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)
The sound clawed at my skin.
I sat rigid in the stands, every muscle in my body coiled tight, trembling as I watched Lei charge after his father.
Damn it.
My heart pounded against my ribs; a frantic, relentless rhythm that drowned out every rational thought.
Sitting in front of me, Jo looked over her shoulder. “Are you okay, sis?”
“No, I’m losing my mind.”
Jo nodded. “I wish we could do something.”
Banks was next to her and kept his view on the fight. “Lei is a bad motherfucker. He’ll win, Moni.”
On my left, Duck kept his hold on my arm while Chen on my right had his arm hooked on my right arm.
I frowned at both of them.
Lei wanted me to remain in the stands.
That one simple request—to stay put—felt like an unbearable heaviness crushing my chest.
How could I sit here, surrounded by strangers screaming for blood, while the man I loved fought for his life?
Every instinct in my body screamed at me to move, to run to him, to do something… anything to stop this madness.
On the other side of Jo, Marcelo’s voice filled with disbelief. “He’s going after Leo in that tree?”
Shivering, I glanced at Duck. “Can he fight him in a fucking tree?”
Duck nodded. “Yeah, but. . .”
“What?”
“Uncle Leo would have the advantage.”
“Why?”
Chen answered for him, “Because if Uncle Leo went into the tree then he planned to do it weeks ago. Something could be up there or—”
“What the fuck you mean something could be up there?”
“Calm down, Monique.” Chen wiped sweat off his forehead. “We’re all stressed.”
“If Leo has something up in the tree then the battle is disqualified or at the bare minimum we can all go out there and fight him—”
“Calm down.”
“I won’t.” I looked back at the chaos unfolding.
Blood, dead black crows, and white blossoms rained down.
This is so fucked up.
I couldn’t tear my eyes away, even though I wanted to scream.
Lei climbed higher, yet somehow still held Soaring Precious.
Above him, Leo moved with unnatural grace as his laughter echoed down like a twisted hymn.
I wish I had my fucking guns. I would shoot his bitch ass in the head.
At least, Lei didn’t hesitate with getting up to him. As he climbed higher, I could barely see him through the black mass of crows, white blossoms, and leaves.
The tree leaned to the right.
Behind me, Aunt Min yelled at Song. “This is wrong and you know it!”
Song grumbled. “If Lei will rule, he will need to be prepared for—”
“If he will rule? He has been ruling all these years!” Aunt Suzi sounded like she was close to slapping him.
Song sighed. “Lei has been ruling with Leo and me watching his back.”
Aunt Min raised her voice. “Why did Leo lead Lei to the tree?”
“Tell us!” Aunt Suzi added.
Song sighed. “I don’t know. That wasn’t the plan.”
“You fucking bastard. All of your life, instead of trying to be a good man, Song, you’ve only focused on being a good lackey for our brother,” Aunt Min hissed. She quickly stood up, and screamed at the area, “Be careful, Lei! Get him out of that tree!”
Did he hear her?
My body strained forward, desperate to move but held back by Duck and Chen’s arms.
I kept my voice low. “Let me go.”
Duck’s voice was tight. “Stay still.”
“This is bullshit.” I yanked my arm to the right. “You don’t need to hold me.”
Duck winked. “Perhaps, I like holding you.”
I rolled my eyes and twisted.
Chen scowled. “Stop struggling. Lei needs to focus.”
Focus?
How could Lei focus when he was up there fighting his father, surrounded by chaos and blood?
How could they expect me to sit still and do nothing when every second could be his last?
I turned back to the scene and my heart shattered at the sight of Lei struggling to steady himself on the blood-slick branches.
Goddamn it.
He was so close to Leo now, his sword gleaming as he lunged forward. The branches beneath him swayed dangerously, creaking as if they might snap at any moment.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
Leo stood above him, perched like a predator surveying his prey. His grin stretched wide. Even from here, I could see the small wounds on his face where the crows had fought back. He barely seemed to notice them, but I wished the crows had pecked out his fucking eyes.
I clenched my fists. “N-now what?”
Duck whispered. “Lei has to either kill him in the tree or get him out of it.”
“Can he?”
“Of course.”
“Will Leo cheat?”
“Of course.”
When their blades finally clashed, the sound sliced through the air, sharp and violent.
Oh my God.
My breath caught.
My body trembled.
How is this even possible?
The tree groaned as they fought.
Lei’s strikes were relentless, his blade slicing through the air with deadly precision. But Leo was faster, his movements sharp and fluid, as if the tree were his domain.
Come on, baby.
Then Lei struck.
Soaring Precious cut into Leo’s shoulder.