Chapter 56 - going back to the hood (Part 8) - a Chinese affair and that feeling that has return.

The next morning, it was a quite a gloomy morning with Amin is filled with bruise, while Xavier explain what have happen during the night.

I was really pissed at them though but I do deserved it without knocking at the door but that’s my place what the hell are they doing having a party at my place.

My house suddenly my phone rang, and I pick it up.

“What the hell that calling at this time..?”

“Yeah…”

“Alex is that you?” Its Mr Hawk? How the hell he know this number?

“Yeah?”

“I’ve heard that you found another lead about Damien’s next hit, the Lotus Jade family?”

“Yeah…but…its not safe talking about this….”

“Yeah…join for dinner in Lockheed…” another code…meaning ‘meeting at his place…”

I have a bad feeling about this, but I had to. Mariam told me that she is bringing Mika and others to the studio.

“Alright…”

While they having fun and chit chatty about yesterday, seems Mika and Mariam is really close now, but I have other plans right now, well then that will be my next mission. About Chinese Triads, maybe I could talk to Melissa about this but its really dangerous talking about that.

I decide to talk to Melissa via a phone booth and make a call at a place where they will not suspect a thing. The restaurant, I took the number and called them

“Happy Meow Cafe!! What would like your order?” That is Melissa

“Uh…maybe a chicken rice?…” lets hope she could catch up that

“Uh huh…Alex aren’t ya, what did you do eh with my cousin?” Huh what now?

“Uh…I don’t understand?” Now what really happen there?

“She is acting like you doing all sorts of vigilante thing right now in town” huh? She is reckless

“shit…I….”

“But never mind because she is working here with me….your mom is making sure she is not doing anything stupid…Hana is also here working” yikes!! Not like I have time to talk to them.

“uh…Mel….do you know your elder’s phone number?”

“Huh…you want to talk to him?”

“Yeah…”

“He is right here…” eh? What the hell? The whole damn family!?

“Well he did pass on to a new leader now he is our own cook helping our restaurant here oh, better check your emails because I took a picture of Sil and Hana wearing our waitress dress.”

“Uh huh….” Now I’m curious….then someone is talking to me

“Ni hao…”

“uh…”

“Aren’t you my kid…when are you going to propose to my grand niece here!!” Darn it, that is the last thing I want to handle for now. I could hear Sil is really pissed at him.

“Yikes, hahahaha!!! She threw a plate at me, she is fiesty!! What will that be kid?”

“About the triads….”

“Uh huh….well they are like noble families even though they are a crime syndicate but they are easy to get along if you know how to convince them…”

“Uh huh…”

“Just like you did before with us….”just like that?

“Impossible to be that simple…”

“Well its about strength and honour….” Well at least I’ve got the idea but its not safe to contact him longer

“Well then thanks…old man”

“You’re my future in-laws don’t forget that HAHAHAAHAHAHHA!!!!” I could hear Sil is really pissed at his grand uncle. And he hung up. Well then that is simple, I used my old computer and open the emails. To check on them. Well I was surprised with Sil and Hana wearing cute Chinese Cheongsam dress in a cat style. I wanted to close the computer but there is another message from there, it’s Sil.

“Don’t lost from darkness got it or else I’m going there to pull you back again!!” Uh huh…

Well at least I’ve got a reminder that I have a family back there. I manage to sent Mika and the others to the studio, and Mariam asked me what am I going to now.

“I’ve got another place I need to be…”

“Got it’’

I head towards UCLA once I’ve arrived there, I need to hide myself from people and not to get any suspicion from the people there. Looking at department and name again I finally found the office. I could see Mr Hawk was sitting at the office,

“Get in kid…” he actually knew I was there.. I went inside the office and sat there, its been a while getting together with him. But I could feel the tension right now. With him because all the things that happen.

“How are you kid?”

“Yeah…all good” looks like we going to start slow now.

“kid…you know what Nat is really pushing forward now with her future but now I’m worried about it…” looks like something is going on with Nat. But gonna brighten things up between me and Mr Hawk.

“yeah Nat is always looking for trouble…”

“About that guy she is dating is someone that involved between Damien and De Santo gang….remember about the project for the drugs record that I’ve been researching, Damien look at it before?”

“Yeah I remember you mention about it…”

“The guy that Nat dated is the guy that spill the beans to the De Santo Gang…”

“Don’t tell me that Nat…”

“Yep she is doing hero stuff just like you…”

“Dammit…I really hope that I could make Nat involved in this…”

“Nat already knew between you and Damien…she felt responsible about this and wanted to help you…and making sure you are not getting deep again…but…”

“She knew that I’m already here”

“Yep, with a girl that you ride with now she is really pissed at you…” talk about scary…

“Shit that is something…”

“Well after all of this, you better have a long chat with her…”

“Yeah…”

“About the girl…who is that if I may need to know about…” he must mean Mika

“Well its about the girl Naomi because she is the one that guide me without being going deep in that world..I feel indebted to her because of it and when she need my help to safe her younger sister I never expected to be this crazy…”

Mr Hawk then hold my shoulder and remind me again

“Cheveyo…just go with the flow…there is a reason why I name you that son…” I only left with a smile

“yeah…I sure hope I know what the hell am I doing…”

“Well then just remember not to go too far with Nat because she really misses you a lot…”

“yeah…”

“About the list of targets, I may have an idea about it…” he gave me the documents that he gave to Damien and its seems align with what I’ve been doing right now.

“I’m going to change them all, I’m going to make sure that Naomi will have a better future even without my protection..”

“That’s my boy….”

“About that clone incident…”

“At least you know what is going on…”

“That is one dangerous thing mom is involved with…”

I explain about the incident with the clone and how I destroy the place.

“Funny, why the foundation itself destroy the place? Its really funny…and strange…son, be vigilant because there must be a reason for you to be there…I don’t like one bit at all from this”

“Yeah me too…lucky my friends is with me or else god know what I will become…”

“Indeed, well then is there you wanted to ask again?” I remember I brought some stuff for Nat and Mr Hawk

“This…” I gave him the journal and a pendant for Nat

“Wow!! Could not believed you found this…later I will translate all of it and share it with you son, and this pendant?”

“Its for Nat, and I made it myself, the jewel is a pearl that is unique in my home…”

“Thanks, she would love this…” suddenly someone is knocking the door.

“Dad!! I’m back!!”

“Alex used the back door!!” I open the door quietly but I wanted to see her, dammit!! There she is again. She is getting alluring than before, dammit, I really wanted to hug her again…

“Hey I heard you talking to someone?”

“Uh yeah…about that, its just my job…” Nat slam the table and glared at his own dad

“Dad….is there something you hiding from me again…”

“Uh…here…” he gave the pendant to Nat

“Its beautiful….but….”

“Its from Alex…he made it himself” she started to cry again

“Dummy….dummy….” Shit I really wanted to hug here again, my face started drop tears from my eyes. I could feel it, her pain…damn we really are connected but for her safety I need her to be with Mr Hawk…

“wait…dad….” She started to look around, and she suddenly holding the back door, she talk to me, she is literary next to me!!

“Alex…” shit I’ve gotta go

“Dummy….you asshole…” she is crying again!! I’ve really want to hug her. And she open the door and I instantly speed off, I could hear she is shouting

“DUMMY!!!!!!! DUMBASS!!!!” I could only hear her shout and I head to my bike, that is painful for my heart. Shit!! I hate this!!

I checked out the documents Mr Hawk gave me. There seems to be a link between one of them and the Lotus Jade Family...damn, they did get involved in the drug trade. One of them interests me, Gale's strip club. They really deeply involved in this circle basically if I manage to squeeze out their info, this could link to everything.

I start my bike but I could sense someone is hugging me, but this feeling is really familiar. That perfume fragrance…dammit!! I really wish Nat doesn’t do this!!!

“Dummy!! With all the girls, I know that you going to be someone that they will rely on…but I like it that way…so that I could beat them all, then you will love me back again” she kiss my cheeks and push my back.

“Get out of here dummy!!!! Dumbass!!” Goddamn, I can't stop smiling at the way she keeps my spirit up. That's why I love her. The beautiful view behind my side mirror made me drool, even with her nerdish side. I speed up with a new spirit with me. She wave me goodbye and I speed up towards the place that I wanted to be, the Jade Family house.

Once I’ve arrived at the place which is situated down south of LA, damn this place never cease to amaze me, it look oriental as if they exist before the forming of America. At the entrance typically guards with suite in front of it. But this is the craziest thing that I have done now.

“Hey kid!! This not a place for tourist!!” Well he does look imposing. Compared to the triads that I met before.

I bow to them, and said to guards. One of the family members there, I could remember her name before hah!? Xiu Ying…Ying!!!

“uh…is Xiu Ying is here?”

“Huh? The head lady?” Huh? The head lady, we are about the same age.

“Uh yeah?” The guards look at me and ask me who am I.

“Just call me Alex…”

“Wait here!! You look familiar…” seems like they are calling someone.

“uh…maybe….”

“Kid…now I remember, hey Xiu Yin!! This is Alex the kid from Compton, you know the 102!! That Ying hang around with!!”

“Hah? This kid, my goodness you are huge!!”

“Wow!!” One of the lady of the house called me

“Is that you kid?” The old lady look at me, she does look familiar

“That gloomy kid from the streets, you are the one that saved my niece!!” Huh? That incident eh.. I remember the Jade Family because when one of the member of the family just coincidently passes by me and I ask the man who went through our turf, we check it and there she is Xiu Ying, she was scared though…damn I forgot about that this whole thing again.

“uh…yeah…is Xiu Ying’s around?”

“Yes she is…but I think she is meditating right now…” uh huh, why the hell does the Jade Family having that kind of weird business before…

“Follow me kid…” That old lady led me to a long, narrow wooden corridor. Damn, this never gets old to me. The end could be near if Mariam finds out about my relationship with another girl. But I've got to get this done. She's standing at a Chinese gazebo with manmade waterfalls and cherry blossoms. I take a deep breath and walk up to her. I take a deep breath and start to speak. I can't believe how rich she is.

“May I know who are you?” She look at me with her erhu, a Chinese instrument she is playing. As she lay it down and took her fan closing her face. Her fierce look that could pierce my soul, as she started asking question.

“When is the last time that we are having a burgers in LA?” Burger’s? Must be that time that I went alone and Xiu Ying asked to date with her but I rejected it.

“I never recall anything having dating with you…” she close her eyes and responded

“Indeed, he never did but there is something that he always knows about me”

Huh? Don’t tell me that tattoo behind her ass. That shit she wanted to make. That symbol..

“You know…that symbol is really a funny symbol, what the hell with a rose on your ass…”

She suddenly jump towards me, and I could feel her shaking.

“It is you….I thought you have died!!” She must not known about what happen.

“Uh…yeah I’m here…”

“Then….” She suddenly punch my gut, damn that hurt a lot.

She pose a wushu against me

“Then…I want to show you something…” damn she is challenging me

Amidst the serene beauty of the Cherry Blossom Place, a hushed anticipation hung in the air. As the first cherry blossom petal drifted gently to the ground, signaling the beginning of their duel, I crouched into a defensive stance. I could feel my muscles rippled beneath and locked onto Xiu Ying's.

Xiu Ying, dressed in a traditional dress, moved with fluid grace. She began to circle me, her movements reminiscent of a graceful dance. Her eyes never left mine, damn her focus is absolute.

“What wrong Alex? I’m not the weak girl that you know before…”

“Shut up”

With a sudden burst of energy, I lunged forward, throwing a rapid combination of punches but Xiu Ying's nimble footwork is evading my blows without a sweat. She spun gracefully to the side, her long silk sash billowing like a ribbon in the wind.

She retaliated with a series of quick strikes, her hands and feet moving in perfect harmony. Each blow was precise and measured, aimed at vulnerable points. I manage to blocked and dodged her, my instincts and street-fighting experience did a number on me though.

Our movements seemed like a delicate dance, a contrast between myself and Xiu Ying's. The cherry blossoms swirled around them, adding an ethereal quality to their clash.

As we fight on, neither me nor her could gain a clear advantage.

“Damn, you’re really good” Xiu Ying is really mastered her kung fu

“I could see in your eyes, that fiery eyes of yours never did change yet I could sense something dark within you”

“Yeah whatever, time to get serious…”

With a final, desperate surge of energy, I unleashed a spinning kick, aiming to catch Xiu Ying off guard. But she reacted with lightning speed, stepping aside and countering with a precise strike to my chest. It was a perfect hit, damn that hurt a lot.

and I stumbled backward,

We both paused, breathing heavily, our eyes locked in mutual respect. It was clear that this duel had reached a stalemate. With a nod of acknowledgment, we each lowered our guard and stepped away from one another.

“You never cease to amaze me, Alex…” she suddenly blush, damn why I have this feeling that she will be another trouble girl.

“Well then, at least I’m feeling a bit better with you around now…”

“Uh huh…” I realise that her dress a bit torn

“That is one expensive dress…though…”

“So when are you going to buy me a new dress then.?.” Shit she is definitely a trouble girl. She started to get closer to me but the last time I met her, was only 11 years old. Now she is a looker now.

“Anyway, I’m going to my room for a while you go on ahead and rest in the guest room”

“Ah..got it” I went towards the guest room, the old lady gave a some refreshment but I realise she is quite cultured for a 15 year old girl. But that sparring really burn me out, I went asleep, taking a nap. I realise someone is beside me, that’s when I knew this time Ying is right beside me. Look at me really close but I realise that she is wearing a really sexy clothing. She wore a mini short jeans, and white t shirt, her boobs is big as well. What the hell am I thinking right now!!!

“Hey…Alex…what do you think about me now then?” Huh? What the hell is going on? Is just that I really to think how the hell this development jumps to this point then?

“ah…maybe we could talk first then?”

“Aiya…Wǒ zhēn de hěn xǐhuān nǐ” shit she is now speaking in Chinese? But that is a different kind of Chinese I’ve never heard before.

“Zìcóng rènshí nǐ yǐlái, wǒ zhēn de hěn xǐhuān nǐ” oh shit that is one thing I really need right now. A distraction?

“Ah…maybe we could talk again maybe a different tone?”

“Nǐ zěnme zhème shǎ?”

shit…this is getting crazier by the minute…. I tried my best right now not to get any crazy ideas of mine right now. I’m pretty sure this must be a test.

“Hey Ying?”

“Mmm?”

“Since when you become the head family?” I just wondering where is her parents is? That is something I never seen it before.

“My parents?…” she suddenly change back to blue expression, this girl is really quick to change her personality.

“they…didn’t make it…after your gang 102 went out, my parents started to get anxious to the point telling me that I’m going to take over as the head family. They even went to meet Mr Tracy to confess the situation but they were involved in a car accident, and my uncle is handling the business side of the family while I handle the family relations”

Why I get a feeling I seen this kind of situation before? But where? Maybe in the movies? Like those getting lucky…

…….

…….

Rich….richy rich? Just like that story…maybe I could ask her about this

“Hey Ying?”

“mmm.?”

“Do you even try to check what he has been doing?”

“ummm…just once I think….why is that?”

“Maybe you could try to visit him or what?”

“Ummm….” She is hesitating about something now, gotta push a bit but I feel bad about it maybe I could talk something else

“Just wondering what have you up to then?”

“Huh? Umm eversince you been disappeared I’m just homeschooling so I’ve never been gone to a proper school ever since then. What about you then?”

“Well, I move out to a school after I left America now I lived in my own home country in Malaysia” I explain to her what really going on and what happen in school.

“Wow, that is something, you change the school and the people itself…sounds fun…SIGMA eh….” We chat for a while until she suddenly offer me

“I need to investigate something though would you like to follow me?”

“Umm, okay…” she actually wanted to visit the company that manage the families fortunes, which is a god damn corporation? We went in and instantly a group people suddenly line up greeting her

“LADY YING!! WELCOME!!” That is some entrance. Ying entered the place and her uncle introduce himself to her.

“Lady Ying, what are you doing here?”

“Uncle Jian how are you?”

“Yes I’m fine my lady…what do the head of family would like to wish to be here?”

“Umm, maybe you could bring me to the accounts department?”

“Ah. Then shall we go there?”

“I’ll be with this man here…”

“Ummm…it is not our policy to let a non member of the house to be allowed here”

“Then as the head of the family and chairman of the Jade Lotus group and Huaying industries to allow just for this man to be here today…then”

Her uncle could not argue with that and he reluctantly agreed with her.

“Well then Alex dear…lets us be with it…”

I'm not sure what to make of this...Uh huh...”

Because you wanted to help me, maybe I wanted to know why? ”

"Your family...they were involved with the De Santo Gang before this, but there's no proof."

Well...about that...I really hope we don't get involved..." She read through the files and reading through the files that I read through.

"Damn, it matches the document I got from my friend"

“Really…then….” Why I have this feeling that she is not telling me the truth. She pull something behind the table and another room was open. Why the hell that I’m going to see something that we called ‘betrayal…’ shit looks like I’m going for a ride. damn.

We went in, Ying then showed me something about the family. Holy shit its the motherload, the whole drug operation right in front of me.

“Yǒu yītiān, yīqiè dōu zhǐshì yīchǎng mèng” she is spouting Chinese again but I’m really pissed off right now. Because she is hiding something from me, why does she easily let me into this damn place.

“The hell is going on, letting me to the most guarded place…” tears flowing through Ying’s eyes,

“Nàgè yuànwàng, nà wǒ xiǎng yào zìyóu” she suddenly push a button below the table and the guards entered the place, arresting me, with cuffs.

“You must be the famous kid that the 102 hound dog himself…” my eyes is burning with rage right now. Its the him, Don Jurado himself, that betrayed Darrel…

“Looks like you are well and getting fat…”

“A puto, like you should be aware of the dangers that you are trying to pull” seems the De Santo gang is pulling together with the Jade Lotus gang.

“Hey Ying is this what you want?” Ying did not said a word. My eyes is raging right now, something really dark inside of me wanted to get out from this body. I’m just hanging on a thread waiting for chance for me to take them all down.

“Something is not that bad being in the dark for once, shadow and light are always side by side.” That voice, Frederica again..

My arm is lock with these hand cuff, but the guys is looking at me and pointing that gun at my head.

“hola jefe? Qué quieres hacer con este niño?” The guy spoke in Spanish again, Jurado said again to me but I’m really pissed right now.

“Looks like kid, there is no one going to look after you…” looks like my soul is saying to me again

“Let kill this mother fucker..”

“Don’t do it, you promise to Nat and Sil….they will cry again”

“embrace it….”

Fuck all of you inner voice. My heart is racing because Don Jurado the one that cause Darrel’s death, Damien’s anguish and Naomi’s pain just right in front of me.

I felt the time was running really slow, I could feel my whole body could react faster than before, I dodge that shot and headbutt the guy down, I saw the keys of the handcuffs. But instantly I roundhouse Don Jurado head and he flies off and slam towards the wall. Ying’s Uncle open fire and I kick his ball and gut he slam towards the ceiling.

All the voice is inaudible and I could feel their emotions, and only one thing fear. I manage to unlock the cuff. I started to take the guys gun and shot at the shoulder and legs. My heart really rages just screaming to kill them, but I know in my heart saying that not to do it.

Looking at this place, really pissed me off. I started myself in a state of a trance, knocking them down one by one, I walk pass Ying who was in a state of confusion. I took one by one without killing them.

An explosion from the wall, and seems like Damien and the gang is here as well.

My eyes gaze at him, we did not do anything while he is aiming at Ying and her uncle.

“They are my prey…don’t get in my way” I instantly lunge towards him and kick him. He slam towards the wall. I really doesn’t give a damn, right now in my eyes he really needs a beat down. His gang tried to aim at me I instantly punch the guy and he flew towards the wall.

“He is not human!!” They look scared.

“Whatever!! Just shoot him” I instantly disable him off and slam him to the ground.

“HOMIE!!!! WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR!!! I”M WAITING!!!” I could not control my rage right now.

The guards of the building arrived there, I knock them down, while Damien kill them.

“You know it will end up to one thing…”

“So let end it right now then…” I clench my fist could not wait to punch him, Damien immediately kick me and I grab his leg and slam him towards the wall. Since we both is really good with CQC that Darrel train us. It's either kill or be kill.

While we beating each other out looks like Don Jurado manage to escape. With his gang, leaving only Ying and Jian.

“There no point in this” he suddenly pointed his gun towards Ying and take the shot, shit please make it, and block it with my shoulder. He instantly punch that wound point. Shit that really hurt.

“Keep going like this homie, I’ll crave your grave stone with one word ‘dumb’ homie”

I punch him and and carried him up

“Just shut up, and come home!!!”

“Fuck you!!!”

“Shut the fuck up asshole, I’m tired looking after your back!!” He took a shot at my abdomen, and I instantly went down to the ground. Yet he still doesn’t kill me

“What are you waiting for asshole…” he look at me

“Still weak…”

“still the opportunist…”

“shut up” he suddenly left the place, yet out of sheer coincidence the police arrived and Mr Tracy is there.

I close my eyes and rest my poor soul.