Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 112567 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 563(@200wpm)___ 450(@250wpm)___ 375(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112567 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 563(@200wpm)___ 450(@250wpm)___ 375(@300wpm)
I winced at the sound of air leaving Duck’s lungs.
“Enough!” I yelled and stumbled back. “Stop it, both of you!”
Totally fucked up, Duck grabbed his own chest with one hand and wheezed.
Banks chose that moment to barrel Duck with punches to the gut.
Oh man.
Everyone in green roared and cheered.
Sadness hit me. “No! Stop!”
Banks landed his signature jab to Duck’s jaw—the move that always made a man soar into the air and land flat on his back, passed out and ready to go to the hospital.
Fuck.
I wanted to close my eyes but couldn’t.
Yet, instead of collapsing to the ground, Duck took the jab, contorted his body in mid-fall like some superhuman, and pivoted on his hands to deliver a lightning-fast kick to Banks’s head.
I screamed in horror.
Blood spilled from Banks’s nose as he stumbled back. A tooth fell from his open mouth, slipped down the front of his chest, and dropped to the ground.
And that was it.
Pure chaos occurred on both sides like a dam breaking. Everyone in blue charged toward all wearing green.
My heart hammered in my chest. Panic and adrenaline surging through me. On instinct alone, I ran back and found a wall, knowing I had to get the fuck out of there.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
It was a war zone.
Grunts and shouts.
Flesh meeting flesh.
Blood splattering.
Gun shots sounding.
Men collided with one another, bodies entwining in a furious dance. Swift, brutal kicks were met with deft, unforgiving punches.
Everywhere I looked, there was turmoil.
I spotted Marcy beating the shit out of three men in blue.
Even my guards were brawling.
What the hell? Can we not all talk this out?
Surely, this wasn’t all about me. Something else had occurred between Lei’s people and Banks’s men.
The world spun around me in a dizzying swirl of blues and greens. It was like watching a terrifying choreographed dance, each movement fluid and purposeful. However, it was a dance of violence and vengeance, of obviously deep-rooted animosities and some sort of fight for dominance.
This is about some gangster shit.
Glass tables that had previously hosted bouquets of fresh flowers were overturned. Some of the elegant velvet sofas were now turned over too.
Four Aces. Rowe Street Mob. What the fuck have I stumbled into?
I spotted some hotel employees. High-pitched screams ripped from one woman. Other uniformed figures dashed for cover. Many hid behind the reception desk, while most scampered towards the exit.
I’m getting out of here, before I accidentally get shot or punched.
I stayed by the wall, lowered to the ground, and began to crawl toward the exit.
Lei also said something about a Diamond Syndicate. I will need to ask him more.
Sirens sounded off in the distance.
My breath hitched in my throat. Sweat broke out on my forehead. Focused, I rushed with crawling away, not even sure where the hell I would go, just that I needed to get the fuck out of there.
Somehow, I made it to the exit, jumped to my feet, bumped into some of the hotel guests, and rushed out of the exit with them.
Holy fuck.
The hotel guests and I stumbled away.
Sunlight hit me.
I put hands over my eyes and blinked.
Now what? Do I wait for those fools to stop fighting? Or do I just. . .go to this Mount Utopia myself?
I gazed back at the hotel.
But what if they kill each other?
A cold shiver sliced through me.
No. No. Enough has happened. God would only give me one death a week. They will be just fine.
The sounds of sirens grew louder, and the adrenaline in my veins made me feel like I was running on high voltage.
I hurried to the front of the hotel with others who were just as confused and unsure of what to do. Every few steps, I kept glancing back to see if anybody I knew rushed out of the exit after me.
Come on, guys. Knock this shit off!
Not paying attention to where I was going and continuing to check behind me, I collided hard into something solid.
What the fuck?!
My breath hitched.
I turned around, looked up, and found myself face-to-face with a towering, yet familiar figure.
Then, I swallowed. “Song. . .what are you doing here?”
The giant man, clad in a blue robe, simply nodded. His impassive gaze bore into mine. His deep voice was calm and steady amidst the chaos. “I know my son well.”
I stepped back.
Other monks surrounded me.
Where the hell did they come from?
“As soon as I saw Rowe Street Mob enter the hotel, I knew there would be trouble.” Song shook his head. “Duck despises Rowe Street Mob. Anytime he can punch one of them, he seizes the opportunity.”
“But do you think Duck and everyone else will be okay? I’m scared someone will die or—”
“No one will die. It would trigger war in Paradise. Even through their anger, they are smart enough to hold back in some ways.” Song gazed at the hotel. “However. . .many will have some broken bones. And my son. . .”