Passing through the security gate, Lữ saw smoke rising from the spot where his Jaguar had been parked; debris from the car's chassis was scattered everywhere. The assistant guard ran up to him, on the verge of tears:

"John is dead! He was killed when he drove your car—it exploded!"

Lữ said nothing; his lips were pressed into a tight line. John had died in his place. Had the Jaguar’s brakes not failed, Lữ would have been the one blown to bits the moment he started the engine. He knew instantly who was behind the plot to kill him: Vấn.
 
Vấn had collaborated with the Chinese Triads to plant a bomb in the car—retaliation for Lữ hiring Montello to take a shot at him on the San Diego Freeway. He could not underestimate this man. Vấn had survived a Mafia hit attempt, deduced the connection between Triệu Tôn and the Triads, and knew how to leverage that criminal organization to strike back at Lữ. Vấn was far more cunning and resourceful than Lữ had imagined.

Lữ dialed Uyên’s number on his cell phone. He realized immediately that the story about her being in the hospital had been a ruse to lure him into driving the booby-trapped car. Her voice on the other end sounded normal:

"What is it, Lữ?"

Lữ replied:

"My car was blown up by a bomb. I’m fine, but the guard who drove it for me was killed."

Uyên sounded panicked:

"What are you saying? Who planted a bomb in your car? Are you really unhurt?"

Lữ reassured her:

"I was lucky enough to switch to the Mercedes instead of the Jaguar, so I’m safe. It’s just a tragedy that John died in my place. Stay inside and don't open the door for anyone. I’m coming over right now."

He hung up, thinking about how Uyên was facing the same threats he was. He had to find a way to deal with the situation and protect her immediately.

Lữ got into his car and drove out of the condo complex. He began to hear the wail of police sirens. He needed to get Uyên out of the house and to a secure, discreet location as a precaution; he couldn't afford to linger. The police would soon be questioning everyone and investigating the car bombing. He would deal with the official statement later, alongside Kim.

As Lữ drove toward Uyên’s house, his mind raced over the car bombing orchestrated by Vấn and the Triad. Given the power wielded by this Chinese mafia group, Vấn had transformed into a dangerous enemy and a formidable adversary. His immediate priority was for him and Uyên to go underground, denying the Triad another opportunity like the recent bombing.
 
It wouldn't take long for them to realize he hadn't been inside the Jaguar—that the assassination attempt had failed. He needed to move Uyên somewhere they couldn't be tracked down. Furthermore, he needed Montello’s help now more than ever to counter this threat.

Lữ pulled out a cigarette and lit it. He hadn't smoked in a long time, as both Kim and Uyên disapproved, but in these perilous, trying moments, he felt he needed the smoke to help him think and formulate a plan. Vấn had undoubtedly briefed the Triad on Triệu Tôn’s death and the partnership agreement regarding the inheritance of a partner's share upon their demise.
 
The plot to kill him was about more than just revenge; it was a scheme to seize the assets of the VietCal Partnership. Lữ saw Vấn’s calculations clearly: once he and Uyên were eliminated, Vấn would inherit everything, as he remained Uyên’s legal husband on paper.

Vấn had surely promised the Triad a cut of the profits, motivating them to assist in taking him out. Lữ regretted having been so overconfident and having underestimated Vấn so badly. The cuckolded husband—vile and despicable though he was—possessed far more ingenuity and cunning than Lữ had imagined. The tide had turned; the man was gaining the upper hand, aided by the Triad in his plot to bring Lữ down.
 
Lữ realized he needed to be even more cautious and shrewd in this life-or-death struggle. It was a hard-learned lesson—the price he paid for underestimating his foe and for the arrogance that had grown alongside his unbroken string of successes in recent years.

Lữ gave a grim, sardonic laugh. He would be more careful, certainly, but his enemies would not escape. They would taste the vengeance he was preparing to unleash—a retribution that was fully deserved, and a punishment magnified tenfold, a hundredfold, beyond the harm they had inflicted upon him.

 
Chapter 47
 
Lữ pulled up in front of Uyên’s house. She rushed out, threw her arms around him, and asked anxiously:

"Are you okay? What happened with the car explosion, Lữ?"

Lữ guided her into the house and urged:

"I’m fine! Go change and pack a bag—we need to leave right away. You shouldn't stay here; it’s too dangerous."

Uyên pulled away slightly:

"Why am I in danger? Why do I have to leave my home?"

Lữ replied:

"I’m certain that Vấn and the Triads were behind the car bomb meant to kill me. They could come here to harm you at any moment."
 
Uyên asked fearfully:

"Do you really think Vấn would do something like that?"

Lữ nodded:

"I’m sure he’s lost his mind. It’s one thing for him to want me dead, but I’m worried that because of the Triads' involvement, you’re at risk too—especially regarding the partnership's assets."

Uyên stammered:

"You mean Vấn is using the Triads to kill you—and then me—so he can seize all the assets from our partnership?"

Lữ kissed her gently on the lips:

"That’s just my guess. But as long as I’m with you, no one can hurt you. Still, hurry up and get ready! We need to find somewhere else to stay."

Uyên stood on her tiptoes and pressed her lips firmly against his:

"As long as I’m close to you, I’m not afraid of anything! I’ll go pack right now."

Lữ sat on the sofa, lit a cigarette, and waited for her. He felt his hunch was right. Vấn was a despicable man; he wouldn't forgive Uyên for her betrayal, especially with such a huge fortune at stake. People have killed—even their own wives and children—for just a few tens of thousands of dollars, let alone the nearly ten-million-dollar fortune Lữ and Uyên currently held.
 
Lữ put himself in Vấn’s shoes and imagined what the other man might do. He wanted to anticipate Vấn’s next moves and counter the schemes Vấn was devising. Lữ had underestimated his adversary in the past; now, he realized he needed to be more cautious and treat the situation as a contest between equals in terms of cunning and strategy.

Uyên appeared at the foot of the stairs, carrying a small suitcase. The look of fear was gone from her face. The prospect of staying with Lữ—walking by his side and relying on him for protection—made her eyes sparkle. She seemed as excited and intrigued as a young girl running away from home with a lover. She smiled:

"I'm all set! Where are we going to hide?"

Lữ took the suitcase from her:

"We’ll stay at the Hilton for a few days, then move to another hotel. I don't want them to know where we're permanently based."
 
Lữ walked her out to the car. He needed to check into the hotel and contact Montello immediately—there was no time to lose. The dynamic had shifted; Lữ and Uyên had gone from hunters to prey on the run. He had to turn the tables and hunt Vấn down. To deal with the Triad, he would need to leverage the influence of Al Montello and the Los Angeles Mafia family.

° ° °

Lữ called Sơn from the hotel. He told him about the bomb planted in the Jaguar and how he had narrowly escaped death by switching cars just in time. Lữ instructed him:

"Go to my office and handle all the partnership matters for me. Uyên and I will only stay at this hotel for a night or two before moving elsewhere until things cool down. I don't want them tracking us. The Triad is powerful here and might have wiretaps in place, so I won't be calling you often. If anything comes up, call me on my cell phone."
 
Sơn asked Lữ:

"How do you want me to explain your absence? I can handle the tasks that don't require your personal touch, but there are some groups that will only deal with you. What should I tell them?"

Lữ thought for a moment:

"Just tell them I’ve gone to Europe on business and won't be back for another two or three weeks. As for the ones who refuse to deal with you—forget them; tell them to come back later!"

Sơn warned:

"You have to be careful. The Triads are ruthless. They have henchmen everywhere, even in the hotels. You’ve got your gun with you, right? Call me immediately if you need anything. I’m sick of the gun life, but I can't seem to shake it. That Beretta you bought me back then is still right here, in perfect condition!"

Lữ smiled and hung up. Sơn was like a saint, yet he was still ready to charge into the line of fire just as they had done together back in the Trường Sơn mountains. He had bought Sơn that Beretta two years ago as a mere trinket, never imagining they would ever need to touch a weapon again. But circumstances forced him to revert to his old self—a man who treated life and death like a joke and for whom gunfire was a daily staple.

Uyên stepped out of the bathroom, a towel draped loosely around her. Her eyes sparkled in her radiant face, and her body seemed to radiate a scorching heat. She let the towel drop and moved toward him. The danger of the chase thrilled her even more than the prospect of getting rich had two years ago.
 
Uyên was grateful to Vấn and the Triads; without them, Lữ would never be with her day and night like this, allowing her insatiable desires to be fulfilled so completely and exquisitely—just as they were in this very moment.