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)
Like. . .I couldn’t hide anything from him.
It was a bit unnerving.
Next to him stood a striking Black woman in a yellow sundress that hugged her figure perfectly. The fabric flowed around her with an effortless grace.
Additionally, the dress must have cost half the price of Lotus Blossom. Her diamond earrings sparkled in the sunlight. Her watch gleamed with elegance and the rings on her fingers looked like they could pay off someone’s mortgage.
Well. . .either he spoils the shit out of her or. . .she comes from money.
But the more I slyly checked her out, the more I realized that there was a calm, self-assured air about her, the kind that might have come from never knowing a moment of struggle.
Yeah. She’s a rich girl.
For some reason, I found myself liking her for it, though I couldn’t quite explain why.
A month ago, I probably would have hated her for being rich, due to the fact that I had been stuck in the very pit of struggle.
Now I found myself wanting to know her better, to maybe even. . .learn from her on how to be classy like her.
Dimitri’s gaze shifted from me to Lei.
The small cat purred at his feet and Dimitri curled his lips into a smile. “I checked to make sure no one had any allergies.”
Lei blinked. “What?”
“My cat. Approximately 10% of the population is allergic to cats.”
Lei crossed his arms over his chest. “You are well aware of the rules of the East.”
“The allergy is triggered by proteins found in a cat’s skin, saliva, and urine—specifically, a protein called Fel d 1.”
Clearing her throat, Dimitri’s beautiful guest nudged his side with her elbow as if to say focus.
“Oh.” Dimitri blinked. “Lei. . .you don’t care about cat allergies?”
“I don’t give a damn about them right now.”
“Then, you should beware.”
Lei quirked his brow, but not in way to say he was asking a question or wondering, but more in the way of ‘are you fucking challenging me to a battle to the death.’
Lei sneered. “What do I have to beware of, Dima?”
“Mild sneezing and itchy eyes to more severe reactions, like asthma attacks or anaphylaxis.”
Confused, Lei parted his lips.
Chen whispered next to him, “He’s still on the topic of the cat allergies.”
Lei let out a long breath. “You are crashing a family event in the East—”
"Crashing? I am not family?” And just like that all of that gorgeousness left Dimitri’s face, replaced with the pure promise of death.
I wanted to step back and hide.
Dimitri's icy blue eyes turned even colder, the smile on his face wiped clean. Gone was the image of a carefree companion with a fondness for cats.
In its place was the ruthless leader of the Diamond Syndicate.
Lei seemed to have anticipated this change in demeanor, his own expression hardening into one of quiet defiance. “You know you’re family, but that is not the point of—”
“Have I not ate many Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners in Lotus Blossom?”
“You have, but—”
“Yet, no invitation to this cookout.”
“It happened fast and out of nowhere—”
“Still, no phone call. Not an email. When I was told about this, I bought a new phone.” Dimitri let go of his woman’s hand, dug into his jacket and pulled out a shiny phone in a yellow case. “I thought to myself, ‘Surely, the problem must be on my side. I need a new phone. It is not getting the East’s calls.’”
The two crows crept closer. They must have been used to humans because they showed no sign of flying away.
Meanwhile, the little cat spied the crows and left the comfort of Dimitri’s foot, shifting into predatory mode.
Lei sighed. “This moment was more supposed to be a welcome to Moni’s sisters, but Banks decided to turn this into a bigger event. As you know I am busy—”
“I understand that all too well, which is why I took Banks invitation to save you the duty of calling me to come—”
“And about that. . .invitation.” Lei scowled. “I know he didn’t grab you to try the fucking hot dogs. He pulled you in for something else. So let me be clear with you right now. If you all expect to deal with Diamond Syndicate business today, then now we must return to the rules of the East which allows me to bring out my guns and deal with you appropriately.”
Guns? What the fuck?
Dimitri nodded and returned to holding his guest’s hand. “Rules are important.”
“They are.”
“Laws too.”
Lei quirked his brows again. “Laws?”
“Banks would like us to discuss a particular Diamond Syndicate law today.” Dimitri raised his hand and men that I hadn’t noticed was near came from behind him.
O-kay. What is happening right now?
They were all dressed in yellow suits. Two carried a huge table. Four men each held a chair.
Dimitri leaned his head to the side. “Where should they set up in the garden so we can have a very quick discussion?”