Chapter 8

"Harder!" Sensei Yen scolded Macy as she failed to break the wooden board.

She has been training all day; Sensei Yen wasn't taking it easy on her, he wanted Macy to get ready because he believed that Angela might attack anytime soon

He taught her hand combat, how to throw a jab, block a jab and improve her reflexes. Her body was aching so badly, she wanted to collapse. Sensei Yen kept the wooden board on the floor as he taught Macy shadow-boxing.

* * *

Ava wakes up in Seth's arms, she wrapped herself around him without even knowing. She slowly opens her eyes as she saw Seth sleeping peacefully, Ava stared at Seth's lips as she leaned forward. She was craving to know what his lips taste like.

"What are you doing?" Seth opened his eyes as he saw Ava coming closer.

"I thought you were dead, so I wanted to give you CPR" She knew that was a terrible lie.

Seth laughed as he stood up from the bed, he asked her to get ready, cause today they have a meeting with Essie.

Ava looked at Seth taking off his shirt and saw a tattoo on his shoulder, it was a girl's face.

"Who's that?" She asked.

"None of your business!" He replied arrogantly.

Without asking any more questions, Ava got pissed as she went to take a shower. Seth gave Essie a call, they talked for a minute.

A white Rolls-Royce came to pick them up, Seth wore a black suit with a red tie – looking like a businessman, who's about to sign a life-changing deal. Unlike Ava, who wore a white sleeve with a black skirt.

Everyone admired and mumbled as they saw the Rolls-Royce, this wasn't a car you can get from a car company in Hong Kong, it was one of the cars the Yowun family created. A Rolls-Royce that was indestructible.

Yowun family was known as the third-ranked family in China, they were respected everywhere they go. The head of the family was Chan Lee, the great dragon master – legend as it that Chan fought with four kungfu masters in the Great Hall, and he was the only one left standing. He invoked fear in many people, as he began to build his empire.

Walking in the hallway, Ava was stunned, there were so many Chinese paintings, and the wall was neatly designed with dragon paintings. Seth saw Essie as he walked towards him, leaving Ava to admire the paintings.

"Essie?" Seth called out his name as he stretched out his hand.

"Seth" Essie gave Seth a firm handshake.

"Walk with me!" Essie said as he led the way. Seth turned back to look at Ava.

"Don't worry, she'll be fine" Essie said with a smile on his face.

They both walked towards the garden and talked about business, although, if the business was something that Essie wanted to talk about, he won't have invited Seth to China.

Seth kept his guard up, Essie might be his friend, but with the right amount of money, he can turn on anyone. The garden had a fountain in the center with a golden dragon statue bringing out water from its mouth.

"Why did you bring his daughter here?" Essie asked as he plucked a sunflower.

"You mean Ava?"

"Yes, the daughter of the Red Phoenix, Zensu" Essie hesitated "Also known as Khalil… At least that's what Americans know him as"!

Seth's eyes lit up, Ava was the daughter of the Red Phoenix, Zensu, the most powerful family in China. At least, was the most powerful after Mr. Khalil decided to leave his empire and focus on business in the USA.

"You don't know, do you?" Essie saw the surprise in Seth's eyes.

The Yowun family had a rivalry with the Red Phoenix family, so they vowed, if they ever cross paths with each other, one family should be left standing.

Ava had no idea about her family's past, she left home in Connecticut because her dad was against fashion design. Although, he wanted her to take over the family business.

"What are you going to do?" Seth asked Essie as he took a step backward.

"Just like the vow my family took, I'll continue the tradition by eliminating every Zensu member I come across"

Seth reached out for his gun and he points to Essie, he wasn't concerned about Ava, he wondered why his body suddenly felt the urge to protect her. If Ava died, he can simply take her company from the government with just a few phone calls.

Seth enjoyed teasing Ava and loves how she acts like a kid most time.

"You think you're protecting her? Your out here and she's in there" Essie laughs maniacally as he looks at the mansion.

Seth realized that he left Ava alone, he quickly left Essie and ran to the mansion. Essie signaled two men to go after him.

Ava admired the painting for so long she didn't notice that Seth was gone, she paced around the house as she searched for him.

She saw two men walking towards her in an unfriendly manner, she knew it meant trouble, Ava tried avoiding them as she walked towards the garden. The men increased their pace as Ava started running.

She bumped into a muscular man who held a pocket knife.

"I'll make this quick" He smiled.

Ava kicked the knife from his hand, as she punched his rib cage. He laughed, as he saw her trying to defend herself. He held Ava's face, as he lifts her from the ground.

Likewise, he hits her body aggressively on the wall, and she lets out a sign of pain. Ava learned martial arts, but this man wasn't at her level, he picked up his knife, still holding her against the wall.

Staring at Ava lustfully as he pierced the knife below her rib cage, she spits out blood, unable to scream because his hand was still on her face.

Laughing manically, he punched Ava's stomach as she spits out more blood, she tried struggling, but it was no use, Ava was going to die, and she knew it. He took out the knife from her body, licking the blood, he lets go of her face and held her throat. She was suffocating, her face turned red as she tried struggling. Ava's lips brought out more blood, she was slowly losing consciousness.

"Avaa!!" Seth screamed as he ran towards them. He was barely bruised, the two men Essie sent after him were dead instantly.

The man saw Seth running towards him, he chuckled as he lets go of Ava, and she fell to the ground lifeless with her skin getting pale. He ran towards Seth releasing a jab, Seth dodged quickly, but he received another one straight to his face. The man's reflexes were good.

Looking at Ava's condition, Seth lit up in rage, the only way to defeat his opponent was to attack him at close range. Seth knew he was going to receive multiple attacks in other to get close, the man smiled as he saw Seth standing and strategizing in the middle of a fight.

"Pathetic," He said, as he attacked Seth.

Seth dodged a few blows, and when the moment was right when he finally got close to the man's rib cage, Seth slipped out his knife and stabbed him multiple times. He fell to the ground and he spits out blood, Seth stabbed the man's chest, drawing a cross sign on it.

Seth ran over to Ava, her skin was cold, and her pulse was weak.

"Stay with me!" He said as he carried her running out of the mansion. He saw a Volvo parked outside the house, breaking the car's glass. Seth jumped and started the car by touching a few wires, he drove the car like a serial killer avoiding the cops, not minding if he hits anyone.

Ava was in the back seat, her blood stained the car seat, eyes closed, as her pulse grows weaker. Ava tried her best to stay alive, but at this rate, if she keeps bleeding out. She'll surely die.

* * *

"Again!" Sensei Yen yelled as Macy reloads the M4-16 shooting the wooden target, her shot was not quite accurate, but Sensei Yen kept training her day and night, so she can be able to defend herself in combat.

She put in the mag, cocking the gun, looking like a complete badass in her training suit. Macy tried her best to impress Sensei Yen but failed multiple times. He was a strict teacher and nothing can impress him.

Macy can't wait to see Claire, they have been getting along ever since, Claire was a 10-year-old blonde, with beautiful green eyes and a charming smile. Macy promised to always be with her whenever she was done with training.

* * *

"Is that right?" Angela said, looking at Griffin.

"Yes, my source tells me that Seth has a mansion downtown, where he keeps the only thing valuable to him," Griffin said desperately as he tries to win Angela's trust.

He told Angela what Seth did to him and why he needed revenge, Seth was an opponent Angela hasn't faced before. No one knows his weak point.

"And what's that?" She asked, looking curious.

"The only thing that makes him vulnerable, it's his daughter" Griffin hesitated, "Claire!" He said with a big smile, sipping his wine.