Page 65 of Celestial Combat

My stomach tightened.

Tao was one of Trevor’s men. A soldier, someone who had been around since I was a kid, always lurking in the shadows of my family’s world. I hadn’t seen him in months.

And yet, here he was.

“Need a minute,” He said, flicking the cigarette away and pushing off the post.

“Not interested.”

“It’s urgent.” Tao fell into step with me. “About Chinatown.”

I turned my head slightly, scanning his face. His expression was calm, too calm. His hands were tucked into the pockets of his leather jacket, but there was a sharpness to the way he moved.

“I don’t get involved in family business.”

Tao exhaled through his nose, like he expected that answer. “Can’t reach Trevor. And this can’t wait.”

My jaw clenched. I wanted to say no. But if something was happening in Chinatown – Trevor’s turf, my family’s history – it didn’t sit right to just walk away.

I exhaled sharply. “Fine.”

Tao nodded, a small victorious twitch at the corner of his mouth.

I didn’t like it.

I followed him downtown, weaving through the familiar streets of Chinatown until we stopped in front of a place I hadn’t been to in years.

The Blood Dragon.

The neon sign burned red against the dark sky, its glow casting eerie shadows on the wet pavement. It had always been a dangerous place, a hidden piece of the underground, but tonight, something about it felt wrong.

I hesitated on the threshold, something off.

The air felt too thick, the usual pulse of a casino absent, like the walls were holding their breath.

I turned to Tao, a question forming on my lips.

Hands grabbed me.

I twisted instinctively, elbow snapping back, but there were too many. Someone wrenched my arms behind my back, rope burning against my wrists as they forced themtogether. I kicked out, caught one of them in the knee, but another grabbed my neck, shoving me forward.

A strip of cloth was shoved between my lips, tied tight at the back of my head, pulling at the corners of my mouth.

I couldn’t scream.

I thrashed, heart pounding, but they were fast.Efficient.

And then they dragged me deeper inside.

Through the corridors, past the empty casino floor, until I was shoved into a back room and tied to a metal pole. The cold steel pressed against my spine, the ropes cutting into my skin, my breath harsh through my nose.

The men stepped back.

And then Tao walked forward.

He crouched in front of me, his face unreadable, head tilting slightly as he studied me like I was something caught in his trap.

“Sorry, Kali.”

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