Present Day
She wasn't his favourite person. He liked her, a lot which was impressive considering in his own words he was not a man with many friends. She was a little too western for his taste sometimes but her wicked humor, formidable will and deep sense of respect were qualities he admired and Hao could admit there wasn't anyone who intrigued him more. Many people could flip between fire and water, women especially but few had centres as true to either, never mind both. And none had accomplished what she had. Not in the last few centuries anyway.
Tess Danvers.
The Dragon Woman.
Most likened her to a phoenix but while that was an understandable comparison the fire bird was not capable of the same destruction. It couldn't be. It did not possess the same rage. But Tess did. Her wrath rivalled that of the old gods and many considered her wangmei, an evil spirit, akin to demons, monsters and devils. Ghosts. He knew the truth, she just a woman, her blood ran red and her skin burned black. But it had been burned when it should not have been and by those who should not have dared to touch it. That debt had been paid now, Ang Feng had spent his last moments pleading for his life, a far cry from the cool respect he'd displayed when they'd first arrived or the vitriol he'd spoken with when he realized the purpose of their visit. It was not surprising, too much distance had made several forget that they were merely representatives of his and his associates power. Feng had not been the only one who'd needed to learn that lesson but they had made sure it would stick.
His eyes flicked to the man behind the wheel, Tao Zhu, the only of Feng's inner circle they had left alive, and only at Tess's request. The man had clearly been surprised by their arrival and rightly horrified by his former friends fates but he had not once spoke up on their behalf, or even questioned it. Not loyal to his boss but to the organization. The right kind of loyalty. The Dragon was right again. His eyes then slid to his cousin, Caishen, not just a trustworthy, reliable man but a true friend. So much that he, Chen and Jun had decided he would take over operations here, with his associates each choosing a man of their own to oversee Toronto and Los Angeles, two other cities who had become too restless. Hao knew he would do well in the position but it was going to be difficult no longer having him at his side, a place he had been for nearly as long as he could remember.
Based on how his sharp gaze began to furiously take in the underground garage Tao was driving them into he too was still getting used to the change. "How many of these does she have again?"
"Just this one. That we know of." Hao replied, sharing a look with him as Tao parked before they got out.
They were met by another man, American Chinese, and one of Tess's good friends. Benjamin Park. Word was he'd been a room service boy when she'd met him and had once used a serving platter to knock out an assassin trying to kill her. Before she'd found him… other employment.
"Gentlemen. This way please."
They followed him into the elevator, Caishen tensing slightly- he and Tess were on good terms, he was certain had been intimate at least once but this was the first time they were meeting her on her ground. Not that he was worried. If she'd been in the mood to cause trouble she would have dealt with Feng herself, and there still probably wouldn't have been many, if any consequences. Most knew it was better to be her friend than her enemy, because she was just as dedicated to both. She did tend to keep those relationships separate unless business required it, something he agreed with which was why he was surprised when they stepped out into her apartment and saw a man lounging with full familiarity against her island. With his hand wrapped intimately around her waist.
The infamous Ranger.
"Hao." Tess said warmly, casually stepping away from her partner and dipping her chin, an action he returned.
""Lóng nǚ. It is good to see you. You look well."
She gave him a dry smile before nodding at Caishen, her mouth sliding into a small smirk before she tossed something at Tao. A peach. The man immediately covered a smile but after his eyes flicked to him he slowly let it return, biting into it as he took a defensive stance by the elevator.
She had a true talent for reading people.
And a truly good soul.
He'd been in thousands of meetings like this and never once had he been so relaxed, so genuinely appreciative of the woman who sat across from them, on her couch, graciously pouring two cups of baijiu.
"How was your flight?"
"Pleasant. Business was even more so." He replied easily, directing his last comment to the man who sat next to her, silent but steady. "We haven't met. I'm-"
"Hao Tsin. And Caishen Li. And Tao." He said with a smile, a softer one for their unnecessary guard.
"And you're Jay Halstead."
The man straightened slightly and gave him a slow nod, his dark forest eyes meeting his squarely, not with any challenge but with clear promise.
He was her Ranger.
Her shãn.
"I am. Welcome to our city."