Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 108768 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108768 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
I was cornered, and by the looks of it, escape wasn’t an option.
No answer came. Their eyes remained fixed in front of them.
It was then that I noticed the formal gown on the bed. Its deep blue sequins glinted in the soft light of the tent, shimmering and inviting. The matching lace panties and bra lay beside it, the color so perfectly coordinated it almost felt surreal.
My confusion grew into panic. “What’s going on? Who are you?”
Suddenly, Lei spoke from behind, scaring the shit out of me. “They’re here to help you dress.”
Trembling, I turned around and inched away. Icy fear gripped my heart. “I-I don’t need any help getting dressed.”
“You do, if you think you are going to be wearing white.”
“Are you fucking serious?”
Lei replied with chilling finality. “Dead serious.”
“Lei, my cousin would like—”
“The only reason why Banks is still alive now is due to him being your cousin.”
I tightened my hold on my towel. “Listen. Don’t talk to me like that and don’t—”
“The only reason why the South is still standing is because your sisters are there.”
My bottom lip quivered. “W-what?”
“Again, I should apologize.” He ran his fingers through his blood-stained hair. “You clearly didn’t understand your important place within my life right now.”
“Lei, I wanted to compromise with my cousin because I not only love him but I completely trust his judgement.”
Lei closed the distance between us and towered over me.
I lifted my chin and looked at him. “W-we already had a conversation about this.”
“We did.”
“I’m serious about how my cousin and Rowe Street Mob are handled when it comes to you, and I won’t allow any disrespect—”
“And what about respect for me?”
“Lei, knock it off. I am here by your side, even though all of this is crazy, and I don’t even fucking know you like that, but I feel bad and want to help—”
Lei’s expression softened slightly, but his voice remained cold. “No one else dictates what happens between us. Do you understand?”
“We both agreed that we were friends. White means I’m a friend—”
“White means that you are everybody’s friend.” That soft expression returned to hard and furious. “Is that true?”
I shivered and inched back. “I mean. What the fuck kind of question is that? Why wouldn’t I be everyone’s friend? It’s not like I’m anyone’s enemy or anything—”
“You’re Dima’s friend?”
“I don’t even know who that is.”
“But you’re definitely Marcelo’s friend?”
“Marcy is. . .I mean Marcelo is family. And stop twisting the idea of being a friend. Chen and Banks both made the title sound platonic and business-like—”
“Did they?”
“Friend of the Syndicate doesn’t mean girlfriend, fuck buddy, or whore. It means friend.”
“That’s correct.”
“So then why are you hurting my cousin’s people and coming into the goddamn shower looking like some insane killer from a slasher movie?”
“Because I tasted you.”
My mouth dropped open.
My heart warmed but I did my best to push that warmth away.
Still, I stood there speechless.
“That’s why.” He sneered. “I tasted you, and I liked the taste very fucking much. So much that I will not have anyone deciding what you will wear around me and they damn sure won’t have a say on who will guard you.”
“B-banks is just—”
“Protecting you. Trying to be there for you. Being a loving cousin and doing the right thing by you.” Nodding, Lei moved in closer, pressing his chest against my breasts. “But that means nothing to me. Do you know why?”
I trembled against him.
“Because I tasted you.”
“Lei. . .my cousin will not be okay with this, and frankly I’m not okay with it either.”
“No?”
“No. It’s barbaric bullshit. How bad did you hurt his men—”
“If I were you, I would be more concerned with making sure you understand.”
“Oh, I understand.”
He tilted his head to the side. “You do?”
“You’re crazy.”
“That’s fair.”
“Very fair.” I edged back and my legs touched the bed’s side. “Banks is going—”
“Banks and Rowe Street Mob is not a problem.”
“They are. Banks expects a report—”
“Chen has assigned people to give him those reports—”
“Lei, that is not going to work—”
“It will work until I’m done with my father and then Banks and I will talk.”
I widened my eyes. “Talk?”
“Yes.”
“You are not fighting my cousin.”
“I don’t plan to.”
“Or Marcelo and the rest of Rowe Street Mob.”
His jaw clenched.
“Lei, we had a talk about all of this and an understanding that you won’t get violent—”
“And then I tasted you, and now we need to have a new conversation.”
Shock almost knocked me over. “Conversation about what?”
“We don’t have time for that now but understand this. You wear blue—”
“Banks doesn’t want me wearing blue unless—”
“Yeah. I heard.” Lei bobbed his head. “Unless I put a ring on your finger.”
“Yes, and he wants you to ask for permission and all types of bullshit stuff that—”
“What types of rings do you like? You’ll have the biggest ring money can buy on your finger by the morning.”