“Th-thank you,” stuttered May. She felt an incredible sense of loss and sadness for the woman she didn’t know.
“What about him?” asked Tanner. “What happened to Jae-Hua?”
“He went to the monastery to give himself over to the monks. I worried he might harm himself, but he asked if I would give him a ride. He told me to sell all of their possessions and use it to help someone else.”
“And did you?” asked Hiro. The man stared at him as if to dare him to question his motives.
“I did. I gave the baby items to a mother in need, a farmer’s wife on the outskirts of town. The furniture I kept here, so that others would have no need to worry when they rent from me. Her clothing was donated to another young woman who is very poor.”
“Thank you for doing that,” said May. “Will they allow us to see him at the monastery?”
“Yes. He is free to have visitors, but he is a very sad man and one I suspect who is conflicted.”
“Conflicted?” frowned Tanner.
“I think he is trying to decide whether to remain at the monastery and accept a life of peace or to return to where he came from and exact a life of revenge and pain.”
“Damn.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
U-Jin opened his eyes, the light of the room illuminating everything. He’d slept much later than he’d planned. Trying to lift his head from the pillow, he grimaced at the stiffness and pain, then realized that at some point during the night, he must have bled through the bandage and was now sticking to the pillowcase.
Carefully, he peeled the fabric away, the stinging and burning causing him to seethe. Slowly, he sat up, a light-headed feeling overwhelming his body. He looked down, noticing that his clothing was soaked with perspiration, the sheets wet as well.
Standing, he steadied himself against the dresser, then moved slowly toward the bathroom. A knock at the door made him freeze.
“Housekeeping,” said the voice. Knowing he needed to have fresh linens, he opened the door.
“Come in.” The young woman looked up and down at him and backed up a step.
“I can return later if this is a bad time, sir.”
“No. I wasn’t feeling well last night. I hit my head and bled on the sheets. My apologies,” he said thoughtfully. “I’m going to shower. Please clean everything before I’m done.”
“Yes, sir.”
She propped the door open, then hurriedly removed the sheets, remaking the bed. She quickly emptied the trashcans, replaced the water bottles, and made sure everything was neat and tidy. By the time the man came out of the shower, he was wrapped in a large white towel.
“Thank you,” he said, nodding to her.
“Can I get you anything else, sir? Do you need me to get medical assistance for you?” she asked.
“No. I’m fine.”
“Of course, sir. Have a good day.”
He nodded at the woman, watching as she left. He didn’t like America and, for the most part, didn’t like Americans, but he found their service people to be quite pleasant and accommodating.
Watching the young woman leave the room, he realized it had been a long time since he’d had a woman. Keoyong had been foolish in trying to take the stripper the other night. He should have seen that no one else was touching the women.
In their country, such women would be fair game. If you want to be a whore, be a whore, but that comes with certain rights for the men watching you. Despite his pounding headache, he felt his balls tingling, his cock hardening and wondered where he could find a woman. As if answered by prayer, there was another knock on the door. He quickly wrapped the towel around his waist again and opened the door.
“My apologies, sir. I forgot to leave you fresh towels.” She stepped past him, smiling, and set the towels on the counter in the bathroom. As she moved back toward the door, he allowed his towel to fall. He wouldn’t touch the woman unless she touched him.
“Oh!” she laughed.
“I have a need.”