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“Pathetic, really,” I finish and know I have him as he lowers his gun and peers around at his triad members, who stare warily at him but hold no respect.
Triads don’t need to resort to weapons when we can kill a man with our bare hands. It’s something we were all taught from the very beginning—to prove to ourselves that we are strong and deserve a place in the Triad. Jin is going against everything he has always preached and the lessons he has demanded of his members to make them unstoppable in any situation. To use a gun in front of his menwhile I stand here unafraid and challenge him only shows he shouldn’t be in charge if he doesn’t believe his own beliefs.
“How dare you? When I’m done with you, wiping your face into the mats stained with your blood, you’ll know before your last breath that you couldn’t save any of them.” Jin threatens, his eyes narrowed in hatred as he lowers the gun and hands it over to one of his goons before stepping back.
He unbuttons his shirt, handing the garment to a waiting hand once removed, as he shifts his head back and forth, cracking his neck before dropping into a direct bridge of kung fu. I don’t bother to strip off any article of clothing; I don’t need to parade around my strength for it to be seen. Each taekwondo pose will define every movement, with or without a shirt. I glare at Jin, moving my right foot back with my right fist tucked into my side into an outside block pose. With my elbow tight against my side, I lean forward and crook my finger at him in a challenge that I know will piss him off.
I don’t know who moves first, but I’m dodging an axel kick that’s aiming towards my head. I duck down low into a crouch at the last second to sweep out his feet beneath him. Spinning in a circle on one leg, I grunt as I jump to my feet as he steps away before I can make contact to lay him flat out. The blow to the ribs hardly fazes me. I absorb the pain and stop the next punch with a hand knife low block while retaliating by jabbing my fist into his gut two times. He hooks his forearm around my waist and tries to knock me onto the mat, but I can’t let him do that. I won’t ever be able to get back up if he pins me down.
It goes on for minutes that feel like hours until my white shirt sticks to me like a second coat of skin from sweat. Jinjumps back, rapidly breathing as he bounces on the balls of his feet with a red face. Either from anger or a lack of oxygen.
“You want to know the difference between me and you?” I ask, exhaling slowly to expand my chest and breathe properly.
He doesn’t answer; he just yells and grunts as he suddenly races forward with one palm extended towards my face and draws his other hand back in distraction. I avoid the lethal movement, knowing he really would kill me if the heel of his palm connected under my nose. I would have bled out from my brain, shutting down and drowning in blood.
“I’d fight for the people I love, not stopping even when I could barely move my battered body. That is what is different between us, Jin. You only care aboutyourself. No one would ever keep fighting for you or miss you. You’ll die here tonight knowing that,” I snarl out, meaning every damn word coming out of my mouth like a promise.
One of us isn’t leaving this room tonight.
“Kick his ass, Nicky! Go fuck yourself, you waffle twat! Just die already, Jin!” Nicola cheers in the background, distracting me for a split second when I hear a thud and a moan of agony.
Turning to the left, I realize my mistake as Tillie screams louder than I’ve ever heard. It’s haunting, a sound, a devastation.
It only takes a second for things to change—one moment that can either go down two different paths or split within a road. Good or bad.
I think I just went down the wrong path.
Tillie
My heart hasn’t stopped racing since Nicky went tearing out of the club, a man possessed to protect his sister. I honestly don’t remember the ride over to the dojo. I just remember telling Dom to drive faster and practically yelling at Tey to tell me where Nicky could be heading. He didn’t even stop for one second to talk to us; he ran so fast, like hellhounds were on his heels. Luckily, Evan was insightful on where exactly Nicola is being held captive.
Poor Evan. God. He looked like absolute shit. But the club brothers will get him patched up and cared for. I promised him just before hopping in the car that I'd keep him updated once Nicola was back with us. He seemed so lost and in deep pain inside and out. I’ll make sure that he’ll have his girlfriend safely back in his arms.
I gripped Dom’s shoulder from the backseat the whole way towards Chinatown, the longest ride of twenty minutes. I can’t lose Nicola. She’s like a sister to me, one I never knew I was missing in my life. Ride or die, bitch. My whole body is trembling as we squeal on spinning tires into an empty parking lot in front of a massive, three-storybuilding. My hand is already on the door handle, but Dom stops me before I can jump out of the car.
“We stick together, and we don’t do anything fucking stupid.” Dom twists in his seat so he can stare at all of us before his gaze lands on me and lingers. “If shit hits the fan, I’m not taking any risks when it comes to you, mama.”
I gulp as his intense dark eyes pierce my own, not letting me go until I nod in agreement, even though I’m lying. I’ll just do just about anything to make sure my men are not in harm's way, and Nicola.
“Say it,” Logan growls in the passenger seat, glaring at me like he knows what I’m thinking.
“I’ll be careful,” I reply, staring him down until he finally looks away with a clenched jaw.
Tey shifts in his seat next to me, practically vibrating with energy, and I know he’s worried. I wonder if he’s also picking up on this doomed feeling as I am. As if time is limited and it’s all going to come crashing down.
“Let’s fucking do this. Guns loaded,” Dalton thunders in a deep voice, bouncing off the clothed car ceiling and vibrating in my ears.
All the doors open as we climb out, and I feel my throat go dry as the guys check their guns before putting the weapons away in their waistbands.
Why is that look of determination on their faces sexy? Fuck me, I’m a mess. Now is not the time. I twist away and catch Tey’s gaze as he flips his knife between his fingers, winking at me while blowing an air kiss. I roll my eyes as I roughly pull the front entrance door open and try to focus as the guys form a protective circle around me while heading towards the stairway off to the left.
Our feet pound up the stairs, where we hear voices—Logan and Dom leading the way. They enter in a rush and stop in the doorway, so I have to shove my way between their broad shoulders to see what’s happening. I quickly take in my surroundings, meeting Nicola’s gaze across the room with relief that she’s here and alive. She looks fucking pissed, though, wiggling between the two goons on her sides holding her in place. My eyes snap towards the middle of the room, and I find Jin looking at me with disgust and a hint of glee.
His words start to register as he taunts Nicky. I begin to walk towards Nicky, but I’m immediately stopped by the Triad that encircles around us. One goon lays a bruising grip on my arm, and the guys go nuts by shoving the idiot who dared to touch me. I’m shoved back behind Dom and can hear Jin screaming in a haunting voice that gives me chills as the guys try to fight their way towards Nicky. Jin’s trying to get a rise out of his son, wanting him to lose control, but he won’t get anywhere. Nicky always wears a cool, calm mask. Always. Standing on my toes, I peer over Dom’s shoulder to see Jin pull a gun out and aim the barrel between Nicky’s eyes.
I hear screaming, sounding terrified, and realize it’s me as I beg Jin not to do this. I’ll stoop to any level if I have to; I’d rather do that than see one of the men I love shot to death. Nicky doesn’t even flinch at the weapon aimed at him. He stands straight and has a stoic expression. Challenging. Fucking daring.
He’s beautiful.
