“If only it were strong enough to suck me out of here.” She sighed, then smiled at Leslie. “What happened to all the gods you’ve been collecting?”

“It all comes to the same thing. They all reside inside you, in your Tan Tien.”

“Leslie, it’s called ‘the human spirit,’ and the Jews have had it since the beginning of time.” She paused. “At the end of the day, all we have to rely upon is ourselves.”

All through their drive to the airport, in the confines of the backseat of the Mercedes, Leslie balanced his brushes on his knees while maneuvering to keep them out of Lulu's reach. He clucked over Nola's skin. “Ach, Darling. What have you done, walked through the Gobi desert? You know you must properly nourish your skin for the makeup or it will reflect flashbulbs like a witch’s face.”

Self-conscious of putting on a mask to re-enter her stage life role, she avoided meeting Daniel's eyes in the mirror. But she had Tan Tien, and she would use it for all its worth. Jolted from her fifteen-year hibernation, the capable, self-reliant child who had braved a stormy young life had reawakened.

CHAPTER 26

CHAPTER 26

Daniel drove to the gated noncommercial airport terminal, designated for dignitaries and party officials.

“So perfectly egalitarian,” Leslie remarked. “So Commie.”

“Pull up to the curb here,” Nola instructed Daniel, pointing to the gathering of photographers and reporters. Roberta was nowhere in sight. “I’ll stay in front of the international media at all times. It will make it hard on the Chinese to renege on their agreement.” She halted. “I need them in case Mauriello’s deal is unacceptable, or even a trap.”

And it would make it harder for Wade to get Lulu, she thought as she saw him push through with the bodyguards. The dark circles under his eyes, treated by a cosmetic surgeon not long before, had reappeared. The enemy.

“Honey,” he said. As though nothing had transpired between them, he tried to plant a kiss on her cheek. She shrank back, aware that cameras chronicled her reaction. How would she get through five more concerts—or bear his presence for one minute?

“Will you sing tonight?” “Did you have a nervous breakdown?” “Will you go on with the tour?” The reporters’ questions hit her like darts. So much for keeping them in the dark.

“We’ll have the best concert ever tonight.” Wade’s teeth sparkled, and he waved like a politician. “Everything’s fine. Hope to see you all there.”

Nola lifted Lulu to the cameras. Lulu squinted at the popping flashlights and gurgled at the faces in front of her. Nola’s eyes darted about as she surveyed her surroundings, uncertain of what to expect. Yoram’s face was grim. His security personnel failed to make her feel safe.

Inside the terminal, Nola stopped before the massive teak-and-bamboo door to the VIP room. She steeled herself to meet Mauriello.