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)
A huge satisfying smile spread across my face.
Chen got to my side and wiped the blood from my hands with a cloth. His expression was unreadable. “We need to move. I’ll have to send people back here to. . .figure this out.”
I snapped my view to him. “Figure it out?”
“Stage it.”
“Stage it how?”
“Dima is already investigating Romeo’s murder. We’ll just make this look similar to how Romeo died—”
“That won’t work. Dima’s too smart for that—”
“It will have to work Lei, if they figure out it is you, then it violates Law 480, and we’ll have bigger problems.”
Returning to the present moment, I spotted Rowe Street Mob’s helicopters in the sky getting closer.
The bright green helicopters continued to cut through the clear blue sky, their blades a blur as they hovered over the East.
Large, gold letters RSM were emblazoned on the side, a warning to all who crossed their path.
Dima never called me out on Pedro’s murder. Why? And even more important. . .why is he on his way now?
I turned to Chen. “If they went to the North, then we know Dima is with them.”
“Or course, but who else?”
“His mother?”
“Or perhaps Kashmere went to the North and jumped on the helicopter with them.”
“No. If they were going to tell Kashmere that I took Chanel’s body, they would have done it already.”
“We haven’t given them an update on progress with Uncle Leo—”
“And they won’t get one until everything is finalized. The East handles the East. It’s always been like that and it will remain that way.”
“Then, what do you want me to do?”
“Call armed men over. Let them see what they have landed into.”
Chen adjusted his glasses. “Is that necessary? Perhaps, the greeting should be welcoming, with less guns and men.”
“Dima has never entered the East without getting my clear permission. Which says this is going to be some surprise bullshit meeting.”
“They know kids and women are here. I think it may be an informal conversation—”
“Informal or not, I don’t like surprises in the East. They know it and they’ve always respected that.” I glanced at Moni several feet away and now showing her sisters more of my mother’s photo album. “Marcelo and Banks did this move because they knew they could get it over while Moni is here. They think they’re safe.”
Chen let out a long breath and signaled for several of our men throughout the garden to come over.
They all hurried our way.
Chen directed his attention to me and wore a frown.
I looked at him. “You disagree?”
“No. I think Banks definitely seized the opportunity of the cookout to make a statement.”
“Then, I’ll have to make a statement too.”
“In front of Monique?”
“We’ll have to get Moni and her sisters inside Lotus Blossom.”
“Even if we do, there’s Banks’s mother and her friends. You know the rules. Too many innocents are around.”
“Which is why they are toying with me—”
“Yes. I get that part. I just don’t understand why Dima is joining the game.”
In all the time knowing him, Dima and I never truly had any heated moments. He was too logical to lose his head. And sometimes, he just. . .knew how to handle me.
I gazed up at the sky. “Maybe, Dima thinks he can talk some sense in me—”
“But about what?”
“I don’t know. All you need to do is make sure Moni and her sisters are in the house.”
Chen lowered his voice. “She’s coming over here.”
But can I get her in the house before they land?
Chapter twenty
Sweet, Salty, and Savory
Lei
I pursed my lips and looked her way.
No longer holding the photo album, Moni walked towards us with a loving smile. That blue sundress swayed gently around her hips and legs. And there was a tenderness in her gaze that began to soften all the memories of blood and violence in my head.
When Moni got to me, I checked behind her and noticed her sisters heading toward the other side of the garden. “Where are they going?”
“To where our mothers took the picture.”
“And you’re not going?”
“I want to say hi to Banks and Marcy before I give my sisters a tour of Lotus Blossom.” She gazed up at the sky. “I’m sorry that Banks invited surprise guests.”
“Don’t worry about that. I’ll deal with it.”
Her smile faded as she lowered her view to me. “And what does that mean?”
“I think it will be Diamond Syndicate business. They stopped in the North.”
Then, she noticed the group of twenty armed men coming up behind us.
“So. . .” She put her view back on me. “You think they picked up Dimitri Ivanov?”
I stiffened. For some reason, I didn’t like her knowing his full name.
My armed men remained silent in the background with their guns undrawn.
Thankfully, that loving smile returned on her face. “Cool.”
I quirked my brows. “Cool?”
“I’ve read enough about Mr. Ivanov to know that he keeps things relaxed. Plus, I wanted to meet him. That was why I picked him as my advisor.”