Page 41 of Sweet Dominion

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 herewithoutthe 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 beverycareful. 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.”

Aunt Suzi finally spoke. “Leo already knows something is wrong. We’ve been standing outside in the garden fortoolong instead of dragging Monique back inside to serve tea.”

“Good point.” I nodded. “I say we get my father anyway we can, reporters in there or not.”

To my surprise, Moni stepped forward. “Lei, he will use the reporters against you.”

Chen agreed. “We’ll need to get them out of there and attack Uncle Leo at the same time.”

“Whatever we do. . .” Aunt Suzi now placed her feet into a fighting stance too. “Leo can’t be allowed to manipulate or charm his way out of this. He tookmysweet little niece after. . .not being the man, the father he was supposed to be to her.”

Aunt Min gazed at the ground.

Aunt Suzi’s voice cracked. “For Yan to die by his hands is an injustice that I cannot. . .I will not let go.”

Aunt Min’s lips pressed into a thin line. “I’ll handle Song. He trustsmethe most and I can keep him occupied long enough for you to do what needs to be done, Lei.”

“Hold on.” Chen raised his eyebrows. “What are you going to do, Aunt Min?”

“Does it matter?”

“I don’t want you to hurt my father.”

“Song is strong. He can handle a few punches from me.” Aunt Min shrugged. “I only want to knock him out for a few minutes.”

Suddenly, one of Moni’s ladies-in-waiting’s phones rang.

We all turned her way.

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