happy, unlike some people I know. All women are just cheap thrills that give you a temporary high while you kill time. They're nothing more than a distraction for the male mind."
"Kaz, you have a really twisted view of women, you know that."
Kazuya smirked slyly at Lee before he drained the rest of the gin from the glass. "Here, hold this. I see an opportunity I can't pass up."
'Why do I have the feeling that she's going to bitch slap him before the night is over?' Lee thought to himself as he watched his older brother disappear in the crowds, heading for a meeting with the devil herself.
~~~?~~~
Diandra was looking for her uncle when Kazuya walked up to her. Her eyes flickered with the intense hatred that had been burning deep within her soul for so long. He had a sheepish smile on his face as he looked down at her. "Go to hell, Mishima," she said in a low threatening voice as she stepped around him. Kazuya grabbed her by the shoulder and pulled her back. His touch was burning the bare skin of her shoulder. "Will you please remove your filthy hand from my shoulder? And I'm only asking once."
"Only if you would talk to me, it's very important," he whispered to her.
"What do you want this time?" Kazuya removed his hand from her shoulder as she folded her arms over her ample chest. "And you better make it worth my while before I start bitch slapping you all over the place."
"I would like to see you try that, San Gi," he muttered under his breath. "I suppose you've heard the news."
"What news?"
"About your uncle selling SG Pharmaceuticals to the Tekken Zaibatsu."
"Liar! He would never sell SG Pharmaceuticals without first consulting with me, Mishima. Even if it were true, the deal would never go through."
"I'm serious, Diandra," he said in a softly, gentle tone. "Benicio asked me if I was interested in buying out SG Pharmaceuticals. I told that I would have to think about it for a while."
"Bulls**t, if you expect me to believe that my own uncle would sell a part of my property to you, you have to be out of your f**king mind if you expect me to believe that bullcrap. Besides, he doesn't even own SG Pharmaceuticals, I do. I own the building, I hold the deed to the land its sits on, and I'm silent partner and financier to the business. Nice try, though."
"What if I told you that legally, I can take SG Pharmaceuticals from under you?"
"I would say don't waste your breath on a situation you can't win."
"All I have to do is call up the US Attorney's Office in Albany, tell them of your little mob enterprise, give them the evidence, and then watch and wait until after they seize all your properties, business, assets, and back accounts. One phone call, Diandra, and everything you own is mine."
Diandra narrowed her eyes as she stared right into those dark, obsidian eyes of her rival. "I'm calling your bluff, Mishima. You make that call and you can forget about living a life of peace and tranquility; because I'm gonna make your life a living hell. I'll make sure you never go to sleep both eyes closed, because fear and certain death will be your constant companions."
Kazuya leaned closed to Diandra's ear and whispered, "That we shall see about, San Gi. Don't forget, I know where you live also. You put a contract out on me and I will guarantee that you never sleep another day without looking over your shoulder."
"We'll see about that," she sneered as she stepped around him one more and walked away. A sinister smile of satisfaction played upon his lips as he watched her make her way through the crowds. Kazuya knew that he had struck a nerve with Diandra, he had succeeded in striking fear into the cold- hearted bitch for her eyes echoed the fear he had so longed sought out in her. She had played right into his hands, or was it the other way around?
~~~?~~~
Diandra immediately went into the ladies' room and after making sure that she was alone, she pulled out her cell phone and punched in the number to an associate in Milan. After several rings, a groggy male voice answered. "Mario, it's me, we've got a problem."
"What is it?" he replied in halting English. "Can we speak in Italian? You know how horrible my English is."
"Fine. I want you to find out why Mishima is doing business in Milan, Mario. He's hinting something and I want to know what it is."
"You must have seen him."
"I did, in fact Uncle Benicio invited him to a party, which I am attending at this moment. He threatened to call the US Attorney's Office on me, detailing my business dealings. Then I want you locate all the building and properties in and around Milan that belong to either the Tekken Zaibatsu or Mishima Syndicate; once you do, start destroying everything he owns. I want out of Milan and any other place in Italy he decides to set up shop."
"It's as good as done, Lady San Giacomo. One question, why is Benicio hanging around the bastard?"
"I don't know yet. Uncle Benni refers to Kazuya Mishima as a friend but what kind of friend? Do what you have to do find out any information on the Mishima Syndicate in Milan. Money is not a problem."
"Good deal, San Gi. It will give the boys something to do."
"Call me with whatever information you have on the Syndicate. Then tell the boys to get ready to have fun. And the most important thing is to leave no eyewitnesses and no evidence. The last thing I need is to have the Italian and US authorities on my ass. Got it?"
"Got it. And don't let that son of bitch spoil your fun at your uncle's party. Tell your Benicio and Helena hello for me, and if possible, bitch slap the bastard Mishima for me."
"I'll Aunt Helena and Uncle Benicio hello for you, Mario. But as for bitch slapping Mishima, I'll have to think about that one. I'm wearing a new dress and I don't want to ruin it, but if the opportunity should present itself, maybe. You have a goodnight, Mario."
"And you have a pleasant night, boss lady."
Diandra ended the call and tucked her phone back into her purse. She then pulled out her compact and powdered her nose and forehead. Her confrontation with Kazuya caused her nose and forehead to shine. After calming herself down, she exited the ladies room and rejoined the party.
~~~?~~~
It was almost nightfall by the time Tony, Terry, Jonny, Darren, and a few others finished wiring the explosives to the warehouse on Shanghai Avenue. As Terry set the charges, the others stood guard watching for signs of the Syndicate's guards. "All set," Terry said as he stood up. "Now all we have to do is take the detonator back to San Gi. I think she'll get a kick out of doing it herself."
"She will be most pleased," Tony concurred. "Let's get out of here before anyone sees us."
The four guards for the San Giacomo mob climbed back into the waiting limo and rode off into the night.
~~~?~~~
Kazuya watched from a distance while Diandra talked and laughed with various guests at the party. He had to admit that she was a gorgeous woman but still she was too hot-blooded for his taste. For a brief moment their eyes met, the fires of hatred were still smoldering in her eyes. 'I'll own you one day, Diandra. I'll be the master to whom you bow.'
A few moments later, something else caught his attention. Four men dressed in black walked into the ballroom and went straight to the table to where Diandra San Giacomo was sitting. One of them leaned and whispered something to her and almost immediately got up and walked into an adjacent room. "What the f**k?" he muttered as he motioned for Lee to come over. "Who where those guys talking to Diandra?" he asked Lee.
"I recognized two of them as Tony Lucci and Terrence McMahan, members of her security detail. The others are unknown to me."
"Find out what they're up to. Their presence here disturbs me, and knowing San Gi, she's probably plotting something that involves me."
~~~?~~~
The lounge was empty as Tony led Diandra to a table in the corner with a laptop computer set up. Jonny pulled the chair out for her as she sat down. Tony then handed her a pen, a pen with a red button on top. The detonator. "Excellent picture," she commented as she looked at the crystal-clear picture of the warehouse on the screen.
"Which would you rather have?" Terry asked her. "A single view or the four- split screen view?"
"Put it on the four-split view. I want to enjoy this moment from all possible angles."
"There you go," he replied, the screen set to four views. The warehouse was visible from the front, back, and both sides. On the right-hand corner of the screen, the timer read 1 min and 10 sec until she could press the button. A twisted smile came to her lips as she watched the counter go down to zero.
"Sayonara, warehouse 24," she said as she pressed the button. A minute later, the screens were filled with a fireball as the warehouse went up in flames. Pieces of debris were falling from the sky as smoke and fire filled the screens as the warehouse burned to the ground. "TNT for the brain," she then said as she handed the detonator back to Tony. "Thank you, I feel much better now."
"Feel better about what?" a deep male voice asked from the shadows of the lounge. It was Lee Chaolan.
"What the f**k do you think you're doing hiding in the shadows like a coward, Chaolan?" Diandra calmly asked him. Her bodyguards immediately backed up for they knew that things were about to turn ugly, very ugly. They often referred to her calmness as 'the calm before the catch-hell storm. She got up from her seat and walked over to the empty bar where Lee was standing. He didn't know whether to be angry or scared of the five-nine and a half belladonna as she stood only inches from him. "Your brother must have sent you to spy on me, Lee. It's just like you to jump like his little bitch whenever he calls."
"You're a bold bitch yourself, Diandra. I've never met a woman as sneaky and conniving as you."
Lee froze suddenly for Diandra had planted the spike heel of her shoe into his foot, causing him to wince slightly in pain. "What's the matter, Lee? Does your foot hurt?" she asked as she dug her heel deeper and deeper into the top of his foot. "You find dangerous women like myself appealing, don't you?"
He gulped as he answered yes. She then put her hands on his chest and slid them up to his broad shoulders. "Nice build, Chaolan, only one problem."
"What's that?"
"You're not man enough for me. In fact, you would be my bitch. I would be the daddy and you would be my bitch." Her heel pressed even deeper into his leather covered foot. "Now, I want you to relay a message to that asshole you call a brother. Tell him to go to Shanghai Avenue tonight and there he will find a surprise courteous of me. ." Lee felt himself becoming aroused by Diandra. His body ached with the sado- masochist desire to be punished by her but he wouldn't let her know that she was getting to him. He now saw why men were afraid of her; she was a threat to every man's sexuality. In her world, submission was the key to her dominating pleasure. "Um, San Gi, would you please quit digging your heel into my foot? You're-you're."
"I'm hurting you? Of course, where are my manners?" She then drove her heel hard into his foot causing Lee to whimper in pain. Drawing his head down to her, she whispered seductively in his ear, "Give your bastard brother my message." After releasing him from her grasp, Lee limped out the lounge. Diandra smiled smugly as she turned to face her guards. They were all shivering in fear as she walked back over to them. After telling them to go back to the limo, she walked out the lounge and returned to the party.
"That is one sick and twisted bitch," Tony remarked.
"I agree with you on that one," Darren replied.
Terry and Jonny nodded in agreement with their colleagues. They all felt a little sorry for Lee for they knew from personal experience that being a man in Diandra San Giacomo's world was both sexually humiliating and intimidating.
~~~?~~~
Lee was fuming by the time he got back to where Kazuya was sitting. "What's wrong with you?" Kazuya asked his brother as he sat down in the chair beside him.
"That sadist bitch dug her spike heel into my foot then stomped on it. I have never met a woman who finds it amusing to torture others. Next time you want to find out what's she's up to, you go do it yourself."
Kazuya suppressed a smile as he watched as his brother mumbled in pain. He had to admit that the woman had plenty of moxie to spare. "Oh, and also, she called me your bitch and told me to tell you that she left a surprise for you on Shanghai Avenue."
"What kind of surprise?"
"I don't know and I really don't care. All I know is that the bitch has one mean stomp. She must have put weights in her shoes before she came here tonight."
"Here," Kazuya said as he pushed a packet of cigarettes across the table to him, "for all your trouble and pain and suffering."
"Like that's gonna ease my pain," he mumbled under his breathe as he took the cigarettes and tucked them into his coat pocket.
"Come on, we're leaving. I'm a little curious as to what Diandra left for me in Chinatown."
Kazuya and Lee discreetly left the party, heading for the limo bound for Chinatown.