19. An Unexpected Arrival
Chapter nineteen
An Unexpected Arrival
Lei
I walked further away from Moni and her sisters.
Chen followed.
What the hell could Dima be coming here for?
A cold wave crashed over me.
Why today? Why now?
My mind raced with thoughts of anger and suspicion.
Tension built in my chest.
In our world, every move had a motive, every action a consequence. Nothing was ever simple, especially not when it came to the Diamond Syndicate.
What’s your plan Marcelo? Do you think Dima can save you from me? Dima couldn’t even save Chanel’s husband from me.
The memory of killing Chanel’s husband was seared into my mind, a twisted blend of rage, satisfaction, and the lingering scent of blood.
A biker gang called the Coffin Cheaters had battled in the West against the Killer Crows for years. The Jones didn’t want the Syndicate stepping in, for some sort of territory-pride bullshit reason.
Blood spilled.
Lives were lost.
To finally keep the peace, they married Chanel off to Pedro, the Coffin Cheaters so-called leader.
It was a sick joke, really. A desperate attempt at unity and a thorough fuck you to my love for her.
The moment they wedded, I decided that Pedro would be living on borrowed time. I didn’t know when I would kill him, just that I would eventually.
The man was filth. He never respected Chanel, never honored what the marriage was supposed to represent.
On the night that I killed him, Chanel had been mourning her brother, Romeo. Pedro should’ve been there for her, but instead, he was in some shitty hotel, screwing two chicks like the piece of trash he was.
When I got word of it, my blood boiled.
I remember the neon sign flickering when I walked up, Chen, Duck, and Hu followed close behind.
The door to Pedro’s hotel room wasn’t locked.
Cocky bastard didn’t think anyone would dare come after him.
And I didn’t hesitate. I kicked the door open with a force that rattled the walls and there he was—Pedro, half-naked and grinning like the scum he was, surrounded by cheap liquor and cheaper women.
Yet, the moment our eyes met I saw the fear rip through his bravado.
He knew.
I didn’t give him time to react. I stormed in, grabbing one of the women by the arm and flinging her to Duck. He carried her away.
The other woman tried to scream, but Hu was on her before she could make a sound, taking her out the door with cold efficiency.
Pedro started to get up, but I was on him before he could even think about defending himself.
I slammed him back down onto the bed. Next, my fist connected to his jaw with a sickening crunch.
Blood sprayed from his mouth, painting the dingy brown sheets red.
And I didn’t stop.
I couldn’t.
I hit him again and again, each punch driven by the anger that had been building for years.
The betrayal.
The disrespect.
The way he treated Chanel like she was nothing.
His face was a mess of blood and broken bones, his eyes were wide with terror, but I didn’t stop.
“Get up, you fucking coward,” I snarled, grabbing him by the throat and dragging him off the bed.
Pedro tried to speak, to beg, but I didn’t care.
I threw him to the ground and my boot connected with his ribs with a force that made him wheeze.
Blood bubbled up from his mouth.
Pedro tried to crawl away and his hands slipped in the blood pooling on the floor, but there was no escape.
I kicked him again, feeling the satisfying crunch as his ribs gave way under the pressure.
He coughed, choking on his own blood.
“You think you can treat Chanel like this?” I hissed. “You think you can disrespect her and live?”
He tried to say something, but it came out as a gurgle.
Blood spilled from his lips.
I kicked him again, harder this time, aiming for his chest. I felt the bone give way, the sickening sound of his sternum caving in under the force of my boot.
And this twisted victorious sensation hummed through me.
He gasped, a wet, choking sound, his body convulsing as his heart struggled to keep beating.
And I stood over him and watched the life drain from his eyes with no pity in my heart.
No guilt.
No sense of humanity.
My breaths came out in ragged gasps.
The stench of blood and sweat filled the room.
His body twitched one last time before going still and then finally his eyes stared blankly up at the ceiling.
A huge satisfying smile spread across my face.
Chen got to my side and wiped the blood from my hands with a cloth. His expression was unreadable. “We need to move. I’ll have to send people back here to. . .figure this out.”
I snapped my view to him. “Figure it out?”
“Stage it.”
“Stage it how?”
“Dima is already investigating Romeo’s murder. We’ll just make this look similar to how Romeo died—”
“That won’t work. Dima’s too smart for that—”
“It will have to work Lei, if they figure out it is you, then it violates Law 480, and we’ll have bigger problems.”
Returning to the present moment, I spotted Rowe Street Mob’s helicopters in the sky getting closer.
The bright green helicopters continued to cut through the clear blue sky, their blades a blur as they hovered over the East.
Large, gold letters RSM were emblazoned on the side, a warning to all who crossed their path.
Dima never called me out on Pedro’s murder. Why? And even more important. . .why is he on his way now?
I turned to Chen. “If they went to the North, then we know Dima is with them.”
“Or course, but who else?”
“His mother?”
“Or perhaps Kashmere went to the North and jumped on the helicopter with them.”
“No. If they were going to tell Kashmere that I took Chanel’s body, they would have done it already.”
“We haven’t given them an update on progress with Uncle Leo—”
“And they won’t get one until everything is finalized. The East handles the East. It’s always been like that and it will remain that way.”
“Then, what do you want me to do?”
“Call armed men over. Let them see what they have landed into.”
Chen adjusted his glasses. “Is that necessary? Perhaps, the greeting should be welcoming, with less guns and men.”
“Dima has never entered the East without getting my clear permission. Which says this is going to be some surprise bullshit meeting.”
“They know kids and women are here. I think it may be an informal conversation—”
“Informal or not, I don’t like surprises in the East. They know it and they’ve always respected that.” I glanced at Moni several feet away and now showing her sisters more of my mother’s photo album. “Marcelo and Banks did this move because they knew they could get it over while Moni is here. They think they’re safe.”
Chen let out a long breath and signaled for several of our men throughout the garden to come over.
They all hurried our way.
Chen directed his attention to me and wore a frown.
I looked at him. “You disagree?”
“No. I think Banks definitely seized the opportunity of the cookout to make a statement.”
“Then, I’ll have to make a statement too.”
“In front of Monique?”
“We’ll have to get Moni and her sisters inside Lotus Blossom.”
“Even if we do, there’s Banks’s mother and her friends. You know the rules. Too many innocents are around.”
“Which is why they are toying with me—”
“Yes. I get that part. I just don’t understand why Dima is joining the game.”
In all the time knowing him, Dima and I never truly had any heated moments. He was too logical to lose his head. And sometimes, he just. . .knew how to handle me.
I gazed up at the sky. “Maybe, Dima thinks he can talk some sense in me—”
“But about what?”
“I don’t know. All you need to do is make sure Moni and her sisters are in the house.”
Chen lowered his voice. “She’s coming over here.”
But can I get her in the house before they land?