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)
What the fuck!
It was such an unexpected gesture that for a moment I could only blink at him in surprise.
His lips were warm against my skin, warmer than any ring of power could ever be. The soft brush of his mouth sent electricity crackling through me, stunning in its intensity.
I jerked my hand away and my heart hammering in my chest.
Hold up now. I know you don’t be kissing your daughter’s finger like that. Well. . .you killed your daughter so I don’t know how you truly treated her, but still. . .
I stepped back. “What are you doing?”
Leo kept his gaze on me yet remained in his place. But there was an unfamiliar look in his eyes—a type of victory that didn’t need words to be acknowledged.
"The game has changed, Monique." He said softly, as the sound of helicopters receded into the distance and an unsettling silence descended around us.
The ring felt heavy on my finger and I stared at it, feeling something akin to dread curl in the pit of my stomach.
“What do you mean the game has changed, Leo?”
“It is hard to explain.”
“You’re the game master—”
“Yet, even the master gets surprised when the game goes in another direction.”
“And what direction is that?”
He gave me a sad smile. “Chaos.”
Song entered the room, and his eyebrows furrowed and his lips pressed into a thin line as anger marred his features. “You were supposed to wait until I was ready, Leo. You were not to come in here.”
“I wanted time alone with our new Mountain Mistress.” The tension in the room snapped like a wire. Leo turned to face him. “Why? What is wrong?”
Song’s gaze flickered to me, taking in the fur, the gown, and—briefly—the ring on my finger. His scowl deepened. “We need to move. Now.”
Leo arched a brow, unbothered. “Patience, Song. There’s still time. I’m not done talking—”
“You are done—”
“I need time—”
“You don’t have it—”
“Says who?”
Song’s voice grew tense. “Lei is here and he already killed Guan and Jietang.”
“What!”
I widened my eyes.
Song continued. “I had no time to stop him. Lei just stepped off the helicopter and sliced both their necks with Soaring Precious. Suzi passed out. Blood sprayed before I could even blink my eyes.”
Leo’s calm manner shattered. “Why the hell would he do that!”
“He yelled that Monique should have been in front of him and that he was done playing around—”
“Who the hell does he think he is?”
“Lei also said that we had ten minutes to get Monique at the feast and next to him or he’s just going to be killing all of our top men one by one, and meanwhile Chen and Duck pointed their swords at me when he said it.”
“Have they lost their minds? We are their elders! And I will not be rushed!”
“Brother. . .it is time to give Monique back to Lei. I will not lose any more people tonight.”
Leo didn’t argue but the look he sent Song’s way was sharp and dangerous.
I raised my eyebrows.
For a moment, the two men sized each other up.
Then, Leo broke the stare and turned to me. "Fine."
I blinked.
“Are you ready. . .Mountain Mistress?”
“I am.”
Leo held out his arm for me to take. “Then, let’s go. It’s time for your big debut.”
I hesitated, every nerve ending in my body screaming at me to back away but my feet betrayed me, carrying me toward him like a puppet on a string. “Y-yes. I’m ready.”
He watched me with a predator’s patience, his mouth curling into the faintest smirk, like he could already taste his victory. “Oh, but we do have to fix one thing on your gown, Mountain Mistress.”
“What are you talking about?” My words came out sharper than I intended, but I couldn’t hide the dread curling in my stomach.
Before I could react, Leo moved.
Fast.
Too fucking fast.
He was suddenly in front of me, his broad chest pressing against mine, forcing me a step back as his presence swallowed every inch of space.
He closed the distance again, pressing his body against mine once more. The scent of him—rich, spiced, with the sharp edge of marijuana smoke—burned in my nose, making it hard to breathe.
“Leo, back up off me.”
“One minute.” He slid his hands down my sides, slow and deliberate, like he had all the time in the world.
Song’s voice rose in the air. “What are you doing!”
“Lightening our Mountain Mistress’s load.” And then Leo slipped his fingers into my pockets.
No.
I froze.
His hands—warm and unnervingly steady—brushed the fabric that clung to my hips and then found the guns.
Goddamn it.
“Get your hands off her.” Song’s footsteps thundered as he got close. “Enough.”
I could feel everything—the pressure of Leo’s touch, the weight of his dominance as he dipped further, tugging the guns free.
Leo breathed me in. “She has weapons, brother. I’m just getting rid of them.”
Song stopped next to us and then widened his eyes in shock. “How did you get guns, Monique?”