11. Aunts, Allies, and Attitude
Chapter eleven
Aunts, Allies, and Attitude
Lei
A minute later, Duck and I made our way down the hallway toward TT’s room.
He’s got her on Mount Utopia.
I thought it would make me feel better to at least know where she was but somehow it made everything worse.
My head throbbed. It was a dull ache pulsing at my temples.
Duck murmured on my side, “after this, you go to sleep.”
I pursed my lips.
He continued, “The stress is going to kill you if you don’t shut your brain off for a few hours.”
My voice was sharper than I intended, “I need to make sure Moni’s sisters are comfortable first.”
Duck nodded. “You want to take on all this by yourself, huh? That’s cute. But even the Mountain Master needs a mountain to lean on.”
“That doesn’t make sense.”
“It doesn’t matter. It still sounded deep and wise.”
“It didn’t.” I rolled my eyes. “Dima has satellites on Mount Utopia because I think Moni is there.”
“And?”
“There was a lot of gunfire minutes before.”
“Moni can shoot?”
“I believe so.”
“You want me to call my father and see if he’ll tell me anything?”
“Uncle Song only serves his brother. No one else.”
“I can still try, Lei.”
“Do it. Then, let me know what he says.”
“You’ll be asleep by then—”
“I won’t be—”
“You will be,” Duck scowled at me. “Or I will put you to sleep myself.”
“And how do you propose that cousin, by punching me out?”
He winked. “There are other ways a man like me can put someone to sleep.”
I frowned. “Very fucking funny.”
“I’m talking about tea, not my cock.”
“Thanks for that clarification.”
We rounded the corner.
I glanced at him. “What’s the status on Rowe Street Mob?”
“The second floor of the Palace is locked down. Four Aces guards are stationed outside Rowe Street Mob’s doors.”
“And is Banks down there?”
“No. He’s on this floor. I figured you wanted him close to the girls.”
“Moni would so. . .yeah.”
“Even Banks has guards.”
“Good. I don’t want Rowe Street Mob walking around the Palace on their own. I still don’t fucking trust them.”
“Me either,” Duck pointed in front of him. “Further down the hall and on the second floor, Dima and Rose are settled in their room, guarded by his men from the North. He asked for permission. I gave it to him.”
“That’s fine.”
“Chen is going to lose his mind when he wakes up to all of these guests.”
“And then you’ll have to tell him about that weed gummy you slipped him.”
“I would rather that be a secret between us.”
“I bet you would.”
“I talked to Jo and Chloe earlier,” Duck slowed up his pace. “They didn’t want to leave TT alone.”
“No?”
Duck shrugged. “They all decided to crash in her room. Staff brought in extra beds, blankets—everything they’d need.”
I nodded absently, struggling to stay present. Every thought circled back to Moni like a gravitational pull I couldn’t escape.
“Perfect.” I cleared my throat. “Staff made sure they had tea, snacks, and toiletries?”
“Of course. Everything, Lei.”
“Do they seem happy enough?”
“Yes. And by the way, you’re doing all you can.” Duck’s voice was gentle but his words didn’t soothe me. “They’re fine. Moni would be happy.”
I rubbed the light pounding in my temples. “It’s still not enough.”
We rounded the other corner and I spotted Aunt Min and Aunt Suzi seated on extravagant loungers just outside TT’s door.
“Oh yeah.” Duck sighed. “I forgot to tell you about this.”
“Yeah. What the fuck is this all about?”
Palace staff members bustled around our aunts, carefully arranging a dainty tea table with crisp white linens and delicate China cups.
The air was filled with the sweet fragrance of freshly cut flowers which were arranged in vases of varying heights in the hallway.
The gentle clink of teacups being set down and spoons stirring sugar cubes could be heard as the staff meticulously prepared my aunts’ area like it was afternoon tea.
Meanwhile, our aunts sat gracefully, sipping their tea and chatting amongst themselves while the staff attended to their every need.
One man was massaging Aunt Suzi’s feet while another fanned Aunt Min and fed her grapes.
It was absurdly lavish even for them.
Meanwhile, across from my aunts, Moni’s three ladies-in-waiting—Thandi, Fen, and Lan—stood in a tense huddle, whispering among themselves.
Their faces were set with stubborn determination and their weapons were out.
What the fuck?
Duck shook his head. “I tried to handle this situation but I’ve found it incredibly hard to argue with these two sets of women.”
“That still doesn’t explain what is going on.”
“Our aunts want to watch over their girls this evening.”
“Their girls?”
“Yes, apparently Chloe, Jo, and TT are all theirs now and we should mind our business when they are concerned.”
Here we fucking go. Moni will return to our sisters being kidnapped by my aunts.
I shook my head. “And Moni’s ladies-in-waiting?”
“They refuse to go to sleep. I think they’re feeling guilt for Monique being taken on their watch, so. . .”
“They’re overcompensating?”
“Exactly.”
We got to them and Aunt Suzi beckoned at one of her men to refill her teacup.
He rushed over and immediately poured.
Aunt Min scowled at me. “You should already have been asleep, Lei. What are you doing out here at this time?”
“I wanted to check on Moni’s sisters—”
“Why? We have everything under control. Our girls are protected.” Aunt Min raised her eyebrows. “Do you think we can’t protect them?”
“No one said that—”
“I think that’s exactly what you’re saying by coming over here—”
“That’s enough.” I held out my hand and turned to Moni’s ladies-in-waiting. “There’s enough activity out here. You three can go to your rooms and get some rest. A lot will be happening tomorrow.”
Thandi stepped forward. “No disrespect, Mountain Master but we want to remain here just in case—”
“That is all disrespect.”
She blinked.
“I said go. You said you will stay. It’s disrespectful and I have no patience for that this evening.”
Duck cleared his throat next to me probably signaling to not be too hard on his new love interest.
In the meantime, Aunt Suzi leaned back in her chair. “I agree, Lei. They should rest. There is nothing more they can do tonight.”
“The Mountain Mistress’s sisters are here,” Thandi insisted with a clipped tone as if she were a few seconds from cursing us out. “If the Mountain Mistress is gone, it is our duty to stay with her sisters.”
“It is not.”
“Please, Mountain Master.” Thandi fisted her hands at her side. “I should’ve done more. I let my guard down at the cookout tonight. I should’ve stopped Leo from grabbing her before it got this far. . .and now, it’s all on us.”
I scowled. “It’s not.”
Lan stepped forward and crossed her arms. “We won’t leave them unguarded.”
“That’s nonsense,” Aunt Min snapped, waving the fan man away for a moment. “You’ll be no good to Moni if you collapse from exhaustion tomorrow. Now, off to bed, all of you!”
The three ladies refused to budge, and their faces were tight with defiance.
“Can they hear us, sister?” Aunt Suzi took a sip of her tea and then set the cup down.
Aunt Min huffed. “I’m sure they can.”
“But they are not moving.” Aunt Suzi wagged her finger at the ladies-in-waiting. “Now. . .if I have to get up and fight you three in this lovely dress. . .well. . .you will be in the hospital for weeks , not days. Dear God, this is vintage Valentino.”
Aunt Min took off her tiara and placed it on the table.
Aunt Suzi did the same.
Fen got next to Thandi and Lan, shifting into a fighting position.
Good god. I see what Duck means.
The throbbing in my head increased.
I stood there for a long moment, rubbing the relentless ache at my temples and weighing my options.
My eyes shifted from my aunts—perched on their loungers like queens surveying their domain—to Moni’s ladies-in-waiting, lined up in front of me with stubborn defiance etched on their faces.
This was not a battle I wanted to fight.
Not tonight.
The real battle would be tomorrow.
Here I was, staring down a hallway full of two sets of intimidating women, each determined to get their way.
I exhaled slowly.
This situation required strategy.
On one side were my aunts—Aunt Min and Aunt Suzi—hard-headed, opinionated, and incredibly exhausting to argue with. They were older, sure, but that didn’t make them any less dangerous.
If I tried to make them leave, they’d likely fight me tooth and nail.
I checked the sides of their chairs and there were swords leaning against them.
They were ready for blood.
If there were one thing I knew for certain, it was that my aunts fought dirty.
Very fucking dirty.
They’re not leaving TT’s room.
I glanced toward Aunt Suzi.
She chuckled to herself and picked up her cup of tea as if she were at a spa instead of in the middle of a power struggle. She caught my look, raised an eyebrow, and gave me a knowing smile. She knew exactly what I was thinking—and she was daring me to try.
Meanwhile, Aunt Min tapped her fingers against her knee, already two steps ahead, plotting out every argument I might throw at her. She was the strategist between them and she had no intention of losing this battle.
I could see it clearly.
Heaven help anyone who tried to pry my aunts away from TT’s door tonight. They would protect them to the death as if they were their long-lost nieces.
I put my view on Moni’s ladies-in-waiting.
Thandi, Fen, and Lan stood firm in front of me, shoulders squared, ready to resist my commands.
But unlike my aunts, their resistance wasn’t about proving a point. Their defiance was born out of guilt and loyalty to Moni. They felt responsible for Moni’s absence, and now, they were clinging to her sisters as a way to make amends.
These three were easier to sway.
Their allegiance to Moni meant they wouldn’t truly fight me—not in the way my aunts would. At worst, they’d give me a hard time and refuse to budge but I wouldn’t walk away with bruises or a lecture that lasted hours.
“Alright.” I uncrossed my arms. “We’re going to settle this now so I don’t have to waste any more time or energy tonight.”
Aunt Min smirked, clearly amused. “How do you plan to do that, nephew?”
Ignoring her, I pointed at Moni’s three ladies-in-waiting. “You’re loyal to Moni. I respect that. But right now, what she needs from you most isn’t standing guard in a hallway. It’s being rested and ready for tomorrow. If you want to help her, that’s how you do it.”
Fen shifted, glancing uncertainly at Thandi, who kept her jaw set tight.
I could see the wheels turning in their heads but they weren’t quite ready to back down just yet.
Sighing, Thandi began to open her mouth, and I ended it by raising my hand.
“I’m not asking,” I let just enough authority creep into my voice. “I’m telling you. Go to your rooms. Now.”
Fen opened her mouth to protest, but before she could say a word, Aunt Min cut in with a sharp snap of her fan. “He’s right. You girls need sleep. And. . .if you’re still standing here in five minutes, I’ll personally march you to your rooms myself—and I don’t care how grown you think you are.”
Aunt Suzi laughed. “Honestly, I fought wars before you three learned what menstrual pads were all about. We love you three but do not test us this evening.”
Duck frowned. “Stop it, Aunt Min and Aunt Suzi.”
I gave Thandi, Fen, and Lan a sad smile. “Goodnight, ladies. I will see you at the battle tomorrow.”
Fen and Lan exchanged glances then nodded reluctantly.
Thandi hesitated a moment longer but finally gave in with a small sigh.
“Fine,” Thandi muttered. “We’ll go.”
“Thank you.” I gave them a curt nod.
Reluctantly, they dragged their feet and shuffled down the hall toward their rooms.
I watched them go, feeling the throbbing in my head lessen just slightly.
At least someone would be resting tonight.
Aunt Min leaned back in her chair with a satisfied smile. “Those three are so stubborn. They remind me of us—headstrong, foolish, but willing to burn the world to prove themselves in a man’s word.”
I shot her a look. “You should go to sleep too. You’re supposed to train me in the morning—”
“I can kick your butt with a blindfold over my eyes and a broken arm.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “When do you plan to sleep?”
“When I’m dead.”
Aunt Suzi laughed.
With a theatrical sigh, Aunt Min brushed imaginary dust off her dress. “But since we’re talking and Duck is here, darling, you cannot show those beautiful ladies your penis.”
Duck blinked. “They asked to see it.”
“That doesn’t matter. As Chloe would say ‘you are being extra with the dizzy . ’ ” Aunt Suzi gestured for the man to feed her more grapes.
Duck looked to me. “What is a dizzy?”
“I have no idea.” I pointed at my aunts. “You two can’t stay up here all night.”
Aunt Suzi munched on a grape, “why not? We’re comfortable.”
“We all have a long day tomorrow.”
Aunt Suzi pouted. “Lei, we are going to be quiet—”
“You can stay for two hours at the most, but then go to your rooms and sleep—”
“Leo could come here and—”
“My father is on Mount Utopia. He will not be back in the East tonight.”
Aunt Suzi gasped.
Aunt Min shook her head. “Why did I not think of that? Of course. The battle will be on Mount Utopia.”
“Two hours. That’s it.” I went to TT’s door and knocked gently.
Jo’s voice called out from the other side. “Come in.”
Duck waited for me in the hallway.
I opened the door and stepped inside.
Despite the extra beds that had been squeezed into the room, it still appeared spacious.
TT was sprawled across one bed with printed photos of the puzzle treasure map scattered around her. Moni had said she would get obsessed with this and I could see it happening already.
Should I make TT put those photos up and go to sleep?
Chloe lounged on another bed, talking softly into her phone.
On the other side of the room, Jo stood at the window with her back to me as she stared out into the dark night.
Alright. What do I do? Just. . .check on them and what?
Chloe glanced up as I entered and immediately told whoever was on the other end of the call. “I have to go. Talk soon.”
She hung up and sat up straighter. Her gaze was wary but curious.
TT looked up from her photos. A small smile lit up her face. “Lei!”
Jo left the window and approached slowly with her hands on her hips. “Have you heard anything about Moni?”
My heart twisted in my chest. “No. Not yet. I just wanted to check in on you all, make sure you’re comfortable.”
Jo gave a stiff nod, but the tension in her body didn’t ease. “When you hear something, are you going to let us know?”
“Of course.”
Chloe stared at me with guarded hope, as if expecting me to say something that would make everything better.
But what could I say?
I was grasping at straws, trying to hold it together while the woman I loved was in the hands of a madman.
“So. . .” I cleared my throat. “You all have everything you need?”
They nodded.
“And uh. . .well. . .” I ran my fingers through my hair.
Jo widened her eyes. “You look scared. Should we be scared too?”
TT shook her head. “No. He looks sad, very sad.”
“Yeah.” I slowly nodded. “I’m sad and maybe a little scared, but. . .that’s how I am when she’s not around, so. . .no need to match my energy.”
“Welcome to the party.” Chloe shrugged. “When Moni is gone things just feel. . .off balance.”
“Yeah.” I nodded. “That’s how I feel.”
TT gave me a sad smile. “It will be okay tomorrow.”
“Correct.” I bobbed my head. “So. . .we all should head to bed and get some rest. That is the theme of this hour.”
“Just go to sleep like everything is cool?” Jo put her hands in her pockets. “Banks said the same thing and tried to tuck us in bed. No way.”
I leaned my head to the side. “No way?”
Jo shrugged. “You want me to rest? Then, give me a reason to believe my sister is safe.”
Just as I was about to say something else—anything—my phone buzzed in my pocket.
“Hold on.” I pulled it out and the sight of the number on the screen sent a jolt through me.
It was his number.
My father.
Every nerve in my body went on high alert as I quickly answered, pressing the phone to my ear. “Hello?”
To my utter shock, I heard Moni’s voice.
“Baby, I’m okay.”