Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 124836 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 624(@200wpm)___ 499(@250wpm)___ 416(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 124836 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 624(@200wpm)___ 499(@250wpm)___ 416(@300wpm)
“The heart of our empire. It’s how we maintain power and influence in Shanghai as well as in Paradise City.”
Disbelief spread across her face. “I don't know anything about running something like that and I’m not prepared—”
“There are people in place to manage the day-to-day operations. Your role is more of oversight and ensuring loyalty, but they will need to know who they report to now.”
“And when they report to me, what am I supposed to do?”
“Make tough decisions.”
“Like what?”
“Like. . .who should die due to whatever problem has come.”
She stared at me like I was bullshitting her. “You’re not serious.”
“I’m being very serious.”
“I’m not. . .about this life, Lei. He knows that.”
“He does.”
“Then, why did Leo give it to me?”
“That’s what I’m trying to figure out myself.”
“You take the tower.”
“I’m not taking it.”
“Why not?”
“By now everyone in Shanghai knows you own it.”
“What the fuck?”
“If I take it from you now, I’m telling Shanghai and the East that you don’t deserve it, that you’re not smart enough. You’re not capable.”
“Listen.” She held up one hand. “I’m fine with that. Let everyone think what they want. I’m not going over to Shanghai to cosplay like I’m some gangster when I’m really not about that life.”
For some reason, I chuckled.
It was so odd for me to find the humor in this intense situation.
Perhaps, I was losing my mind.
However, Moni didn’t laugh with me. “Why would he give that to me? Is this another test or something?”
“I don’t think so. His giving you Cloud Sea Tower is saying that he trusts you with this responsibility, but more important. . .he must want the East and the Four Aces to understand that you’re not just a bystander or my romantic partner. He wants them to know that you’re part of this family now.”
And he wants you to have equal power with me.
I gritted my teeth.
This had been something that he had never allowed my mother.
There were so many times that had I witnessed my mother’s voice being silenced when it came to Four Aces’ business. It was why she couldn’t stop my initiation at such a young age.
No one would listen to her.
But, with Moni having a hold on Cloud Sea Tower—the very bank of the Four Aces—many would not only listen. . .they would lean her way when it came to voting on many issues.
Sometimes they would outvote me if it came to it.
They knew I could kill them, but Moni could make them and their families starve. My men didn’t fear death but they damn sure were terrified of poverty.
Is that why you did it, Father? Did you want her to have a voice because you regret what you did to Mom? Or. . .did you want her to be able to block me when I disagreed?
I almost wanted to call him up and ask, but I still could not stomach his voice after what he did to Yan.
Moni exhaled. “This is too much, too soon.”
She was right.
And it would have been so damn easy to simply take the property away from her and with that. . .her power. For now Moni still truly had no idea what lay in her hands, so she would happily give the tower to me.
So fucking easy.
But I wouldn’t.
There was a reason my father gave it to her. Even if the man was a psychotic murderer and absolutely intolerable at the best of times, he had his own motives and methods that. . .tended to lean toward the good of the East.
Plus, he had not only created the Four Aces, but he managed us with a steady hand for years.
I respected that, at least.
Besides, he was right.
The East needed to understand that Moni wasn’t just some bystander or my romantic partner—someone who was only there to take my cock.
She was family now and family deserved respect.
This is just a whole lot of respect, Father.
It wasn’t just the tower she had to deal with now. Yan held other properties too—hotels, restaurants, casinos, factories—all over Shanghai.
Moni would need help.
Sighing, she pressed her fingers to her temples as if trying to fend off a headache. “This is insane. Your father is insane.”
“That’s one way to put it.”
Violence sparked in my core as I thought of Moni’s new army protecting her from not only others. . .but me.
I will kill them if they ever get between my path to her. I hope they understand. Regardless of her power, she is all mine.
The pilot patiently waited by the open door.
She gazed out of it as if terrified to leave the helicopter like. . .to exit would be to say yes to everything. “I can’t take this tower, Lei.”
“You can and you will.” I squeezed her hand. “You’re stronger than you think and remember, you’re not alone. I’m here and so is the rest of the family. We’ll guide you through every step.”