22. Blue Beginnings
Chapter twenty-two
Blue Beginnings
Monique
I'm a Friend of the Four Aces.
I stepped into the tent, as a sense of surreal accomplishment washed over me.
Just moments ago, I had stood in front of Lei, Duck, Chen, and Hu, my heart thundering in my chest.
I couldn't lie. . .I had been scared as fuck. Nervousness threatened to have me end the whole Council and rush off in shame.
Lei's gaze had been intense. Hu, with his ever-calculating eyes, had surely been scrutinizing my every move. Chen's stoic presence had been unnerving, while Duck's unreadable expression had added to the mounting pressure.
But, I stood strong.
For a minute, I wondered if Mom was watching and if she was proud or freaking out for me.
Doesn't matter.
I grinned.
I'm a Friend of the Four Aces.
The weight of the title settled on my shoulders. It was both a mantle of honor and a shield of newfound responsibility.
Last week, I was breaking chicken bones in the factory and then rushing over to my other job to waitress at the strip club.
Now I would be navigating a new gritty, yet luxurious world that could make or break me.
And while I had been victorious with this Council, I had more tests ahead of me. There was no doubt that I would have to prove that I was more than just Lei's plaything. I needed to show them—and myself—that I was capable and deserving of the title and the respect that came with it. Plus, this was my chance to make a real difference and wield influence in the sort of world that had once seemed so far out of reach.
Sighing, I walked deeper into the tent.
I can't believe Duck didn't give me his vote.
I had wanted to kick his ass but instead I remained drowned in anxiety as I waited for the last votes.
Mountain Mistress? Chen and Duck are bugging.
With the way Lei had left me alone in these past two days over Chanel's dead body. . .
He's not ready to replace her yet. His heart is still broken.
I had to remember that fact as we continued to. . .do whatever we were doing.
Don't think of that. There's more important shit happening right now.
With a deep breath, I pulled out the phone that Chen had given me and dialed Banks.
Don't stress. This will go well. Just be assertive.
It rang only once before Banks answered. “Moni?! Is everything alright?”
“I'm 100% okay.”
“And my men? They were supposed to report and their fucking messages don't sound like them—”
“Alright, so I need to get back to you about your men—”
“What the fuck does that mean?”
“A lot has happened—”
“I sent them to watch your back—”
“You did, but I am also watching my own back and—”
“Moni—”
“Banks, be quiet and let me talk!”
Banks fell silent on the other end.
Thank God.
I swallowed. “I appreciate your concern, Banks, but I assure you that I am capable of taking care of myself. And. . .”
How is Marcy and him going to take this?
I cleared my throat. “And instead of being a Friend of the Diamond Syndicate, I decided to petition Lei and his key officials to grant me the title of Friend of the Four Aces.”
Banks snorted. “And how did that work out for you?”
“I got it.”
Banks remained quiet.
I began to slowly pace in the tent. “But not all of the Council members voted in my favor.”
There was a brief silence before Banks spoke again, “Who didn't vote for you?”
“Chen and Duck, they both thought that I should be. . .Mountain Mistress instead. . .”
Alright. I said it. Let's see what he says.
There was a momentary pause before Banks continued with a note of caution in his voice. “Mountain Mistress?”
“Yes.”
“Sitting on the throne next to Lei?”
I shivered. “Yes, but that's not what I'm going after. I chose Friend of the Four Aces instead because—”
“Oh no. We will not so quickly get off the Mountain Mistress topic.”
I paused from pacing. “Fine.”
“Mountain Mistress?”
“Yes, Banks.”
“Lei's. . .woman. Probably eventually his wife.”
“Apparently, his father Leo chose me to—”
“Leo!?” It came out as a shocked shriek.
“Yes. We discovered that Leo had been plotting for at least a year to put me in that title.”
“When the hell did Leo even meet you?”
“I have no idea—”
“You need to know those details—”
“Of course I do. That's my plan once I see Leo at the final battle in. . .” I considered the time that had passed. “Four days.”
Banks let out a loud sigh on the other end of the line. “Moni, this isn't some game. Becoming Mountain Mistress means getting tangled in the deepest parts of Lei's world.”
“I'm not going to be that. I went for —”
“Yes. Friend of the Four Aces but if Chen raised Mountain Mistress up then that tells me the promotion is just a matter of time.”
I gritted my teeth. “I'm handling it.”
Banks scoffed. “You think a few victories against the Council is enough? You haven't seen the real darkness that lies within the Four Aces.”
His words stung but I refused to let doubt creep in. “I understand that there's more to their world than what I've experienced so far. I know their cruel and very dark history.”
“You don't know it.”
I considered the Essence of the Cloud Dragon. “I know more than you think.”
There was a lengthy pause before Banks finally spoke, “I don't want nothing to happen to you.”
“I know.”
“I don't like that Lei has gotten his fucking claws into you, and you've been mourning. You may be emotional and not thinking clearly—”
“Banks. . .”
“Yes?”
I closed my eyes. “I like Lei. . .a lot.”
Banks let out a heavy sigh. “He's dangerous, and he has a lot of enemies. Getting involved with him is a risk.”
“I understand the risks.”
“And. . .not to mention the fact that he gets obsessed.”
I opened my eyes. “I'm well aware of that too. Lei may be ruthless and powerful but I'm not afraid of him.”
“Of course you're not. It's clear that he must like you too. Especially if he won't let you go and Chen already sees you as Mountain Mistress.”
“I want you to pull your men back from the mountain.”
“That was Marcelo's doing, not mine.”
“Then, tell Marcy to stop.”
“You're going to have to tell him yourself.”
I blinked. “Fine.”
“Marcelo won't be happy about this at all.”
“He should be happy—”
“And why is that?”
“I've read the history between the Four Aces and Rowe Street Mob. You all are fair to think that negotiations and deals have been bullshit.”
“Lei always sided with Romeo due to Chanel having a leash on his cock. And the West hates the South.”
“Why?”
“Old history. Crownsville shit.”
“But, Banks, our people are from Crownsville too.”
“Yeah, but not all of Rowe Street Mob is like that. Some of these white boys with us. . .well, their great-grandfathers were really about that racist life. Now they're not, but. . .Killer Crows have a long memory.”
“They have to let it go.”
“There's something else. I don't know if you have caught it or not, but. . .”
“What?”
“Chanel and Romeo. Their last name is Jones.”
Now it was my turn to pause and even sit down on the bed.
Wait a minute. Is he for real? What are the odds?
“You heard me, Moni?”
“Y-yeah, but like. . .how close are they related to Ralph Jones?”
“That was their great grandfather.”
“Oh.” I widened my eyes. “Like. . .our great grandfather. Allegedly.”
“Don't start that allegedly shit, Moni.”
“Listen, Banks. Toward the end grandmother was a bit crazy. Remember how she would go outside in the rain in that housecoat and stare up at the sky like an alien ship was coming.”
“Grandma said that was her father. I believe it.”
An odd throbbing hit my head.
This is so fucking weird.
I had never for one second considered the fact that I could be related to Chanel. I wasn’t even sure how I would approach that with Lei.
You know what? Don’t stress. It may not be anything at all.
Our grandmother would watch us when we were kids and she always talked about how we got our family house.
According to grandmother, her mother had been Ralph Jones's secret mistress in the South. Apparently, he had given her a 5-bedroom house that we all considered the family home . It was where Banks lived now with his mother. But even more, if anybody in the family needed a place to stay, we understood that there was a room for us there.
“But back to Romeo and Chanel, their father was Kenneth Jones, Ralph Jones's son.”
For us, he had been an odd man who used to come to my grandmother's house every now and then, and hand her an envelope, then leave.
Banks always pointed to that being proof of our connection. Banks guessed that Ralph Jones had ordered his son to keep up with taking care of his sister.
I sighed. “Okay. So. . .that's. . .odd.”
“You think Leo knew that?”
“I don't know.”
“More important, does Lei know that?”
I shook my head. “No.”
“But he knows your last name is Jones.”
“Well. . .he doesn't.”
“Moni.”
“Don't start.”
“You mean to tell me that Lei is over there kidnapping women and giving them titles but don't know their last name?”
“We never got to that.”
“Yeah, but I bet you both got to other things.”
I rose from the bed. “Listen. Let's move on. I don't know what we can really do with that information right now.”
“Romeo and Chanel always acted like they knew we were related. Anytime I was present at a meeting, they leaned more in our favor as if to say, we got your back, cousin.”
I returned to slow pacing. “But did they ever say anything?”
“Okay, but check this out. Before Rowe Street Mob was even together, I got arrested for some serious shit—”
“What shit?”
“A little homicide situation.”
“Oh my God.”
“The Killer Crows’ family lawyer was at the jailhouse before they could even finish booking me. And guess what else?”
“What?”
“I was out in an hour, and they never said anything about it.”
This is fucking weird.
“I don't know, Moni. I'm just trying to tell you the connection and that you know. . .when Leo murdered Romeo and Chanel, I felt that deep in my heart.”
“I don't know what to do with this information.”
“Me either. Plus, I don't know how Killer Crows will take it or if they know the history. They all like to keep a whole regal our-shit-don't-stink-attitude. I'm sure any history about the founder of the Killer Crows having two families would never be discussed.”
“Regardless, we need to focus on much bigger problems. For now, we are possibly just distant cousins. They've never truly connected with us, so. . .let’s drop it for now.” I shrugged and did my best to get my head back in the game. “Anyway. . .once Lei and Leo have their final battle, I want to sit down with you, Marcelo, Lei, and Chen. We need to clean some of this up.”
“Moni. . .”
I stopped pacing. “What?”
“Do you know how dangerous that meeting will be?”
“Marcy will behave himself if I ask nicely. You don't think so?”
He went quiet as if thinking about it.
I continued, “Of course we would have to straighten out the situation of Lei and them taking Chanel's corpse while dressed in green.”
“They would have to make good on that by telling Kashmere, she's the new leader for the Killer Crows. Chanel's little sister. . .and probably our cousin—”
“Would you stop?”
“I'm just saying.”
I thought about what Banks had said about what Lei needed to do.
It would be super hard for Lei to do. I could already tell he wouldn't want to go near that family again or probably enter the West.
And now he would have to deal with the possible back lash of his obsession.
Banks spoke, “Could you get Lei to do that?”
“I don't know. Let me talk to him.”
“If you can do that, then we would all be able to sit down at the table and talk with no violence. Marcelo is hot about that shit and Lei's now kidnapping you.”
“I'm here because I want to be here.”
“What happened to my men, Moni?”
“They are being taken care of right now.”
Which was true.
They were just being taken care of in a hospital.
Banks was no fool. “Then, let me talk to them.”
“Not now. Everything is crazy. Give me a day after the final battle to—”
“Moni, you need to be protected.”
“The title protects me. Do you disagree?”
“I barely understand that particular title.”
“But I know it. There's four privileges.”
“What are they?”
“I appoint my own guards and they could be from outside the Four Aces.”
“So, you're keeping my men?”
“I am.”
Because they need to heal.
I shook my head. “Second, no member of the Four Aces is permitted to harm or act against a Friend .”
He sighed but kept quiet.
“Third, I have access to various resources—safe houses, intelligence networks, and financial assets.”
“Lei is going to try and veto some of this.”
“He might but the final privilege is not only that I hold an advisory role, but I get to choose an advisor for myself.”
“Okay. That will be me.”
“Banks, you're going to advise me regardless, whether I ask you or not. I chose someone else.”
“Who?”
“Dimitri Ivanov.”
“Dima?” Banks began to laugh.
I frowned. “You don't like that?”
“Dima?”
“Yes, Banks.”
“Did you take a picture of their faces when you told them you chose Dima?”
“No.”
“Damn. I wish I had been there.”
“You disagree with choosing Dima?”
“Hell no. That's actually a pretty damn good decision. Maybe you do know a lot more than I thought.”
I relaxed. “Good.”
“I mean. . .Dima is weird as fuck, but he's smart and fair.”
“Okay.”
“And he's close to Lei even though neither of them would admit it.”
“Perfect.”
“Even more, Dima likes to make money and he has this fierce logic. Right? Like. . .the shit that makes other motherfuckers emotional doesn't affect him. He makes most decisions based off straight logic.”
“Oh. I like the sound of that.”
“The only thing is that I did just see Dima wild out on the Mayor days ago.”
“Paradise City Mayor?”
“Yeah. The Mayor was hollering at Dima's new lady and Dima did some big dick shit and shut it down.” Banks chuckled. “But that's just men being men. I feel like any other time, he would keep his cool.”
“Alright then. Yay for me. Right?”
Banks sighed. “Yes.”
“Do you feel better about this situation?”
“No because you keep avoiding updating me about my men so that tells me that Lei probably beat the shit out of them.”
I tensed.
“When we all sit down. . .Lei is going to have to make that situation right too.”
“O-kay.” I cleared my throat. “So. . .talk to Marcelo about the men around the mountain.”
“Why? They're nervous with all that green around them?”
“Banks, Lei has to focus on winning against his father. Do you understand the emotional toll that it is going to take on him. He has to train—”
“Sounds like Lei is training more with you than where he should be—”
“Banks, call the men off, and don't give me that Marcelo has to do it bullshit. You and he act like fucking twins birthed from the same womb. If you pull them back, Marcelo will respect the decision.”
Edge laced his voice. “You better be safe.”
“I am.”
“Not one fucking scratch or anyone bothering you—”
“I'm more than good, Banks. Lei's men carry me around on this gold and blue chair like I'm Cleopatra. And when we had a feast, I was on this throne.”
Banks let out a long breath.
“What?”
“Is this really happening?”
“The only thing that is happening is that I am a Friend of the Four Aces.”
“Moni.”
“What?”
“I need to talk to you twice a day—morning and night.”
“Okay.”
“I want to know that you are safe and keep me up-to-date.”
“I will.”
“I don't like this.”
“I know.”
“But I also believe that you are smart as hell, and. . .maybe. . .just maybe, you can navigate this shit safely.”
I swallowed. “Thank you, Banks.”
“I will murder them all if anything happens to you.”
“Nothing will happen.”
“And make sure Lei understands that my men will be well compensated for the pain and injuries he gave them.”
I blinked. “If that is the case then I will make sure of that.”
“And when you meet with Dima, let me be there for the introduction.”
“That's fair.”
“Remember, Moni. I'll always be here for you if things go bad.”
“Your support means a lot to me, cousin.”
“Alright then,” he said with a hint of resignation. “If you need anything, you know where to find me.”
“And your men around the mountain?”
“I'll pull them back. I want you to look good on your first day as a Friend .”
I smirked. “Thanks, cousin.”
“You miss a call and we storm the mountain.”
“I got it.”
“I'm not fucking around, Moni.”
“I got it, and Banks, thank you.”
“We're family, Moni. That's what we do.”
“True.” A smile tugged at my lips. “So. . .before we go. How are my sweet and innocent sisters?”
“Jo is working. She thinks she owns that comic book store. If you all go to the East. . .she may not come.”
I frowned. “Why not? I can get her a car to—”
“I already bought her a new car. It's not that.”
“Then, what?”
“Every time she goes to work, she'll have to wear blue in the East, then drive over to the South and change into green, and then when she returns, she'll have to put blue back on. That shit will annoy her. She might as well live with us for a while.”
“It would annoy her but that's my road dog. She's coming with us.”
“We’ll see. She’s also building quite a stable of women around here in the South.”
I laughed. “And how are Cloe and T.T.?”
“Chloe is a hot mess. It's been a job to keep her off the streets and away from boys.”
“Yeah?”
“I'm sending guards with her when you all go to the East.”
“And I'll gladly take them. I need all the help I can get with that girl.”
We both laughed, and it reminded me of the good old times when Banks and I would just sit in front of the TV and joke around.
I grinned. “And how is T.T.?”
“Right now, she's around the corner, spying on our call. She thinks I don't know.” Banks raised his voice. “T.T., you might as well come in here and say hi with your nosy self.”
My heart ached. “Put her on the phone.”
A half a minute went by. Then, there was a fumbling of the phone being passed. Soon, her sweet little voice came on the line. “Moni!”
“Hey, baby sis.”
“Where are you?”
“I'm on a mountain.”
“What? How did that happen?”
“I made some new friends.”
“Banks thinks they are dangerous.”
I shook my head. “Yes, but I have it under control and stay out of grown folks business.”
“When are you coming back?”
“Soon. Give me four days.”
She let out an exasperated breath. “That's forever.”
“It really isn't.”
“But. . .there's been new developments.”
“What new developments?”
“I've been looking up more on Crownsville's treasure!”
Oh my God. To be young again and one-track minded.
I couldn't help but chuckle. “What's new?”
“Banks took me to the museum in the West, and I got two new books. One of them talks about the Bandit's map.”
The image of a weathered parchment crisscrossed with lines and X marks floated into my mind.
My interest piqued. “Cool. Tell me about it.”
“It's not like a regular map.” T.T.'s voice dropped to an excited hush. “It’s broken down into puzzle pieces, so not just anybody could find the treasures. Only the smartest would get them. The most-worthy.”
I checked my watch. “Puzzle pieces, huh? That sounds. . .intricate.”
“It is! The book says that the pieces are scattered, hidden where only true hearts can find them.” I could hear the rustle of pages, presumably T.T. flipping through one of her notebooks. “And I'm going to find every single piece, Moni. I'm going to solve the puzzle.”
“I bet you will.”
“But Banks won't take me to Dream Lake.”
“I will take you. I swear.”
“And I will need to go a few times. First, to get a lay of the land and then several other times to search.” T.T. let out a delirious giggle. “I'm so close. When I find it, we'll be rich, and you won't have to work so hard anymore!”
“Hold on, T.T.” I smiled. “Things will be different when I come to you. We have a new house and I have a new job.”
“Yeah?”
“We'll be living right in Paradise—”
“So, I'll have many times to search?”
“Yes. I guess that’s true too.” I laughed and checked my watch again. “Alright, my little detective. I have somewhere to be, but I will call you tonight so we can talk more about this. I love you, baby sis.”
“I love you too. Bye, Moni!”
“Goodbye, T.T.” With a click, the call ended, but her enthusiasm lingered, infusing the tent with energy.
Granted, that entire part of the phone call with Banks had been a lot from the whole possible family connection with Chanel to his demands for Rowe Street Mob, but I felt like I handled it all well.
Wow.
I put the phone on the bed and gazed down at the white dress I was wearing.
Now it's time to change for my date.