Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 90852 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 454(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90852 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 454(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
I have to. . .trust her with this. . .
And this realization didn’t erase my fears—no, they still lurked in the corners of my mind—but it reshaped them, turning them from a paralyzing force into a clarifying one.
I eyed their car some more.
Whatever Moni could be saying to my father, I trusted her intelligence and her heart.
And knowing him. . .he would trust it too, even if it veered from his Big Plans.
If she could just get back to me safely, then. . .I would honor the deal.
Damn it.
Then, whatever came next, we would face it together.
“Okay.” I swallowed down my fear. “If Moni is out of the car and at a safe distance away from it. . .”
“Yes?” Chen asked.
“Then, open the gates and let my father go.”
“Understood, Mountain Master.” Chen sighed. “This will work out. Monique will be back with you soon. Uncle Leo will be out of the East. All will be okay.”
It must. There’s no life without Moni. I understand that more and more each day I’m with her.
Silence descended upon us, filled only by the hum of the SUV’s engine.
Minutes later, I spotted the gate far ahead—the main boundary point of the East. While it was not the only gate in the East, it was the only way others could legally enter the East from Paradise City.
Alright. Let’s see if I can fucking trust this bastard to do the right thing.
Chapter fourteen
The Exchange at the Gate
Lei
My dread intensified.
The gate loomed—a bullet proof barricade adorned with sculptures of dragons.
As we neared the gate, the area around it burst with commerce, crowds, and movement due to it being flanked by numerous businesses. Neon signs flickered above shops selling everything from electronics to traditional spices.
To the right of the gate, an open market sprawled expansively. Stalls were crammed with vendors hawking their goods—fresh fruits and vegetables displayed in vibrant mosaics, fish still dripping from the morning catch, and merchants with colorful textiles shouting over each other to attract customers.
The air was thick with the scents of street food—grilled meats and fried breads mingling with the sweet aroma of pastries and exotic spices.
Hu groaned. “The deal must go through. If a battle happens here, this will get tricky. Too many innocent people for Uncle Leo to use against you.”
I sneered, knowing Hu was right.
The market teemed with people. Crowds meandered through the narrow paths between stalls. Many children darted between adults.
As our convoy passed by, several heads turned to follow our progress towards the gate. Surely, their curiosity was piqued by our procession of cars.
Father would have no problem grabbing a kid as a hostage to make a point.
“Shit.” Chen sighed. “The media is out here too.”
Damn it.
The presence of so many witnesses added another layer of complexity to the situation. It meant any action taken here would be highly visible, not just to those involved directly but to an entire community that thrived around this pivotal entry point.
The eyes of the market were on us, and the weight of their gaze felt as heavy as the dragons looming over us.
Alright, father. Do the right thing.
My heart slammed against my ribs.
This is it. Let’s go.
As planned, my father’s car stopped right at the threshold.
Slowing down, my SUV stopped five feet away, and I rushed with opening the door and jumping out, but remained by the SUV, knowing that my father may not comply with letting Moni out if I came too close to his car.
Come on, Father. Please. . .don’t hurt her.
Chen, Duck, and Hu got out too and stood next to me.
Alright. Let her go.
We waited, then a woman on our far right screamed out in glee. “The Mountain Master is here!”
Shit.
Tons of heads turned my way.
Chen yelled out orders to all my men who had been leaving their cars, “Hurry! Get around him and the SUV.”
Meanwhile many in the market crowd took out their cellphones. Cameras flashed and surely videos began to record as they tried to capture my unexpected visit.
Social media would be buzzing within minutes, speculating on the reasons for my presence near the gate—a place where my official business was rarely conducted so openly.
Others rushed over, eager to get a closer look or perhaps to be acknowledged by me.
Goddamn it, Father. Let her out of the car. Now.
The crowd surged towards us like a wave, their faces a mixture of excitement and curiosity.
Street vendors and shoppers alike abandoned their transactions, joining the throng that pressed closer to our cars.
Meanwhile, I kept my focus on my father’s car.
“Eh!” Hu held his hands up and gestured to some of our people. “Keep control of the crowd! Come on!”
Our men scrambled to maintain a clear path for us, their weapons out and voices raised, trying to hold back the enthusiastic people.
Next, my phone rang.
Is that you, Father?
I dug my hand in my pocket, pulled the phone out, and placed the device next to my ear. “Yes?”