1. The Mystery Gift
Chapter one
The Mystery Gift
Monique
Leo approached with his big gift.
My ladies-in-waiting backed away.
He gave me a welcoming smile. “I would like to talk to you before the tea ceremony and give you this gift.”
My heart skipped a beat.
It was a mix of nerves and curiosity swirling inside me.
What could this gift be?
The sight of the large box and the odd presence of the other guy with the briefcase shoved me over the edge. Still, I maintained my composure and placed a top on the pot full of my tea blend. “Okay, Leo. Let’s talk.”
He placed the gift on the table. “I already know the tea ceremony will be spectacular.”
“And how do you know that?”
“It smells amazing in here. . .” He sniffed the area. “Like something my wife would have blended.”
Good.
A wide smile spread across his face. “As usual, I am very proud of you, Monique.”
It shouldn’t have made me so happy to please him but my soul damn near fluttered. What was it about him that made me want to make him proud?
This was a mad man after all.
If anything, I should have been scared shitless to be in a room by myself with him. In fact, if Lei knew Leo was in here. . .Lei would have been in here with several men.
I pointed to the gift. “You didn’t have to give me a present.”
“Why not? You are giving me several presents.”
“I am?”
“The tea ceremony will allow me more time with my son, nephews, and siblings.” He held his hands out, gesturing to the kitchen. “Also, I will get to spend a good memory in Lotus Blossom before I die tomorrow.”
I blinked not liking Leo’s talking about his death. In my mind, I still believed I could somehow stop this crazy battle.
Leo continued. “You are also giving an amazing show to the East which always makes me happy.”
“I’m going to do my best.”
“I know you will,” he winked. “That’s all that matters.”
“Good because. . .I may spill something.”
His expression went stern. “You will not spill anything.”
My heart pounded in my chest. “O-kay.”
Then, he returned to smiling. “But the biggest gift of all will be my grandchild.”
“Oh.” I inched back. “Well. . .I’m not pregnant—”
“You will be.”
What the fuck?
Leo laughed and then tapped the gift. “But we should focus. My son will soon be here and I will truly have to behave.”
I looked at the big gift, wondering what could be inside of the box and/or what craziness would come out of it.
Was it a precious heirloom from their family?
Was it some sort of symbolic gift to honor the tea ceremony?
Or was it something. . .terrifying?
It could be anything, but I hoped for the best as I reached out to undo the bow. The blue ribbon slid off easily.
That was when I realized Song had not come over to the table with him. Instead, he remained several feet away.
O-kay. . .Song is acting weird. . .that may not be a good sign.
Meanwhile, the other man placed his briefcase on the table and began taking out tons of papers and pens.
Is he a lawyer? What the hell is really going on?
I hesitated for a moment before lifting the top of the box.
As soon as I did, the metallic scent of blood hit my nose, reminding me of the day when Lei and I walked into that bloodied hotel room discovering the torture scene before us. A scene that Leo and Song had orchestrated.
Oh no. I’m not doing this today.
My stomach churned.
A sense of dread washed over me and I quickly placed the top back on, not even checking to see what was in the box.
My hands shook.
“Leo. . .” I shivered and took a step back. “What’s in there? Seriously.”
Leo’s smile remained but his eyes darkened slightly. “Open it, Monique.”
The sickening smell lingered in the space, making it hard to breathe. No more did the kitchen have the fragrance of tea. The scent of death was immediate in the space.
I swallowed. “No disrespect, but. . .it smells like something died inside of there.”
“That doesn’t matter.”
“I feel like it does. . .”
His tone remained calm but firm. “Open it. You need to see your present.”
“But. . .”
“I could have told you but I believe that if you see it, then this will be much better.”
My heart pounded.
“Monique, I want you to know how much I care for you.” Leo reached across the table and his hand settled on top of the gift. “You are my daughter and this gift. . .it’s not an ordinary one. It’s a symbol. A symbol of my trust in you and of how much you mean to me. I am putting all of my faith and my bloodline into your hands.”
“Leo. . .that’s a lot.”
“It is a lot.” He moved his hand. “Open it.”
I swallowed hard, glancing between Leo and the gift.
The air thickened with tension.
“Okay.” Summoning all my courage, I reached for the lid again.
You can do this. It won’t be bad. It’s probably a. . .dead bird or something symbolizing. . .I don’t know. . .life. . .
Or it could be Chanel’s face.
He did have possession of her dead body.
Man. . .I don’t want to see that. . .
This time, I lifted it fully, bracing myself for whatever horror awaited inside and when I did see it. . .holy fucking shit. . .I couldn’t even move.
Oh God no. . .
My breath caught in my throat.
Terror coursed through my veins.
The sight was worse than I could have ever imagined.
No. No. No.
There, nestled in the box, was the severed head of Yan.
Leo’s daughter.
Lei’s sister.
I froze right there, holding the top in the air.
Was this some nightmare that I had found myself trapped in? If so. . .I would have loved to wake up right in that moment?
But I didn’t wake up.
Because this was no nightmare.
This was my fucking crazy ass father-in-love.
Why the hell did he give me this?!