5. Of Confrontations
Chapter five
Of Confrontations
Monique
As soon as I finished my call with Banks, I sprang into action. The goal was to find the lightest blue top and pants I could spot since colors played such a pivotal role in signaling alliances and intentions with the Diamond Syndicate.
Actually, I appreciated Banks for letting me know about all of this.
I was an outsider. To me, the color of a shirt was an inconsequential choice but apparently to those in the Syndicate, every hue carried its own weight of meaning and significance.
Now, I know. I’ll move properly from now on.
Already, this difficult dance of politics and power within the Syndicate was getting exhausting.
Only seven days. Then, it’s back to normal life.
I must have rummaged through my clothes for at least half an hour.
Finally, my fingers brushed against the cool silken material of a pale blue top.
Perfect. That’s whitish looking compared to all my other stuff.
I quickly paired it with matching pants hoping the ensemble would convey a message of neutrality and peace to Banks until I received the white clothes.
Okay. Now I need to let Chen know that they’re coming.
As I dressed, my thoughts raced.
Banks’s unexpected early arrival would probably be alarming. While his protective nature over family was something I had grown up with, it also came with a side of extreme violence when he perceived any threat.
And I was slowly learning that in this new world of the Syndicate, threats were everywhere.
It was ironic, really. Here I was, on this sacred mountain, surrounded by a sense of peace and ancient wisdom, yet the violent politics of the outside world were never too far behind.
It’ll be fine. They come. They drop off stuff. All done. No worries.
I took a moment to center myself, drawing in a deep breath to calm my racing heart.
Lei had his plate full already. The responsibilities of being the Mountain Master were vast, but even more. . .he had to kill his father. The last thing he needed was to deal with the chaos Banks and Marcy could bring.
Guilt hit me.
I had hoped my stay here would be peaceful for him, a brief respite from the madness. Yet it seemed I may have inadvertently brought a storm to Lei’s doorstep.
A green one.
Pushing my worries aside, I took one last glance at my reflection, adjusting my sky blue top and smoothing out any wrinkles.
Alright. Now find Chen.
Determined, I headed out of the ten and immediately bumped right into a solid figure.
What the hell?
Stumbling back, I found myself gazing directly into Chen’s intense eyes. His usually composed, almost unreadable face now held traces of deep worry, etched lines on his forehead that I’d never noticed before. The rigid set of his jaw and the stiffness in his posture further unsettled me.
Okay. Well. . .I don’t need to search him out.
Chen wore a tailored blue suit that hugged his physique just right. His tie, a slightly darker hue of blue, was impeccably knotted at his collar. It looked like he was about to go on a date to a high-end restaurant.
As my eyes adjusted, I glanced past Chen and my heart boomed in my ears.
Ummm. . .
Lined up behind him, like an impenetrable wall, were at least forty men. Their matching blue athletic gear gave them a haunting uniformity, making them appear more like an organized militia than a random gathering of men.
The sun, now in its descent, caught the cold metallic surfaces of their weapons, creating brief flashes of blinding light. They were armed heavily: from large automatic guns slung over shoulders to sheathed long blades, and even a few other menacing tools that I couldn’t identify. Their arsenal was both impressive and deeply unsettling.
O-kay. . .
They stood in formation, eerily silent, their collective presence emanating a threatening aura.
It felt like they were preparing for war and the sight sent a shiver down my spine.
I swallowed. “Hey, Chen. . . I was looking for you.”
“You were?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
“Good?”
“I had a question.”
“Oh.” I placed my hands at my side. “Go ahead and ask then, I have to tell you something.”
“I’m sure you do.”
I blinked. “What?”
“Why are there over a hundred Rowe Street Mob members at the bottom of the mountain?”
Caught off guard, I blinked again. “So. . .Banks wanted to bring me some clothes and men.”
“Because?”
“He said it was just a precaution to help him be okay with my staying here.”
“So, you’re not leaving us?”
“I’m not.”
“And he’s bringing you clothes?”
“Yes. . .and men.”
“I’m confused. I ask that you please explain that further.”
“Well. . .” I swallowed. “So, Banks told me that colors are important with the Diamond Syndicate and that he wants me to wear white.”
The line of Chen’s jaw twitched.
“And he is giving me five men to guard me while I am with you.” I held out my hands. “Banks didn’t want me to hang out with you all.”
“I can imagine he didn’t.”
“So. . .this was our compromise.”
“White clothes and five men?”
“Yes.”
“And you are staying with us?”
“Yes, Chen.”
Staring hard into my eyes, Chen’s expression shifted back to unreadable then he slowly raised his hand.
Instantly, the line of men behind him dispersed in synchronized formation. Their feet shifted simultaneously, bodies pivoting gracefully yet with unmistakable authority.
Then, they marched down the mountain.
The tension in the atmosphere lifted, but my confusion deepened. “What just happened?”
Chen lowered his hand and sighed, the stiffness in his shoulders lessening slightly. “They are a preventive measure. Having a hundred armed-men at our gates wasn’t exactly the kind of surprise I was expecting today.”
“I’m sorry about that.”
“I also thought Banks was taking you away and we can’t have that.”
I stiffened. “So. . .those men are for what? To battle my cousin or keep me here?”
“Let’s return to your compromise.”
“I would rather you answer the question.”
“I like your sense of diplomacy.” Chen gestured for me to follow him as he walked off.
Up ahead, his men in blue continued to march down the mountain path. Dust kicked up around their feet and swirled up their legs.
I walked next to Chen. “These guys are coming with us?”
“Yes.” He nodded. “Again, they are simply a safety measure.”
“This should be a chill visit, nothing like what happened at the hotel lobby.”
“Of course. However, I feel for you, Monique.”
“You do?”
“I do.” He shook his head. “Balancing Banks’ and Lei’s egos this week must feel like walking on a very thin tight rope that has been raised high above the world. One misstep and you could fall to your death.”
“I’m managing to keep my feet on the rope.”
“You are but dare I say you should manage even more.”
“I didn’t know Banks was going to bring so many people. I just thought he’d send some white clothes up the mountain, not parade a mini army at the gate.”
“The clothes and the men. It must be discussed. Those two things sound simple but they are not.” Chen sighed. “Let us first go to the men.”
“Okay.”
“That can’t happen.”
“Chen, we’re lucky Banks is not barreling up here and demanding I leave with him.”
“I’m sure we are.” Chen brushed down the front of his suit jacket as if it were getting dirty on our walk. “What I am saying is that I will welcome the men and assure Banks that all will be fine. But once he leaves, these men must remain in a tent far out of Lei’s sight so that—”
“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?”
“He was intense yesterday. Today, we have an understanding.”
“Hmmm.”
Hoping I was right, I took in the vast panorama of the mountainside around us. “Everything will be fine.”
“Or we can follow my plan where Banks’s men for you will remain in a tent eating the best food and expensive wine that we have on this mountain. It would be an amazing vacation for them—”
“We can’t do that. I assume my cousin will want them to update him on what’s going on around me—”
“I guarantee it, but I will have another set of men that will have their phones and do the job of updating—”
“If Banks found out, he would lose his damn mind—”
“He won’t find out. Just like he will never know that you are wearing blue—”
“Oh! Now I’m going to completely break my promise to my cousin so that I can keep Lei happy—a man I just met—”
“A very dangerous man that you just met.”
“Lei will understand—”
“Or you will be the harbinger of destruction, bringing about the cataclysmic annihilation of South Paradise itself.”
My stomach twisted. “Just because I wear a freaking white shirt?”
“For the audacity to do it in front of the Mountain Master. Yes.”
“Chen, I could see if I was wearing green, but white is neutral.”
“Yet, I like my plan.” Chen gave me a weak smile. “With Banks’s men eating the best food and drinking expensive wine, they will be the envy of every man on this mountain. Another set of men will have the guys’ phones and be in charge of updating Banks on the situation. It all works.”
I pursed my lips.
Chen continued, “Meanwhile, you will wear blue as a symbol of your connection to the Four Aces. This will show Lei your solid loyalty. And Banks will never find out.”
“I don’t like deceiving my cousin. That’s not how I roll.”
“Monique, my day has already become extremely difficult.”
I glanced at him. “Why?”
“Lei’s sister has arrived.”
“And she doesn’t want Lei to kill their father?”
“I believe that statement is valid yet, there can always be more wicked undertones with Yan’s appearance here.”
“What do you mean?”
“Let us just say that I will need to be focused on her and whatever conflict she brings—”
“Then, I’ve got you. Let me handle this and—”
“And your handling this means maintain your promise to Banks and talking to Lei?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t think it will work.”
I stopped and looked at him. “Alright.”
Chen quirked his brows. “Alright?”
“I’m not breaking my promise but I will try to work with you.”
He leaned his head to the side. “How?”
“What can I do to make your life easier?”
“As soon as Lei sees that you are wearing white and Marcelo’s men are around you, this could negatively alter the entire evening. Let’s not forget the fact that I now have to hold a big feast for his sister.”
I widened my eyes. “You do?”
Chen nodded.
“What if I don’t go to the feast?”
“Again, I ask you to return to the evidence of the handcuffs. Lei wants you by his side. It is annoying but for now it makes my job easier.”
“I could not show up because I am sick.”
“He would want to check on you—”
“But first he would have to do the feast. Lei is about tradition. Right?”
“He is.”
“Think about this. First, I’m late. That’s why he doesn’t see me. Then, he can find out that I’m sick in the middle of the feast, and you can say that I’m sleeping and well-guarded.”
Chen went silent as if thinking it over.
“So. . .Lei is now talking to his sister and you both can focus on that.”
Chen nodded. “Then, after the feast he will want to go directly to you and make sure you are fine.”
“That’s what I’m thinking.”
“By then, Yan is either off the mountain or in her sleeping quarters staying out of trouble for the evening.”
“See, Chen. That works.”
“Next Lei will go to you and discover that you were not sick, in fact you are doing awesome, wearing white and surrounded by men in green—”
“Which I believe I can handle through a conversation.”
“Or he will just kill me and lock you away in a blue cage for the rest of your life. That doesn’t even deal with his wanting to destroy Rowe Street Mob.”
“That’s not. . .going to happen.” I started walking again. “This could work—”
“Or this could blow up in our faces.” Chen followed.
“How?”
“If Lei sees that you are not at the feast, then he is going to you. After losing Chanel, I don’t think he will wait through the feast without you.”
“Tell him I’m on my way, and then later say I’m sick—”
“And where will you be before the feast?”
“In that supposed tent you were going to put Banks’s men.”
“He wants you by his side.”
“Well—” I was going to speak but I caught the view ahead of us as Chen’s mini-army of blue separated into two groups and flanked the gate’s entrance.
Oh shit. Banks, this is too much.
I was met with an overwhelming sea of green. More than a hundred men, dressed uniformly, stood waiting. Their postures were anything but relaxed. Clear aggression emanated from them. Leading their formation was Banks, my cousin, and his eyes immediately locked onto mine.
Even more, I knew that look, that mix of overprotectiveness and determination.
And Chen thinks I can break the promise? He’s crazy.
Against the might of Banks’s crew, Chen’s forty men looked considerably fewer. Still, they formed a formidable line at the entrance, silently communicating that they were ready for whatever came next.
Chen sighed. “I am going to need a very long vacation after this week.”
I gritted my teeth. “Me too.”