Total pages in book: 118
Estimated words: 120336 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 602(@200wpm)___ 481(@250wpm)___ 401(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 120336 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 602(@200wpm)___ 481(@250wpm)___ 401(@300wpm)
I glanced back to see Leo now on the last branch, getting ready to jump to the ground. Thank God, the crow came for him, delaying his descent a little more.
Movement caught me on the side.
Dima rose from his seat nearby. He moved with an eerie calmness, unbuttoning his jacket and letting it fall to the ground in one fluid motion.
I blinked.
The sight of him standing there, his shirt sleeves rolled up, his phone still in his hand, sent a shiver down my spine.
Aunt Min’s voice cut through the chaotic noise. “This is wrong, Song! You know it is!”
I turned just in time to see Aunt Min stand.
Aunt Suzi mirrored her stance.
“I don’t need your judgment.” Song rose, yet his hands twitched at his sides, as though ready to strike if provoked. “You know the plan. This is about legacy.”
“The poison wasn’t a part of the plan!” Aunt Min moved in closer. “You’re letting Leo do this? After everything? How many more lives does he have to destroy before you open your eyes?”
Before Song could respond, Aunt Min attacked him, driving her elbow into his gut. He doubled over.
Then, she slammed her fist into the back of his head.
Oh shit!
Song’s monks surged forward from the sidelines, and Aunt Suzi headed their way and instantly took on two monks at once.
Oh God!
The scene was pandemonium.
Bodies collided.
Fists flew.
People either raced away or screamed in horror.
“No!” Chen grabbed my attention and held my arm tighter. “We don’t have time for this, Rowe Street Mob!”
I barely had time to process what was happening before Marcelo and Gunner charged at Chen.
Oh shit!
Unlike Duck, Chen didn’t have the luxury of letting me go.
“That’s enough!” Chen shifted his hold on me and locked one arm around my waist, anchoring me to him, while his free hand lashed out like a deadly whip. His fist connected with Marcelo’s jaw.
The impact sent a jarring crack through the air.
Marcelo stumbled and clutched his face like it was the worst hit he’d ever imagined. And that was saying something since Marcelo boxed for years.
Still, that didn’t stop Gunner.
He charged for Chen.
“I said stay back!” Chen barked. “I don’t have time to play nice with you today, Gunner. I will kill you.”
I blinked.
Gunner didn’t listen. He ducked low, aiming for Chen’s legs, but Chen shifted his weight at the last second, using the momentum to swing me around in a dizzying arc.
Ahh!
My stomach lurched as we twirled away, the world blurring around me, and then Chen planted his feet right behind Gunnar.
How the hell did we get over here so fast?
Chen delivered a vicious kick to Gunner’s side.
The force sent Gunner sprawling several feet forward, into Leo’s seated monks.
Damn!
Marcelo was already back on his feet. He lunged again, fists flying, and this time, Chen’s grip on me tightened. “Hold still!”
And then Chen held onto me and battled them as easily as if he were swatting flies.
Somehow, I struggled to make sense of what I was seeing.
How was Chen holding his own against both of them while still keeping me restrained?
It was almost inhuman, the precision of his movements, the sheer strength he displayed.
Now I know why he’s Deputy Mountain Master.
Even when Marcelo and Gunner landed blows, Chen didn’t waver.
“Goddamn it, Chen!” I thrashed in his grip. “Let me go!”
“Lei said you stay in the stands and that’s where you’ll stay.”
I glanced back at the arena.
Leo was on the ground now but the crow must have pecked at his eye. He was holding the right one as blood spilled from his hand.
“Oh no.” I shook my head. “He’s going to get to him.”
Before I could say anymore, Chen spun again, pulling me with him. This time, the movement was faster, sharper, and I barely had time to gasp before we crashed into the next row of seats.
The impact jarred my teeth, and I struggled to catch my breath.
But this time he had to let me go because Marcelo and Gunner leapt for him, almost crushing me too.
Ahhh!
The good thing was that I was free of Chen’s hold.
The bad part was that I had lost my balance and was falling back.
Ahhh!
Before I hit the ground, strong arms caught me.
Oh, thank God!
I glanced back.
Dima helped me up. “Got you.”
I blinked up at him. “I have to get down there—”
“You do.”
I checked the arena.
Lei was moving again, crawling forward. His body trembled as more black liquid spilled from his mouth.
My chest tightened.
I headed down the stands.
“Hold up. Let me give you something.” Keeping my pace, Dima got to my side and tried to hand me his gold phone. “Take this. I would use it myself but a Flower Mafia leader killing Leo would cause an unnecessary war. Yet, the Mountain Mistress doing it, would be legendary and poetic.”
I stared at his phone. “What do you want me to do with that, call the police?”