Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 124836 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 624(@200wpm)___ 499(@250wpm)___ 416(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 124836 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 624(@200wpm)___ 499(@250wpm)___ 416(@300wpm)
Before I could answer, Aunt Min held both of her hands to her head. “This is my fault.”
I shook my head. “It’s not your fault.”
“Leo asked me to invite Yan back to the States. I thought he needed her to convince you not to kill him but. . .” She trailed off, gripping at the fabric of her dress. “But he had other intentions.”
Aunt Suzi staggered a few steps back. “No. No. . .Leo couldn't have. . .This is my brother you are talking about. Leo would never. He knows better.”
Aunt Min hugged herself. “We thought he wouldn’t kill little Chanel or Romeo. Kids that we watched grow up. But he did it.”
“Let's not jump to conclusions.” Chen interjected, but his eyes mirrored our horror. “We need to see the. . .head. To confirm.”
I could tell Aunt Min and Aunt Suzi wanted to cry but they wouldn’t. That was the way of their generation, to hold it all in—their emotions, worries, everything.
One was never to show any devastation or sadness on their face.
Aunt Min let out a long breath. “We need a plan for, if. . .Yan is really. . .”
She couldn’t even finish the sentence, telling me she was that close from cracking.
Suddenly. . .Aunt Suzi dropped to her knees right beneath the cherry blossom tree and just stayed there.
My heart broke at the sight.
A breeze hit and delicate petals fell around Aunt Suzi like soft tears.
I wanted to bury my face in my hands. The agony was too much to bear, but they were around and now I was back to being the Mountain Master.
I had to lead.
Aunt Min hugged herself tighter. “Suzi, get off the ground.”
Aunt Suzi just remained there with a blank look.
We have to kill him now.
I turned to Moni’s ladies-in-waiting. “Take the Mountain Mistress back to the palace and make sure no less than thirty palace guards are around her.”
They nodded.
Moni widened her eyes. “Lei. . .I understand but I don’t want to leave your side.”
“If he killed my sister.” A cold shiver ran through me. “Then, he will kill you.”
Aunt Suzi just stayed on the ground; silent and sad.
Aunt Min straightened her dress as if it were wildly wrinkled. “Lei, we must do this in a careful manner, and we must do this together.”
“Are we really going to do this together? Kill my father? Can you even help me do it?”
“I stand with you. I cannot even. . .stomach my brother right now.” She scowled. “One could never kill family. There must be limits.”
“Then, you will go back in the ceremony and make sure that he dies today?”
Aunt Min parted her lips.
On the ground, Aunt Suzi closed her eyes.
Chen held out his hands. “We. . .still have to see if it is really Yan’s head.”
“It’s her.”
“It can’t be.” Chen shook his head. “I-I don’t think Uncle Leo could ever. . .he can’t. Right? Lei? He couldn’t.”
“He did.”
Chen looked like he wanted to lower to his knees and stay on the ground just like Aunt Suzi. Yan and Chen were the oldest of us which meant they remained close. Even when she went back to China, she would call him on his birthdays and holidays.
He’s not going to be okay after this.
I let out a long breath. “Chen, you should help Moni and her ladies get back to the palace and stay there—”
“I-I need to confirm it is Yan.”
I gritted my teeth. “We don’t have time for this.”
Moni grabbed my hand and squeezed it. “Lei. . .give him a minute.”
I stared at Chen, seeing the disbelief and sorrow etched into his features.
Next, I turned to my aunts.
Silent and still on the ground, Aunt Suzi stared off in the distance.
Meanwhile, Aunt Min's face was set in a mask of determination but I could see the rage simmering beneath the surface. “Leo is here without the majority of his men.”
I nodded. “He is.”
“Then. . .” Aunt Min gazed back at the house. “We need a plan and we need it fast.”
Chapter eight
The Final Test
Lei
Finally, my aunts were unified with getting rid of my dad. For the past weeks, they’d been blocking me left and right as if they could only see my father’s vision over common decency and logic.
We’ll end this today.
“When we go after him,” I looked at Aunt Min. “We can’t let Uncle Song or anyone else interfere.”
“Agreed.” Aunt Min placed her feet in a fighting stance as if she were about to battle with someone under the cherry blossom tree.
Slowly, Aunt Suzi rose from the ground still silent but at least. . .she appeared less devastated.
Aunt Min continued. “We will need to be very careful. Song won’t take this lightly and the reporters. . .they must be told to leave before we. . .kill him.”
Chen cleared his throat. “If we alert the news to leave Uncle Leo will know something is wrong.”