20. Sweet, Salty, and Savory
Chapter twenty
Sweet, Salty, and Savory
Lei
I pursed my lips and looked her way.
No longer holding the photo album, Moni walked towards us with a loving smile. That blue sundress swayed gently around her hips and legs. And there was a tenderness in her gaze that began to soften all the memories of blood and violence in my head.
When Moni got to me, I checked behind her and noticed her sisters heading toward the other side of the garden. “Where are they going?”
“To where our mothers took the picture.”
“And you’re not going?”
“I want to say hi to Banks and Marcy before I give my sisters a tour of Lotus Blossom.” She gazed up at the sky. “I’m sorry that Banks invited surprise guests.”
“Don’t worry about that. I’ll deal with it.”
Her smile faded as she lowered her view to me. “And what does that mean?”
“I think it will be Diamond Syndicate business. They stopped in the North.”
Then, she noticed the group of twenty armed men coming up behind us.
“So. . .” She put her view back on me. “You think they picked up Dimitri Ivanov?”
I stiffened. For some reason, I didn’t like her knowing his full name.
My armed men remained silent in the background with their guns undrawn.
Thankfully, that loving smile returned on her face. “Cool.”
I quirked my brows. “Cool?”
“I’ve read enough about Mr. Ivanov to know that he keeps things relaxed. Plus, I wanted to meet him. That was why I picked him as my advisor.”
It took everything in me to not glare. “You’re not a Friend of the Four Aces anymore.”
“I know, but it would still be nice to have him as an advisor.”
I wrapped my arm around her waist, pulled her closer to me and whispered in her ear, “That will never happen.”
She molded her breasts against my chest. “Says who?”
I stifled my groan. “Don’t do that?”
“Do what?”
“Rub against me—”
“I did not rub against you.” She slipped her breasts up and down and ground into me in the most tantalizing way. “But that right there, that’s rubbing against you.”
The helicopters’ engines whined and the blades chopped through the air, telling me they were descending.
I nipped at her bottom lip. “Do that again and I’m going to fuck you in front of everyone here.”
She laughed. “You’re crazy.”
The ground trembled.
I brushed my lips along her ear. “Do me a favor.”
“What?”
“After you say hi to your cousin and Marcelo, I would like you to give your sisters a tour, I want some alone time with them—”
“So you can kick my cousin’s ass?”
“Not your cousin’s ass.” I tried to kiss her.
She leaned back. “Not anyone’s ass. This is a family event. No fighting. Remember. If you’re good, then you get a show.”
Lust vibrated through me. “It wouldn’t be a fight. I was more thinking. . .tense conversation.”
“Tense better mean happy and joyous because we don’t need any more problems today.”
I frowned. “Bringing surprise guests to the East is disrespectful—”
“And I will check them on it.”
“My Mountain Mistress never has to handle my business—”
“If I’m your Mountain Mistress, then it is our business.”
Before I could speak, Chen nudged my back. “They’ve landed and are heading our way.”
“I will greet them first on my own. However,” Moni slipped out of my hold. “Due to the craziness that has already occurred, let’s make this a short cookout.”
“I second that.”
“Everyone eats. DJ plays a song or two and then I’m kicking everyone who isn’t my sister off the property.”
“And I’ll help.” Annoyed, I looked forward.
Banks made his way over, decked out in a designer green shirt, matching khaki pants, and a green hat with a long gold feather tucked into the side.
Small gold hoop earrings dangled from each ear and glinted in the sunlight.
But the bigger shocker was the three stunning women that flanked him. Each wore the same, tight green mini dress and carried green leather briefcases in both hands.
"Banks!” Moni laughed. “What is all of this?”
She headed away, moving toward Banks and I immediately hated the empty space she left behind.
A very short cookout.
I went their way.
My men followed.
Banks grinned at the army of men behind me, winked at Moni and gestured to the women and briefcases. “These lovely ladies are my assistants—Sweet, Salty, and Savory. I had to bring some of my culinary tools to cook with.”
Banks and the women stopped a foot in front of Moni. “In these briefcases are my top-secret spices along with my award-winning special sauces.”
Moni raised an eyebrow. “Speaking of your cooking, your wanting to do this barbecue has sparked a fun grill-off competition—”
“Against Lei? Girl, I’m about to mollywop his Mountain Mastering ass up and down the grill—”
"Eh.” Moni waved her hand dismissively.
I got to her side and glared at him.
Moni hugged Banks. “Don’t say that and anyway it’s my chef that wants to compete, not Lei.”
She let go of him and Banks turned his gaze on me. A smirk played at the corner of his lips. “So you gave my cousin a chef too? Don’t you think you’re laying it on a bit thick?”
No time for bullshit niceties, I deepened my glared. “You brought Dima and who else?”
Banks’ smile faltered slightly. “Damn, man. You sure know how to fuck up a surprise.”
The line of my jaw twitched. I could see it in Banks’ eyes—if Moni hadn’t been here, we’d already be throwing punches. In fact, his expression practically begged for it, daring me to make the first move.
"Be nice to each other.” Moni pointed at him. “At the first sign of bullshit, I’m ending the cookout.”
Banks shrugged. “Tell your little boyfriend that shit.”
“I don’t have to tell him that, this is his space. Be nice.” Moni scowled at him and then left us, to say hi to the others.
Duck got to my right.
Chen stayed on my left.
I knew that both my cousins planned to block me from going after him and anyone else. I just hoped they were fast enough to stop me.
With Moni several feet away, Banks returned my glare. “I brought Dima because you’ve got some shit to answer for.”
“That depends on whose asking the questions. If it is you, I’m not going to respond. Instead, I’m simply going to rearrange your fucking jaw—”
“Aww yeah. Talk that big shit while my cousin is gone. Bet you wouldn’t say that shit while Moni was here—”
“You’re correct.” I leaned my head to the side. “Do you like using your cousin as your shield from my ass whippings?”
“Who’s ass do you think you could whip?”
Chen cleared his throat. “Banks, perhaps you can direct your assistants to the grill in the back and then return.”
Ignoring Chen’s suggestion, Banks inched closer and locked his gaze with mine. “Bitch.”
Fast, the point of Duck’s sword was suddenly pressed against Banks’s throat.
The three women backed away.
Duck hissed. “What was that? I didn’t hear you. Say it again for me.”
Banks didn’t flinch, but that smile disappeared.
“I believe he said that he was happy to be in the East.” I winked at Banks. “Am I correct?”
Banks pursed his lips.
I curved my mouth into a big smile. “Put the blade down, Duck. I think he understands now.”
Duck whipped the blade away, the tip cutting a tiny, thin line near Banks’ throat before he sheathed it back. Banks didn’t wince as a small beat of blood welled from the nick.
He simply resumed his glare.
“Let’s be clear.” I sneered. “Moni being here, is a slight disadvantage from my being the monster that you damn well know I can be, but let’s not think that I have no options.”
“You’re going to learn.” Banks studied me for a moment longer, then gave a curt nod. Without another word, he turned on his heel and strode towards the grill.
His women nervously trailed behind him.
Then, I saw the others several feet away—Marcelo, Gunner, and Einstein, accompanied by ten others, all wearing shades of green.
The shortest cookout that ever existed.
I checked my watch.
Maybe, I can kick them out now.
Moni was barely four feet away from them.
While Duck, Chen, and I were a good fifteen feet away.
Marcelo walked in the center, towering over the others with his imposing frame. His green eyes glinted with something dark, matching the green outfit he wore. Long black curls fell over his forehead. The only jewelry on him was a Rolex wrapped around his wrist, all diamonds and white gold.
Then, I checked his left.
Gunner, with his bulging muscles and gun tattoo on his hand, was impossible to miss. Although heading Moni’s way, he watched me closely, his gaze was cold and calculating.
To Marcelo’s right was Einstein, slender and wearing green-rimmed glasses. As usual he had a book in his hand, I caught a glimpse of the title— The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran.
Chen whispered, “You must do a better job of keeping calm when you’re around Banks.”
“I thought I did well.”
“Her sisters caught Duck’s sword on Banks’s throat.”
I gritted my teeth.
“They’ll be watching.”
I made sure to not look in that direction of the garden. “Fine. I’ll behave.”
Up ahead Moni chuckled, went over to Gunner and wrapped her arms around him. “Teddy Bear! It’s been forever!”
Duck snorted. “Teddy Bear?”
Gunner tried to appear ferocious like he usually did, but once in Moni’s hold he damn near appeared like some fucking cuddly teddy bear.
Seeing her touch another man didn’t calm the rage within me. In fact, I was ready to kill Gunner.
Can I?
I checked the other side of the garden.
While Chloe and TT were sitting on the ground flipping through the photo album, Jo was smoking a joint and watching me.
I returned my view to the front and stopped us five feet away from Marcelo, ensuring that I was out of range of easily slapping him.
Gunner laughed. “Hey, you can’t call me that right now, Moni. I’m on duty.”
Moni let Gunner go. “Oh, my bad. No to Teddy Bear. So do I call you Theodore—”
“No.” Gunner’s face turned red. “It’s Gunner.”
Moni blinked. “What?”
He showed her the gun tattoo. “Everyone calls me Gunner now.”
“Well. . .that’s a bit. . .violent.”
Little did she know, Gunner was the very fucking definition of violence.
Why did she have to be so close to Rowe Street Mob? Of all people that she could have grown up with in the South. Why them?
Moni moved to Einstein and gave him a big hug. “Hey, Smarty.”
“As always, nice to see you, Moni.”
“Oh.” She pointed to his book. “That looks good.”
“You would love it.” Einstein showed her the cover. “How about I get you a copy and we can read and discuss it together?”
“I’m down. You know I always love having book chats with you.”
The line of my jaw twitched again.
She reached Marcelo and everything shifted.
Marcelo’s gaze locked onto mine. A silent challenge hit his eyes.
Chen whispered. “Don’t play into his bullshit, Lei.”
Next, Marcelo wrapped his massive arms around Moni and lifted her off the ground.
“Marcy!” She shrieked in surprise, her legs kicking in the air as she playfully smacked his shoulder.
“Put me down, Marcelo!” she laughed, but I wasn’t laughing.
Every muscle in my body tensed and before I knew it, I was moving forward, all my instincts screaming to tear him apart.
Duck, Hu, Chen, and the rest of my men grabbed me, holding me back with all their strength.
I tried to twist out of their grips and spoke through clenched teeth, “Let go.”
Chen kept his shaky grip on me. “Calm down.”
But I couldn’t calm down. My vision narrowed, all I could see was Marcelo holding Moni and all I could think about was killing him.
"Put me down. Now, Marcy!” Moni hit his shoulder.
Chuckling, Marcelo finally set her down.
But the damage was done—the moment had pushed me to the brink of war.
Duck, Chen, and Hu had to dig their heels in to keep me from lunging at him. My muscles were strained, trying to get them off me.
Moni, oblivious to the tension spiraling out of control behind her, adjusted her dress and playfully swatted Marcelo’s arm. “Stop playing. You know you don’t hug me that way.”
Still not calm, my heart pounded in my chest and my vision turned red with fury. The men around me tightened their grips, trying to hold me back from making a move that would unleash chaos on the Diamond Syndicate.
A deep voice cut through the tension like a knife. “No. No. We cannot fight during my first official cookout in the East.”
Goddamn it.
I calmed a little.
And we all turned to see Dima approaching, dressed in a pale-yellow linen top and pants.
However, to my surprise the second quest was not his mother or someone from the Syndicate. Instead it was a striking Black woman in a yellow sundress that walked beside him and held his arm.
Chen whispered, “She looks familiar.”
“It’s the nosy reporter.”
Duck kept his voice low. “I thought he was supposed to kill her.”
“Me too.”
When Romeo had been killed this reporter had sneaked into Syndicate owned places, trying to get an extra story. No other reporter in Paradise City would have dared, but she wasn’t from around here.
Dima said he had it under control, which to me meant—kill and bury her somewhere no one could find her.
Apparently, having it under control meant making her his lover.
And she had to be a pretty important lover, because he almost never brought women around us.
But that still wasn’t the most ridiculous thing about his entrance.
As he continued toward us, with his other hand, he casually held a yellow leash attached to a small kitten, who trotted by his feet and purred. She was a small puffball of white silky hair. Her button nose was pink. Her steps were sly and commanding.
When the fuck did Dima get a cat?
The sight was so bizarre, so completely out of place in the middle of our standoff, that it momentarily broke the tension.
Dima stopped three feet from me and smiled warmly, as if he hadn’t just walked into a powder keg about to explode. “Let’s enjoy the day, shall we? There will be no fighting here.”
Marcelo released a low chuckle and the men holding me back slowly eased their grips. But my anger still simmered beneath the surface, ready to ignite at the slightest provocation.
Moni finally turned around, saw my men letting me go and blinked.
That’s right. I was about to knock your precious Marcy’s head off his shoulders.
She gave me a soft look that said more than words ever could. She knew what had almost happened and she knew how close I was to losing control. But with Dima’s arrival, the atmosphere shifted—if only slightly.
I checked her sisters and spotted all three of them heading over.
Great. Rowe Street Mob will get more little shields. Okay, fellas. I’ll play your game at this cookout, but soon you’ll have to deal with me.
I stepped back and straightened myself.
For now, the storm had passed. But I knew it was only a matter of time before the next one hit. And when it did, there would be no holding back.