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)
I shot her a look. “You should go to sleep too. You’re supposed to train me in the morning—”
“I can kick your butt with a blindfold over my eyes and a broken arm.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “When do you plan to sleep?”
“When I’m dead.”
Aunt Suzi laughed.
With a theatrical sigh, Aunt Min brushed imaginary dust off her dress. “But since we’re talking and Duck is here, darling, you cannot show those beautiful ladies your penis.”
Duck blinked. “They asked to see it.”
“That doesn’t matter. As Chloe would say ‘you are being extra with the dizzy.’ ” Aunt Suzi gestured for the man to feed her more grapes.
Duck looked to me. “What is a dizzy?”
“I have no idea.” I pointed at my aunts. “You two can’t stay up here all night.”
Aunt Suzi munched on a grape, “why not? We’re comfortable.”
“We all have a long day tomorrow.”
Aunt Suzi pouted. “Lei, we are going to be quiet—”
“You can stay for two hours at the most, but then go to your rooms and sleep—”
“Leo could come here and—”
“My father is on Mount Utopia. He will not be back in the East tonight.”
Aunt Suzi gasped.
Aunt Min shook her head. “Why did I not think of that? Of course. The battle will be on Mount Utopia.”
“Two hours. That’s it.” I went to TT’s door and knocked gently.
Jo’s voice called out from the other side. “Come in.”
Duck waited for me in the hallway.
I opened the door and stepped inside.
Despite the extra beds that had been squeezed into the room, it still appeared spacious.
TT was sprawled across one bed with printed photos of the puzzle treasure map scattered around her. Moni had said she would get obsessed with this and I could see it happening already.
Should I make TT put those photos up and go to sleep?
Chloe lounged on another bed, talking softly into her phone.
On the other side of the room, Jo stood at the window with her back to me as she stared out into the dark night.
Alright. What do I do? Just. . .check on them and what?
Chloe glanced up as I entered and immediately told whoever was on the other end of the call. “I have to go. Talk soon.”
She hung up and sat up straighter. Her gaze was wary but curious.
TT looked up from her photos. A small smile lit up her face. “Lei!”
Jo left the window and approached slowly with her hands on her hips. “Have you heard anything about Moni?”
My heart twisted in my chest. “No. Not yet. I just wanted to check in on you all, make sure you’re comfortable.”
Jo gave a stiff nod, but the tension in her body didn’t ease. “When you hear something, are you going to let us know?”
“Of course.”
Chloe stared at me with guarded hope, as if expecting me to say something that would make everything better.
But what could I say?
I was grasping at straws, trying to hold it together while the woman I loved was in the hands of a madman.
“So. . .” I cleared my throat. “You all have everything you need?”
They nodded.
“And uh. . .well. . .” I ran my fingers through my hair.
Jo widened her eyes. “You look scared. Should we be scared too?”
TT shook her head. “No. He looks sad, very sad.”
“Yeah.” I slowly nodded. “I’m sad and maybe a little scared, but. . .that’s how I am when she’s not around, so. . .no need to match my energy.”
“Welcome to the party.” Chloe shrugged. “When Moni is gone things just feel. . .off balance.”
“Yeah.” I nodded. “That’s how I feel.”
TT gave me a sad smile. “It will be okay tomorrow.”
“Correct.” I bobbed my head. “So. . .we all should head to bed and get some rest. That is the theme of this hour.”
“Just go to sleep like everything is cool?” Jo put her hands in her pockets. “Banks said the same thing and tried to tuck us in bed. No way.”
I leaned my head to the side. “No way?”
Jo shrugged. “You want me to rest? Then, give me a reason to believe my sister is safe.”
Just as I was about to say something else—anything—my phone buzzed in my pocket.
“Hold on.” I pulled it out and the sight of the number on the screen sent a jolt through me.
It was his number.
My father.
Every nerve in my body went on high alert as I quickly answered, pressing the phone to my ear. “Hello?”
To my utter shock, I heard Moni’s voice.
“Baby, I’m okay.”
Chapter twelve
The Sword and the Promise
Lei
Moni’s voice was a balm to my soul, washing away the pounding headache, the fear, the tension that had gripped me all night.
Relief flooded through me so fast I nearly staggered.
My voice went hoarse with emotion. “Moni?”
Chloe shrieked.
Jo got closer.
TT left the bed.
“Yeah, it’s me,” she said softly. “I’m safe. I just wanted to let you know before you drove yourself crazy.”