20. The Mountaintop Council
Chapter twenty
The Mountaintop Council
Lei
My men and I stood there in shock.
The crisp mountain air ran thick with tension and the sky above was a canvas of shifting clouds, casting moving shadows over the rugged terrain. Yet even the peaks around us stood like silent sentinels, witnessing the unfolding drama.
I put my focus on Monique, not happy with the fact that she was challenging me in a way no one else ever had.
Where did she learn about requesting a Council?
The topic itself was veiled in secrecy, only understood by those with intimate knowledge of the Four Aces. Almost no one on the outside would understand the concept. Even people who had been privy to some of our ceremonies—like Dima, Romeo, and Chanel—were unaware of its existence.
But she made sure the top four were in front of her, so. . .she knows.
I glanced behind me.
Far off in the distance, the rest of men were visible, their figures small and clad in blue. They stood scattered along the ridge, vigilant but too far to catch the words being exchanged.
Off to the other side, the parked helicopter's rotors were still.
However, even the pilot, leaning casually against the fuselage, couldn't help but cast curious glances towards us.
Sighing, I returned my view to Monique and narrowed my eyes.
How?
Silent, Monique held her ground and scanned each of our faces. Her eyes lingered for a moment on each person, as if assessing our reactions to her absurd request.
Whoever told Monique this information is getting something broken on their body.
I focused on regaining my composure. The situation was slipping out of hand and I knew it was crucial to reassert control.
I cleared my throat. “Monique, this is not the proper location to request Council with us. Consider another time and place.”
“Actually, there is no proper location or time.” Monique briefly gazed at those index cards in her hand.
I gritted my teeth.
She continued, “In the history of the Four Aces, Councils have been started in various unconventional settings to petition for roles and negotiate mergers—”
“Where are you getting this information?”
“Is the information wrong, Lei?”
The line of my jaw twitched. “No.”
She flipped a card and read from it, “In fact, there was a Council held right here on Mount Utopia to decide the fate of the Eastern territory after your father stepped away due to your mother's death.”
I froze in horror.
Why does she know this?
Hu widened his eyes.
Chen checked his Hello Kitty watch and then began to fidget with it—a clear tell that he was slowly losing his fucking mind.
“And although you already were set to sit on the throne, a man named. . .” Monique squinted at the card and took her time pronouncing the name. “Bingwein requested Council and petitioned to take on the role until you were at least in your forties. He thought that this age would be old enough to truly hold so much power.”
“And tell me, Monique.” I spoke through clenched teeth, “What did I do when he did that?”
She looked up from the card. “You killed him.”
Duck raised his hand to his waist and began to fiddle with the handle of his sword.
I sneered. “And you still think this is a good idea?”
“Yes.” She lowered the cards and kept them at her side. “Because that Council on this mountaintop was considered proper and his petition called for a final battle to determine who should be the true Mountain Master. That was the only reason why you killed him.”
Chen pushed up his glasses. “That did happen. She's. . .right about that.”
I frowned at him. “Thanks for the confirmation.”
Without looking at her cards, Monique continued, “Another Council was in an elevator during a power outage, and there was even one in a moving car that your sister, Yan called. She disagreed with your new weapons contract with the West that would put the South in debt—”
“Those were different times, under different conditions. They don't set a precedent for now or—”
“But they do set a precedent.” She lifted those cards back up and glanced at one.
For a second, I wanted to snatch those damn cards away from her.
She cleared her throat. “They set the precedent that Council can be called whenever and wherever it's necessary, as long as the key members are present. And right now, all key members are here.”
Then to further her argument, she began pointing at each one of us and spitting out our titles. “Mountain Master, Deputy Mountain Master, Straw Sandal, and Red Pole.”
Chen gave up on his watch. “She's right, Lei. There have been at least three Councils on this very mountaintop. It's unorthodox, but not unprecedented.”
I glared at Chen.
He smoothed down the front of his jacket. “You remember what we said before all of us started.”
I swallowed.
He held out his hands. “To live with no rules is to live like monsters.”
“Rules can be bent, Chen.” I gestured at Monique. “Especially in situations like this. We can't just entertain every ridiculous request that comes our way.”
“Ridiculous?!” Monique rested her hand on her sexy cleavage. “I'm ridiculous now?”
Goddamn it.
Unprepared for all of this, I ran my fingers through my hair. “You're not ridiculous but your calling Council is ridiculous.”
“How?”
“Because right now I don't care about this Council or the Four Aces, I just want to take you somewhere privately, rip that damn dress off of you, and lick your pussy until you understand that the only color you wear is blue.”
She opened her mouth in shock.
Do you have a rebuttal for that on those fucking index cards?
Duck and Hu stirred.
She blinked a few times and flipped to the next card. “Okay.”
I leaned my head to the side.
“If you don't want to give me a proper Council, then I will be forced to call an Elder Council—”
“Jesus Christ.” Chen stepped back in horror.
Duck moved his view to the ground.
It was probably him who told her.
But this was a lot of information and he’s only had a few minutes alone with her at a time. This was hours upon hours of detailed information.
Monique raised her voice. “I have every right to call this Elder Council, and currently these members are Leo, Song, and both of your aunts—”
“We know who is on the Council—”
“So, you want me to call them?” She placed one hand on her hip.
Completely out of character, Chen kept shaking his head. “No. No. We don 't need to have them up here for a Council. It would be a shit show of high proportions. Lei might try to kill Leo and he isn't ready. Plus, my father is not. . .the most mentally stable person and my aunts call for crazy predictions—”
“Monique. . .” Duck kept his voice low. “To get the Elder Council involved would be like. . .tattle telling or. . .having us get a whipping.”
“Either we do this Council right here and right now.” Monique raised one finger. “Or I go get the big switch to whip your little behinds.”
“Well. . .that is quite a point.” Chen shrugged and turned to me. “The essence of leadership is to hear out even what we may deem as ridiculous? It’s about fairness, Lei. Upholding the integrity of our own codes and—”
“You just don't want your father here for an Elder Council.”
Chen bobbed his head. “That too.”
“And Lei,” Monique frowned at me. “You're not ripping any dress off me and licking anything until you hear everything I have to say.”
I tensed. “Is that right?”
“Yes.”
Hu added, “You always said you never wanted to be like your father. This is one way to prove it.”
His words hit me like a ton of bricks. Not wanting to be like my father had always been a guiding principle for me. Hu using my own values against me, left me cornered.
It also showed how freaked out he was about dealing with the Elder Council.
Duck scowled at me. “Hear Monique out. If her request holds no merit, we can decide as much.”
Hu tapped the side of his gun. “Things are getting out of hand. A fresh perspective may be helpful.”
Duck muttered, “That's an understatement.”
With a heavy sigh, I nodded slowly. “Fine. We'll hear your petition for Council.”
Her expression brightened, and I had to admit that reaction made me happy.
“Alright.” She returned her gaze to those damn cards, shuffled a few, and then stopped at one.
I quirked my brows.
She gave me a confident smile. “I would like to petition for the right to be a Friend of the Four Aces .”
That statement hung in the air.
None of us spoke.
Well. . .now shit is really out of hand.
I glanced at my fellow Aces, searching for any hint of objection or hesitation. Duck, Hu, and Chen exchanged glances, yet their faces were unreadable.
Still, I had no idea how long we remained speechless.
But it was Chen who finally broke the silence. “Monique, that is no small task, no mere title to be handed out without due consideration. It means. . .entrusting you with a lot of secrets and. . .power and the responsibility that comes with being part of our Inner Circle.”
“Okay.” She nodded. “So. . .tell me this.”
I studied her.
“Am I being ridiculous right now to think that I am currently in the Inner Circle?” She touched that sexy cleavage again. “Am I being egotistical or crazy to think that?”
“Well. . .” Chen exchanged glances with Hu and Duck. “No. . .you are not being crazy. There's a strong argument that you are currently in the Inner Circle.”
She gestured behind her. “I was sitting on a throne days ago, and your people were watching me to decide if they should eat or drink. Was that just for show? Or am I being trusted with power? Let me know, so I can better understand this.”
Duck looked at me. “She was sitting on the throne and everyone instantly considered her to be holding your place until you returned. No one even glanced my way.”
I pursed my lips.
Chen shifted his weight to his other foot. “She also convinced Lei to give back Chanel's body. A feat that none of us could do.”
Great. Now my Deputy is helping her case. Just perfect.
“And. . .” Duck sighed. “Lei has been committed to. . .keeping her around due to her keeping him calm.”
Monique pointed to him. “Is that not some form of power?”
I answered for him. “That's a lot of power.”
“Then, I think that there is a strong argument for my becoming a Friend of the Four Aces.”
I shook my head. “There's one thing you all have forgotten.”
“What?” She raised her eyebrows.
“You are already being considered for the position of Mountain Mistress which is on an entire other level and completely surpasses—”
“You are still in mourning over Chanel.”
My whole body stiffened.
“You wanted her to sit on that throne.” Monique looked at the cards as if she couldn't look at me. “So. . .I don't want to even be considered for that position until you're done mourning her, which could take years.”
Chen shrugged. “That is a good point.”
I sneered. “Shut up.”
Monique spoke, “But I do like the idea of Friend of the Four Aces —”
“We agreed that we would spend time together to. . .” I cleared my throat, hating that we were having this conversation in front of everyone. “We agreed to explore our. . .feelings for each other.”
“That takes time, Lei.” She gave me a sad smile. “And I'm fine with us exploring our feelings for each other, but I won't just be the Four Aces' Pet or the Mountain Master's Side Thing —”
“No one thinks you are those things.” My heart ached.
I moved an inch forward, wanting to hold her but knowing I couldn't. In a Council, the Mountain Master was to never touch the petitioner whether to harm or console them.
Due to that, it took everything in me to remain there. “You are one of the most important people on this mountaintop.”
“Then, prove it by treating me that way.” She placed the cards at her side. “And I want a title to solidify the respect not just from you, but those under you.”
She scowled at Chen. “That means no more lying to me and pretending to go along with stuff and then doing the opposite. With this title, it would be a clear violation.”
He stirred.
“Well. . .” Chen adjusted his glasses nervously. “We can't deny that in this short time Monique has proven herself to be loyal. Just in the case of the kidnapping, she had the right and power to start a war between Rowe Street Mob and us, but instead she attempted to create a compromise that would maintain peace.”
“And Lei fucked that up.” Duck muttered.
Monique scowled at him.
Duck looked away. “Sorry.”
Hu spoke, “She has earned my trust and this morning. . .this moment. . .she's really impressed me.”
“Thank you, Chen and Hu.” Monique smiled.
Duck remained silent for a moment before nodding as well. “I've seen Monique in action. She's got what it takes to stand with us, and I really like having her around. . .if she wants a more secure role with us then I won't stand in her way.”
“Thank you, Duck.” She widened that smile. “Then. . .we can vote.”
Chen held up his hand. “The Mountain Master must make his comment before the voting begins.”
Everyone looked at me.
I took a deep breath.
My mind raced through the possibilities and consequences of granting Monique's request.
A swirl of conflicting emotions spun in my chest.
The role would undoubtedly elevate her status, bringing with it power and responsibilities that I hadn't fully considered for her until now.
However, the thought of Monique assuming such a significant position within our organization sent a jolt of unease through me.
It wasn't just about the power she would wield; it was more personal, more primal.
If Monique became a Friend of the Four Aces , she would not only be privy to our innermost circles, but she would be involved in high-level decisions, and inevitably. . .in close proximity with other men.
Dangerous, powerful men.
Violent alphas.
The sort that would sniff her sweet perfume and be ready to take a bite.
I fisted my hands at my side.
A part of me, a part I wasn't particularly proud of, recoiled at the idea. This possessiveness was new, unfamiliar, and frankly, unsettling.
I never worried about this sort of shit when it came to Chanel.
Was it because Chanel had already grown up in these rooms with these sort of men?
No. It's not that. This is. . .something else.
I had always prided myself on being more progressive, more open-minded than my father, but here I was, grappling with a sense of ownership over Monique. I watched her, her poise, her confidence, and I felt a twinge of admiration mixed with an undercurrent of something darker.
Her ascent to power would mean I couldn't keep her close in the way I secretly desired. She wouldn't just be mine anymore; she would belong to the Four Aces in a way that transcended personal relationships.
The idea of her being in Diamond Syndicate rooms; negotiating, laughing, and sharing moments with other men stirred a primal jealousy in me.
It was irrational, I knew that.
Monique was her own person, not a secret possession to be kept away from the world. Yet, acknowledging this truth did little to quell the possessive urges bubbling within my heart.
Even more, if Monique were granted this title, I would have to move differently around her. I would need to restrain these newfound possessive instincts and respect her position and autonomy.
It would be a test of the dark beast within.
A challenge.
Chen cleared his throat. “Lei? Do you have something say?”
Damn it. What should I do?