Chapter 0 - Jiya Khan

Jamir Khan wordlessly handed over a scrap of paper to Jiya, on which was scrawled in red the words WE KNOW ABOUT YOUR SISTER. It was scribbled large on multiple restaurant napkins, folded and smudged away, thankfully discovered when one of the staff opened shop for the day rather than by some customer later on. They had to throw out all the napkins; it was either that or painstakingly go through each one.

Jamir was clueless (or was he?) about the kinds of things Jiya had had to get up to in order steer their business to where it was today, a now mid-sized eatery in the Yau Ma Tei district, reminiscent of old Hong Kong vibes. Was this an escalation against the restaurant in general, or directly targeted at Jiya? Who was pushing back? Jamir stood there in the tiny back office when Jiya arrived as night descended, dinner service about to start, waiting for her response.

Jiya stared at the napkins, carefully keeping her face neutral as thoughts raced within her head. "Threats, this early in the evening?" She tried to smile disarmingly at her brother. "Oh, don't give me that look. It's just some disgruntled former staffer. Or that neighboring ma-and-pa place we ran out of business last month. Plenty of people with a grudge and a need to lash out. Don't worry about it, I'll handle it."

Like I always do. Jamir didn't ask much anymore about her 'side of the business', but her brother was no fool. He had to know it wasn't just luck that had turned the business around.

WE KNOW ABOUT YOUR SISTER. Well, there was quite a bit to know. She had written her own share of blackmail notes, enough to recognize one instinctively. But was this about things she had done? Or something more troubling...? A hungry, grumbling growl, not quite from her stomach, but from something more vile and bestial deep within, made itself known.

If this were blackmail, then it was cowardly of them not to have come directly at Jiya, but to circle round through her brother instead. What would be the point of that? It was true that Jiya's influence in the local underground was well-established. The Hong Kong triads had their turfs and rackets, and gang conflicts were fought in the shadows, sometimes spilling out into the open. But the triads largely observed their central code of honour, challenges where needed were properly issued, threats splashed on walls, not hidden in paper serviettes.

Unless this was a demand of a different kind, regarding her masquerade. Her family was in the dark (or were they?). Who would know, and why would they choose to come at her this way? If Jiya were patient, she would sit back and wait for the threats to escalate. But that would only put her family and their business in danger. She could hear the growl of the beast within, urging her to be proactive, to hunt rather than be hunted.

Jamir mulled over her reply with a sullen look on his face. "The new girl freaked out and wants to quit! We don't need you to bring more trouble. Make it go away."