6. A Bomb You Can’t Diffuse
Chapter six
A Bomb You Can’t Diffuse
Monique
The atmosphere was so thick with tension, each step towards Banks was like wading through molasses.
Deliberate and heavy.
Chen went silent.
Alright. Give Banks a hug, say thank you, get the clothes, and all will be fine.
As we approached, Banks’s glare was fixed intently on Chen. His jaw was clenched. Every line of his body screamed hostility.
His green-clad men shifted uneasily behind him. Their hands twitched near their weapons as if waiting for a signal.
Banks had always been fiercely protective but this was something else.
This was territorial.
Personal.
Chen, however, appeared like a study in complete professionalism—welcoming smile and gentle nod like he was heading toward a best friend.
When we got to Banks, I took the lead. “Hey, cuz.”
Banks directed his gaze to me. “How are you doing, Moni?”
“Good.” I gave him a huge hug, got on my toes, and whispered in his ear. “Please, be nice.”
Banks pulled away from the hug and his attention went back to Chen. “What’s he doing here?”
I stepped in between them, trying to diffuse the situation. “He’s just here to help me with picking up the clothes, Banks. That’s all.”
My cousin checked behind us. “And where’s Lei?”
I shrugged. “Busy training.”
“Naw.” Banks shook his head. “He’s not that busy.”
“He is.”
Banks glared at Chen. “Where’s Lei?”
Chen placed his hands in his pocket. “You require his presence?”
“Fuck yeah, I require it.”
I shifted my weight to my other foot. “Is that necessary, Banks?”
“We were supposed to have a conversation, Moni.”
“No one said anything about your talking to Lei. We just said that I would wear white and have your men.”
Banks grinned at Chen. “So, Lei doesn’t know I’m here?”
Chen remained quiet.
I cleared my throat. “Where are the clothes?”
“Are you rushing me, Moni?”
“Are you trying to start some shit?” I gestured to all of his men. “Why are they here?”
“Just in case shit popped off.”
“And why would shit pop off, Banks?” I crossed my arms in front of my chest. “I’m keeping your promise—”
“But Lei doesn’t know—”
“So that promise was to start shit with him?”
“It was to see how intense his feelings are for my cousin who has no business being around him.”
“We talked about this.”
“We did.”
“I said it would only be seven days and that I was just helping him.”
Banks kept his view on Chen. “And what do you think, Mr. Deputy Mountain Master? Will your cousin stand by that seven days or will he expect more time with my cousin? And does he only see Moni as a friend or is it more?”
Chen’s warm smile cracked a little. “I would never attempt to guess the moves and thoughts of my Mountain Master.”
“Yet, you’re scared to have him come down here? Didn’t even tell him about our being here.”
“I had no time. Your appearance was a surprise for me.”
I jumped in. “Chen didn’t know you were coming until you arrived. I was getting dressed.”
Banks snapped his view to me. “Getting dressed? You didn’t have clothes on? You were naked?”
“What? No.”
“Then, why did you have to put clothes on?”
“I w-was looking for better. . .umm. . .you know. . .to see you. Like I wanted to wear light blue.” I tapped my shirt. “Out of respect—”
“You wasn’t naked?”
“Why would I be naked, Banks? And stop talking to me like I’m a kid. If I were naked that wouldn’t be your business.”
“Then, why is your foot tapping like that?” Banks pointed to it. “You do that shit when you are lying.”
“Cuz, would you relax and give me the clothes and men?”
Banks walked around me and took a menacing step toward Chen. “I know Lei hasn’t been improperly touching my cousin. Right?”
“From what I understand, that is correct.” Chen nodded. “We are all friends here. There has been nothing but respect. Yet. . .”
Banks raised his brows. “Yet?”
Chen’s response was swift. “Your presence here, in such. . .overwhelming numbers, could be considered a provocation.”
A collective shuffle amongst the men in green told me that they were eager for things to escalate.
Banks smiled but his eyes were cold. “Consider it a show of strength. A clear reminder of what Moni has standing behind her. She isn’t just anybody.”
“It has been noted.”
Banks’s voice went ice-cold too. “There’s rules to this shit. You remember that?”
“I do.”
“If Lei’s intention is to go beyond friendship with Moni then he is to come to me and get proper permission.”
“What?” I lowered my hands. “Why would he have to do that?”
“Syndicate code.”
“Okay. This gangster stuff is getting out of hand. I am a grown woman who makes my own decisions.”
Banks remained in front of Chen. “You hear me, buddy?”
Chen gave him a fake smile. “I hear you.”
“I know Chanel’s death rocked Lei’s world. Shit. It rocked mine and I wasn’t even that close to her.” Banks bobbed his head. “Taking the body and shit is fucking bonkers but I wasn’t judging. In fact, I’m the main person who kept Marcelo from going after you all, after that whole funeral home stunt. Lei was grieving. I told Marcelo to let it go.”
“I thank you for that.”
“But you chose green clothes instead of yellow or red when you all did that funeral home-body snatching stunt.” Banks tilted his head to the side. “Why?”
“There was no logic behind it.”
“I doubt that, Chen. You’re smart.” Banks’s face twisted into an ugly sneer. “I bet you were the one who told him to put on green. Probably thought that out of all the factions in the Syndicate, we were the ones you could handle one-on-one if war came.”
Chen remained silent.
“I’m here to tell you that your thoughts were wrong.” Banks snarled. “The amount of men and weapons on our side are God-level. You’ve been warned.”
Chen raised his hand to adjust his tie and then lowered it. “The Syndicate’s foundation is shaky. A smart man would say that it would be smarter for us to unite then divide.”
“Yet, my cousin is with you.”
“Her relation to you was not known until it was too late.”
Determined to assert myself, I attempted to grab their attention. “Banks, I chose to be with them.”
“And for that, Moni, I’m going to be patient.”
Chen nodded. “Your patience has also been noted and appreciated.”
“Good. Because now that Moni is involved and my uncle has been killed by the Four Aces’ past Mountain Master, my patience is very close to taking a clear dive into the realm of wanting to shoot every asshole wearing blue and setting fire to the East.”
“Wow.” I gently touched Bank’s arm. “We’re not doing that, cuz. They’ve been good to me.”
“They better be.” Banks took a step back and moved my hand from his arm. “Because I’m just waiting for a reason.”
Chen sighed. “I assure you that Lei has been respectable to your cousin and will continue to do so—”
“And she will wear white.” Banks scowled. “If Lei wants to put blue on my cousin then make sure a fucking ring is on her finger too.”
I widened my eyes. “Hey. . .can we just calm down?”
Banks pointed at Chen’s head. “I should put holes in your fucking skull for that move. Lei knew what he was doing, putting blue on her. Soon as you realized Moni came from the South, you should have hit my line.”
Chen’s smile disappeared. “As you have already said, Lei has not been thinking properly due to Chanel’s death. Therefore, I ask that you see this as a mistake and not disrespect.”
“Monique is not Chanel. Lei better not bring that obsession-stalker shit my cousin’s way.” Banks’s voice rose. “You understand me, Mr. Deputy Mountain Master!”
I shivered.
Chen’s mini army reacted, taking a synchronized step our way and pulling out their weapons.
The sea of green rippled, yanking out guns and sharpened items.
“Okay.” I rubbed my hands together. “I think everyone has said what they needed to say—”
“You see Marcelo around here?” Banks gestured behind him. “Do you, Chen?”
“I don’t see him.”
“You’re smart.” Banks tapped the side of his head. “What do you think that means?”
“I would assume that Marcelo’s absence means that you didn’t think he would be able to control his temper, if he was here.”
What the fuck?
Banks winked. “You would be right.”
Chen’s voice remained steady, cutting through the tension. “Banks, I would like you to imagine that the love of your life has been killed by your father and now you seek revenge, this would mean that your mental state is not in the best—”
“None of that shit has anything to do with my blood!” Spit flew out of Banks’s mouth. “My! Blood!”
I shivered again and kept my voice low. “Banks, I’ve been perfectly safe here. This is unnecessary.”
A neutral expression covered Chen’s face. “We respect your concern for Monique. She is our guest—”
“No. She is a Friend of the Syndicate.” Banks smiled and there was no warmth or friendliness there. “For your information, Dima has already been brought into the fold and certified her status. Official records are in ink and logged.”
Who the hell is Dima? Official records?
Chen parted his lips. “You called Dima?”
“Marcelo is with Dima now, having dinner and updating him on the fact that my cousin is here. We don’t know what Lei’s intentions are for Moni, but we all agree that Moni should be a proper friend due to her father being killed by Leo and her accidentally getting mixed up in this bloody mess.”
An edge hit Chen’s words. “That was not necessary.”
Banks wagged his finger. “Naw. I thought you would try to be cute, Chen. I’m sure you had some plan working in your head. That’s why not only our men will be here,but guards from the Flower Mafia will be arriving soon to protect Moni too.”
Chen’s jaw tightened.
“Banks.” My bottom lip quivered. “We agreed to only five of your men.”
“We did.” Banks shrugged. “I have nothing to do with Dima sending his people your way. That’s for Lei and you to figure out.”
Banks and Chen silently glared at each other.
For the first time, I thought Chen was very close to attacking him.
Meanwhile, Banks looked like he was praying Chen would.
I cleared my throat. “Okay. . .I don’t want any more fighting today. Please. . .”
Banks didn’t glance my way. “Are you sure that you’re safe, Moni?”
“Yes.”
“My men stay with you the whole time.”
“They will.”
Banks winked at Chen again. “Okay then.”
I sighed.
Banks studied Chen. “I heard that you were really good at diffusing bombs. Is that true, Chen?”
What?
I turned to Chen.
Annoyance laced Chen’s voice. “I know my way around explosives.”
Banks leaned in. His grin was all teeth. “You know, I’ve always been curious about that. How exactly do you diffuse a ticking bomb?”
Chen’s gaze remained unflinching. “You see, it’s all about understanding the mechanism, the intent behind the design. Some are simple, a straightforward cut of the right wire. Others, well, they’re designed to be deceptive, to lure you into making a mistake.”
Banks smirked. “Sounds risky.”
“It’s all about patience and precision,” Chen countered, his voice steady. “And knowing when to walk away.”
Banks chuckled. “And do you ever walk away, Chen?”
“Only when it’s a bomb not worth diffusing.”
The thinly veiled threat hung between them, thickening the atmosphere. I could feel my heart racing, the adrenaline pulsing through my veins.
Banks’ face darkened. “And if a bomb is about to explode, it’s better to ensure it’s not in one’s own hands. Right?”
“That is correct.”
For a moment, I thought Banks would erupt, but instead, he laughed, a cold, hollow sound. “Then, it might be smart to make sure your hands are empty in this situation. Clean even. We wouldn’t want you to lose them. Right?”
“We wouldn’t.”
“Because when it comes to my cousin and any disrespect that could come her way, I’m shooting at every fucking body.”
Chen frowned.
A dark chuckle left Banks. “I would be that bomb that you could not diffuse.”
Jesus Christ.
Banks finally looked at me. His voice softened. “Once these seven days are done, we have a lot to talk about regarding your and the girls’ futures.”
“Okay.”
“By the way, Jo got a job.”
Excitement hit me. “What?! She did.”
“Yeah. She’s now a Graphic Novel Curator at Galactic Quest Comics & Collectibles.”
“A what?”
“Graphic Novel Curator.”
I studied him. “That’s an actual title?”
“Doesn’t matter. She’s going to be making good money in the South and pursuing her passion.” Banks snapped his fingers.
The crowd behind Banks began to shift and move, parting like a Green Sea. Out of this human divide, five distinct figures emerged, each strutting forward with a distinct swagger that showcased their confidence.
Plus, they were all uniformly dressed in vibrant green pants and shirts, and each held onto a large green suitcase that burst at the seams.
Banks gestured to the man on the far left. “This is Rattlesnake Rick.”
The man stepped forward. He was a tall, wiry individual with a sharp goatee that was braided to a point, fell to his chest, and resembled a snake’s tail.
“Umm. . .okay.” I waved at him. “Nice to meet you, Rattlesnake Rick.”
“You can keep it at Ratty or Rick.”
“I’ll stick with Rick.”
“Cool.” He nodded.
Next to Rick stood a man of shorter stature, but with biceps that looked like they could crush stones.
“This here’s Bulldog,” Banks said with a smirk.
Bulldog’s face was square and strong, with a nose that had clearly been broken more than once, giving him a rugged appeal.
Banks continued, “To Bulldog’s right, we got Silent Sal.”
I turned that way.
Sal was an enigmatic figure, with piercing blue eyes that seemed to miss nothing, all under a cloak of shoulder-length jet-black hair. Unlike the others, Sal didn’t sport any visible tattoos, making him even more mysterious.
Beside Silent Sal stood a man whose size was genuinely impressive, not just in height but in width. He looked like he could easily take on three men at once and win without breaking a sweat.
Banks pointed to him. “That’s Piggy.”
To my shock, Chen shook his head. “Piggy is not allowed. You know that Lei does not like him.”
“And you know that I do not give a fuck.” Banks went over to the last man who was undeniably the most flamboyant of the group, from his sparkling green shoes to his equally flashy green fedora. “And last, but never least, Flashy Freddie.”
Freddie gave a dramatic bow, his gold-toothed grin evident as he rose.
“O-kay. . .” I waved at them all. “Nice to meet you.”
Chen shook his head. “This is unnecessary. Four Aces have always been able to protect a Friend of the Syndicate by ourselves.”
“I bet the Killer Crows would disagree with that statement after Leo killed Romeo and Chanel.” Banks put his attention on me. “These are your guys. They will die for you, if necessary.”
“No one is dying.” My voice trembled.
“You’re right about that, Moni.” Banks gestured to the suitcases. “Also, your new clothes are in there.”
“Thank you.”
“And Moni.”
“Yes, Banks?”
“Make sure no blue covers you or I will hear about it.”
“I’ve got it.”
“Not a blue watch, blue sock, or blue bonnet.”
“I don’t have any hair so I’m not wearing a bonnet.”
“White washcloths and towels are in there too. I’m serious about no blue touching your body.”
“Clearly, Banks.”
“No excuses. I don’t even want blue berry juice dripping on your shirt. Be careful with what you eat.”
“Boy, would you chill out?”
“Not even a drop of blue ink from a leaky pen gets on that white, cause then my boys are allowed to pull their triggers.”
“Banks, that is—”
“Better write with a pencil.” Banks directed his glare at Chen. “I’m not taking any fucking excuses.”
Chen took in the five guys.
Banks returned his view to me. “When Aunty passed, I let you all stay quiet in Glory, thinking everything was okay, but that you needed time to grieve. I assumed that if you needed anything, you would call. Now I see the mistake. I’m here for you. There won’t be any more money problems or guys showing up scaring you. Got it?”
And though his words were meant to be reassuring, the promise of violence lurking beneath them was undeniable.
I swallowed. “I’ve got it, Banks.”
“Good.” He winked. “Then, I’ll be counting down those seven days, until my cousin is done.”