Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 124836 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 624(@200wpm)___ 499(@250wpm)___ 416(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 124836 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 624(@200wpm)___ 499(@250wpm)___ 416(@300wpm)
Dear God. Leo and these fucking grandchildren.
That being said. . .her certainty cut through me like a blade and I didn’t know what to say. All I could do was hug her again.
She hugged me back just as fiercely, her tiny hands gripping my shirt as if she could hold me together. “You’re going to be stronger, Moni. I know it. And then. . .”
I closed my eyes. “Yes?”
“And then. no one will ever bother us again. No one will knock on our door or. . .take you away. . .or anything.”
Tears stung my eyes. “Facts.”
We sat there for a moment, wrapped in each other’s arms and for just those seconds, I allowed myself to believe that maybe. . .just maybe, TT was right.
Maybe I would come out of this stronger.
Maybe Leo wasn’t lying about everything.
But the truth was, I didn’t know.
None of us did.
All I could do was hold onto her and hope that whatever came next, I’d be ready for it.
I would have to be fucking ready.
Suddenly, the door creaked open and I turned to see Song stepping in.
His expression was unreadable as usual. He glanced over at TT and then at me, before closing the door behind him with a soft click.
Now what?
Song crossed the room slowly and then came to stand in front of TT. “Do me a favor, kid. Unlock the door for Lei in ten minutes.”
TT looked up at him with wide eyes, then nodded, as if she understood something far deeper than I did.
Song’s presence always felt heavy, like he carried an invisible burden with him wherever he went. It was unsettling and yet, I knew better than to question him right now.
Without another word, Song turned toward the closet and gestured for me to follow.
Fuck. It’s time to go.
My stomach twisted into knots.
This was it. The moment everything would shift for the evening and I had no idea what was waiting for me tonight.
Also, I hoped to God that Banks would be calm when Lei told him that Leo took me. I knew my cousin and I knew my man. Both were violent under pressure.
They better get along.
I got up, took a few steps toward the closet and then glanced back at TT, who gave me a small smile.
“I’ll see you later, sis.”
“Okay, Moni.” She returned to her map and sank right back into her world of treasure and mystery, completely unaware of the darkness that seemed to loom closer with each passing second.
Or maybe she was more aware than all of us.
God. . .I hope you’re right, TT. I really want to come back to you and Lei.
Song opened the closet door and stepped inside the dimly lit space.
I hesitated for a moment, taking one last breath before following him.
Lei is going to be pissed. He probably thought he had one more chance to stop this, due to us having to leave out of the hallway.
Song shoved the rows of hanging dresses and other clothes aside. Stuff that his sisters, Aunt Min and Aunt Suzi had bought for the girls.
Once he moved all of that away, that was when I saw it.
Oh shit.
At the back of the closet was a small door—one I probably would have never noticed. It was barely visible.
I looked at Song. “Does Lei know about these hidden passages?”
“No one but Leo and I knew.”
“Not even Leo’s wife?”
“Not even her.” Song reached for the handle twisted it open and a draft of cool air rushed out, carrying with it the scent of dampness.
"Why didn’t you all tell anyone?”
“For moments like tonight.”
“But. . .”
Without a word, Song stepped inside disappearing into the darkness beyond.
Damn. . .they’re really crazy.
Trembling, I followed and the small door automatically closed behind me with a quiet thud.
It was only darkness now.
Oh no. I don’t like this.
I stayed right there. “Song?”
His voice sounded up ahead. “Grab the rail on the right before stepping down.”
“We need a flashlight.”
“You only need courage.”
And a fucking flashlight. . .
I reached out and felt the cold metal of the railing.
“Take your time going down, Moni. We don’t need you to break your leg.”
No shit.
I let out a shaky breath, gripping the rail tighter.
Each step creaked under my weight and the farther down we went, the darker it became.
There were no lights, no windows—just an endless descent into what felt like the bowels of the house.
My hand was sweating causing the cold metal to slide against my palm.
Carefully, I placed one foot in front of the other as I started the descent into the unknown.
"Song?" My voice echoed off the narrow walls. “Are you still there?”
"I'm right here." His deep voice responded from below, comforting yet distant.
“Well don’t go too far. I’m fucking freaking out.”
His chuckle rose in the space and I realized that this was the first time I ever heard the man enjoy himself.