Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 108768 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108768 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
“Hold on.” I slowed my pace and eyed him. “Are you saying that we’re going to try and get over on Banks?”
“I’m saying that you are still compromising with Banks while also balancing the needs of our Mountain Master.”
“Our Mountain Master? I am not a part of the Four Aces.” I tensed. “If anything, Banks explained to me that I am more of a friend of everyone and not—”
“Let me respectfully stop you right there, Monique.” Chen cleared his throat. “You are not a Friend of the Diamond Syndicate—”
“Banks said that I am—”
“Because Banks is making a move on the Diamond Syndicate chess board—”
“My cousin wouldn’t play me as a piece—”
“While Banks did not put you on the board as a piece, you must understand that you are on the board.”
“I’m just hanging with Lei until he deals with his father. That is it. This makes me a friend to—”
“The Four Aces, not the Diamond Syndicate.” Also slowing his pace, Chen raised one finger. “That is a very important statement that we must agree on. You are our friend, not the entire Syndicate’s friend.”
“Who must agree on?”
“You and I.”
“I’m not lying to my cousin.”
“You won’t be lying. His men will be here, just not around you.”
“Why can’t they be around me?”
Chen abruptly stopped while his mini army of blue continued marching forward. “Monique. . .”
I stopped and looked at him. “Yes?”
“Somehow, today I was able to stop Duck and Lei from killing each other over you.”
“What?”
“Well. . .perhaps Lei would not kill my brother but surely he intended that Duck go into the hospital.”
“How is Duck?”
“He is fine.”
“And Lei?”
“Doing well too.”
Relief poured over me. “Good.”
“It is good. Now, let’s maintain that.” Chen gave me a smile. “At first, I was worried about your presence here. Lei basically kidnapped you plus you have a clear connection to the South. It all seemed like a boiling pot about to spill over.”
I widened my eyes.
“But. . .I now think that you and I could work together. In fact, consider us partners.”
“Partners?”
“I believe that you are the reason Lei is finally giving Chanel’s body back to her family.”
“Maybe.”
“He is also sleeping, eating, and showering. These are things he refused to do upon Chanel’s. . .demise.”
“Okay, I get all of that, Chen. But what does that have to do with my promise to Banks?”
“Currently, Lei sees you as under his protection. That means that you are not a Friend to the Syndicate, you are with the Four Aces.”
“Man, you all need to calm down.” I raised both of my hands. “I’m not Diamond Syndicate. Nor am I with the Four Aces or Rowe Street Mob. I’m Monique. I come from Glory. I’m not about this life—”
“Yet, you are currently the very embodiment of a tug-of-war between two crews.”
“Chen, it’s five guys and a couple white outfits for seven days. A simple compromise. I can talk to Lei and get him to understand.”
He raised his eyebrows. “You think you could do that?”
“Of course. Lei is reasonable.”
“My cousin? Reasonable? Who is this person that you’ve met?”
“It takes a minute but, I’ve been able to reason with him.” I headed off. “I got him to see that keeping Chanel’s body was ridiculous.”
Chen got to my side and walked. “You did do that. Meanwhile, no matter what I said, he would not listen.”
“Okay.” I shrugged. “There we go. Evidence that a conversation between Lei and me could reap rational benefits for all.”
“Surely, it would make my life easier if you did have this magical power.”
“I don’t think it would be magical. I’ll just tell Lei that Banks is my cousin and important to me. Then, I will further explain that it is just a symbolic compromise to keep my cousin calm.”
“Yes, but you will still wear blue?”
“No. I told Banks I would put on the white clothes.”
Chen shook his head.
“Lei will understand.”
“If he does, then you would truly show me the height of your power over him.”
I widened my eyes. “I don’t have power over Lei—”
“You will if you walk around this mountain wearing white.”
My nerves flared. “Would it be disrespectful to wear white on the mountain?”
“No. The act of wearing white is not a problem. As Banks said, it is representative of being a Friend of the Syndicate.”
“Then, this could work—”
“Monique, a Friend means that you are protected by our codes and cannot be possessed, harmed, or threatened by any of us.”
“Yes. Exactly. That shouldn’t be a problem for Lei—”
“The possessed part may incite Lei to not. . .act in the most gentlemanly way with you, and he may also want to have a. . .conversation with Marcelo.”
“That would not be necessary.”
“You’re wearing white suggests that he cannot—”
“Possess me. Yes. Which is the truth and he understands that.”
“You think Lei understands that?”
“Yes.”
“Is that what the handcuffs symbolized yesterday?” Chen shook his head. “That said freedom to you?”