1. Chapter 1

Chapter one

Chen Yang

C hen made his way through the large mansion, its hallways lined with classic, modern, and ancient Japanese and Chinese artwork, statues, and guards. The beautiful estate was nothing short of a fortress. Outside, guards patrolled the grounds, day and night, in alternating shifts. It was a setting he was more than comfortable with, having been a part of the triad since he was fourteen years old. He started out running errands, then numbers, and in time, he started collecting debts. That was when his violent tendencies grew because he was expected to collect those debts by any means necessary. He enjoyed his job but wasn't looking forward to training Da Han's son, Yìchén. Over the years, he'd been a shining example of what a true triad member was. A man of action and wisdom was how he' d risen to the rank of Vanguard.

Training a fucking spoiled child, making them into a man, wasn't a part of his duties. There were "little brothers" who could do this, but he knew better than to refuse his boss. He'd worked too hard to get to where he was to be demoted or killed for insubordination. If training Yìchén was what he had to do, he'd make sure the boy grew up quickly.

He reached the door and could hear American rap music playing loudly from the other side. A song with a lot of bass that rattled the door in rhythm with the beat. Chen rolled his eyes and banged on the door with his balled-up fist. When he heard the music grow quiet, he knocked. This time, with his knuckles.

The door opened and Yìchén stood there, a frown on his cute face as he stared up at Chen with big brown eyes. Chen watched as the boy's expression changed from annoyed to interested... very interested.

Yìchén smiled and leaned against the doorframe. "Well, hi, Chen, I wasn't expecting you to be knocking down my door, but my night just got better."

"You will call me, Mr. Yang," Chen stated.

Yìchén bit his bottom lip and swayed seductively. "Oh? I'd rather call you Daddy," he flirted with all of the sexual desire he had for the man.

"You will call me Mr. Yang," Chen repeated with a straight face.

"Daddy Yang," Yìchén shot back with a cheeky grin.

Chen sighed because this was one of the reasons he hadn't wanted to be bothered with Yìchén. Ever since he began working for Da Han, Yìchén had been flirting with him. And he'd been able to ignore the advances because he didn't have to spend any time with the little demon. He couldn't deny that the boy was breathtaking with angular features that made him more pretty than handsome. His black hair was longer at the top, and bangs in his eyes gave him an even more boyish appearance. His slender body, Chen found extremely appealing, but he also knew the boy was off-limits. This was a predicament he didn't need in his life.

"Your father wants you to learn the family business," Chen said in his deep voice full of authority.

Yìchén rolled his eyes. "I don't want to kill people, nor do I want to learn the 'family business.' What I want is to be left alone and practice my photography. Why can't he understand that?" He began to slam the door in Chen's face, but the man grabbed the door, stopping it from closing. Yìchén tried to push it closed, but Chen was far stronger and proved so when he shoved it open and stepped inside. Yìchén gasped and stumbled several steps back, then looked around nervously, as if ashamed Chen was seeing what the inside of his unkempt bedroom looked like.

"Get out," Yìchén yelled.

Chen took quick note of the scattered clothing on the floor and draped across furniture, as well as the posters on the wall. He sighed. "I'm following your father's orders. He wants you in the basement and ready to do your part."

"I'm not going," Yìchén protested as he scowled up at Chen in his defiance. "I don't want to do it and you can't make me."

Chen cocked an eyebrow as he took one step toward Yìchén. "Can't I?"

"You can't hurt me," Yìchén stated.

"I can't?" Chen asked and took another step closer.

Yìchén poked Chen's muscular chest. "You work for us," he said as he stared into Chen's brown eyes. Eyes that were full of challenge and authority. Eyes that made him leak precum in his underwear. Eyes he wanted to see in rapture.

"I work for your father, little boy," Chen stated.

Yìchén's mouth opened, then closed, his jaw twitching as he looked Chen up and down. His chest heaved with a mixture of arousal and fear for two reasons. One, he'd never been this close to the man he'd been soaking his sheets and napkins in come for over a year. And the second reason was that he was terrified. Chen Yang was the Jade Dragon's Vanguard for a reason. Men and women within the triad trusted, respected, and feared the man who was partly responsible for the Triad's notorious reputation. And here he was, standing in his bedroom. Chen's very presence was intimidating.

"You can't, my father would destroy you," Yìchén stated, his tone a bit shaky and he swallowed in his embarrassment that he couldn't hide his emotions.

Chen smirked. "Your father gave me permission to train you any way I saw fit."

"I don't believe you." Yìchén raised his chin, his jaw tightened in his obstinance.

Adorable. That was the best way Chen could describe this little act Yìchén was putting on. The boy was twenty years old and had been pampered his entire life. His older siblings, Li and Xiù, didn't have such luxuries. Li had been trained to take over once his father retired and his twin was trained as his protector and assassin for the family. All this from the moment the two could walk. Yìchén had been allowed to play, to hang out with friends—hell, to make friends. Chen was now expected to do what Da Han should have done years ago, make a gangster out of a child.

"Do you remember what your father said? That if you didn't step up, you could pack your bags," Chen reminded him.

Yìchén scoffed and folded his arms across his chest. "As if he' d really kick me out."

Well, not forever, Chen thought. He was Mujin blood, after all. "Are you willing to challenge him on that?" he decided to ask the boy.

"He won't leave me on the streets."

Chen smiled, because he knew just how far Da Han was willing to go to prove a point. "Very well. If you refuse to come to the basement, I'll have the men help you pack." He walked back over to the door, opened it, and gestured to two of the guards that were standing at their posts. "Come in here," he commanded.

The two men entered, their attention on Chen. "Yes, sir."

"The young master wishes to forego his lavish lifestyle. Please pack only one bag with his necessities. He'll be leaving tonight," Chen instructed.

"The hell I am," Yìchén fussed. "I'm not going anywhere and don't you dare touch my shit."

The men ignored Yìchén and did what their Vanguard told them. Both walked toward Yìchén's closet and he ran in front of them, attempting to block their path.

"Stop!" Yìchén yelled, holding his arms out to create a barrier.

"Move out of their way, Yìchén. Unlike you, they follow orders," Chen said.

Yìchén shoved at one of the men, while the other went around him and into his closet to gather his belongings. "Stop! Don't touch my shit," he continued to protest, but to no avail. "I'll kill you," he threatened.

Chen chuckled. "You don't have it in you."

Yìchén whirled around on him. "You don't have any idea what I'm capable of."

"I suppose we'll see if you're capable enough to be able to survive on the street," Chen said.

"Fuck this," Yìchén snapped, then pulled out his cell phone, calling his father. He paced his bedroom as he waited for Da Han to answer and when he finally did, he blurted out his disapproval. "Dad, Mr. Yang is trying to force me out. Tell him to stop."

"Did you refuse to come to the basement?" Da Han asked.

"Yes, because I'm not like you. Why won't you just let me be? Isn't having Li and Xiù enough?"

"You can live the life you want and on your own terms, but without my money and protection. You can do whatever you want, but not under the umbrella I provide. Did you think I was bluffing, Yìchén? You're no longer a child, it's time for you to grow up," Da Han replied.

"You're really going to kick me out? Where am I supposed to go?" Yìchén asked, this time his voice shaking with the anxiety he felt. He thought his dad was bluffing when he'd made the threat. Now he understood. His father had reached the end of his patience.

"Yes, I'm kicking you out and where you go is entirely up to you. However, if you wish to continue to live the life you're accustomed to, it doesn't come without conditions. Nothing is free and that's a lesson you can learn the hard way if you so wish," Da Han said. "Either fulfill your duty to this family or find yourself without one."

The call ended and Yìchén pulled the device from his ear to look down at the screen that only had his background on it. His father wasn't just giving him an idle threat this time. Chen watched the realization of a reality Yìchén could never dream of finally spread across the boy's pretty features. For a brief second, it looked as if the boy would cry, his eyes filling with moisture brimming on the edge. But as he watched the two guards pack his suitcase, his delicate mouth twisted into a snarl and he stormed over to them and threw himself on top of his suitcase that was lying open on the bed.

"Stop packing. I don't want to go!" Yìchén declared, then he looked at Chen. "Fine. I'll go to the basement."

Chen put a finger up and the two guards nodded and stepped back from Yìchén. "This is more than just the basement, Yìchén. This is a new direction for your life."

"Can we talk privately?" Yìchén requested and tossed glances at the guards.

Chen waved the men away and without a word, they obeyed. "What do you want to say?" he asked now that they were alone.

"Do I have to kill anyone?"

Chen nodded. "Probably not tonight. I believe your father wants that honor. But you will watch and you will learn. And one day, you will have to carry out the deed. I will make sure of it. However, I will train you first, so you don't make any mistakes."

"I don't want to drop out of school. I want to be a photographer," Yìchén pleaded.

"And you still can be. But if your family needs you to step up, then you must," Chen stated.

"For how long?"

Chen sighed. "What do you mean, exactly?"

"How long will I be trained by you?" Yìchén clarified, then he climbed off his suitcase and sat on the bed. The flames of desire he had for Chen had simmered down, his libido currently pouting in the corner. He was more pissed off at Chen than horny for him.

"My training, if you follow orders and do not fight me, will go on for a few months."

Yìchén mouth dropped open. "Months?"

"For you, yes. Do you even know how to fight? "

Yìchén snorted. "Of course I do."

"I'll be the judge of that. In the meantime, we need to get down to the basement," Chen said, then he walked over to the door, opening it. He turned to see if Yìchén would join him.

With a pout and dragging of feet, he finally left the comfort of his bedroom to accompany Chen to kill his uncle.