Page 5 of Cruel Devotion

I followed him around.

My kick came within inches of his face but he just managed to twist away.

My punch, however, was right on target and sent him flying through the air with an earsplitting crash as he slammed into the unforgiving stone ground.

A cloud of dust engulfed us.

His guttural groan echoed around the area.

The dust settled only for me to step toward him with fire raging in my eyes.

Meanwhile, strong, Duck jumped back on his feet as if he had never been hit at all.

I wiped the sweat off my face. “You understand what you did wrong with Rowe Street Mob?”

He got into a fighting stance. “I disrespected you by dropping the ball on my duties and putting Monique in possible danger. I don’t deserve your forgiveness but I will spend my life making up for that.”

“Then, we don’t disagree on that?”

“We don’t, Mountain Master.”

“Then, let’s get right to it.”

“Let’s.”

“When it comes to Monique, you will step aside.”

Duck glared.

"Do you understand?"

Chapter one

Showdown

Lei

For a moment, silence reigned.

The soft whisper of the wind, the gentle murmur of the waterfall, everything seemed to hush, waiting for Duck's response.

I felt the weight of our lineage, our roles, and the expectations that comes with being the Mountain Master pressing on me.

But at the same time, the idea of personal happiness, of love and desire, tugged at my soul.

Then, Duck broke the silence. “Do you think you could even love Monique?”

“Does it matter?” My angry voice echoed through the arena. “Step the fuck aside!”

Still by the statues, Chen nervously ran his fingers through his hair.

Duck kept his ground. “Could you love Monique?”

Fear sliced through me.

I shoved it all away. “That’s not a question you get to ask—”

“Why not?” Duck leaned his head to the side. “Because you’re the Mountain Master? You have overruling authority in the East. Yes. But not when it comes to love. These are rules that your father and mine put into place. You cannot tell me to step aside.”

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