Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 90852 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 454(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90852 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 454(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
“Lei is still in love with Chanel.”
“Love?” He scowled.
I inched back.
“Monique, what Lei had for Chanel was not love. It was an immature obsession. What he is growing with you is more real, stronger, and is as powerful as my wife’s lush and radiant gardens surrounding this property.”
I pursed my lips.
“Your love will grow many things. The East will bloom, and my bloodline, my legacy will thrive and live forever.” He leaned his head to the side. “Do you understand?”
“Yes.”
“Stop running away from the title and accept it.”
Sighing, I inched back again. “Leo. . .”
He raised his eyebrows. “Yes, Monique?”
“How did you learn about me? And when? Why?”
“Your generation values speed over accuracy.” He snapped his fingers three times. “Quick answers. Instant gratification culture perpetuated by social media.”
“Are you not going to answer me?”
“I will, but there is great opportunity in allowing one to take their sweet time to answer.”
“Is there?”
“You would get more depth in understanding to this very complicated situation.” He stopped us at the end of the stairs. “For example, you could simply ask me, ‘Why did I kill your father?’”
“I would like to know that too.”
“And the quick answer would be, ‘He was not a man worthy enough to walk this earth.’”
I gritted my teeth.
“But that’s not the full picture.”
Sadness washed over me. “I want the full picture of everything because I don’t even understand how you know me. Did we happen to bump into each other or what?”
He gave me a sad smile. “First thing first.”
“Okay.”
He studied me. “Do you love my son?”
Chapter seven
A Tour to Remember
Monique
Do I love his son?
Leo’s question hit me like a physical blow, knocking the air from my lungs.
Time slowed to a crawl as I struggled to contain the chaotic whirlwind of emotions within me—love, fear, uncertainty—all fighting for dominance.
Add the fact that I was certain that. . .if I said no. . .Leo might kill me.
But of course the answer would never be no. In this short time, Lei had seeped into my heart. There was no doubt in my mind with how intense my feelings for Lei were becoming.
I more than wanted to be with him, so much that I yearned for our happy ending.
There was just. . .so many other things possibly in the way. His past with Chanel, my responsibility to my sisters, his power in the East, and my fear of this huge Mountain Mistress position thrust in front of me. And then there was Banks and Marcelo.
All these things hung in the air between Lei and I like a poisonous fog.
As much as my heart ached to just become Mountain Mistress and dedicate my life to him, I knew I had to tread carefully.
One step in the wrong direction and we could both fall into an unhappy life full of despair.
But all of that was beside the point as this psychotic killer stood in front of me, attempting to do some insane matchmaking.
Just fucking say it.
“Well. . .” The word slipped out like a secret I had kept even from myself. “I think I. . .love Lei. . .I don’t want anyone else. When I’m away from him, I’m sad. . .upset even. . .and. . .I’m worried about your battle with him. I’m terrified that I would lose Lei when you fight, after just falling for him.”
Silent, Leo studied me.
My admission lingered in the space between us, a delicate truth that carried both fear and freedom.
Meanwhile, Leo’s expression was unreadable.
Yet, his eyes remained stone-cold, staring at me as if he were dissecting the sincerity of each word. His lips pressed into a thin line, and his nostrils flared slightly with every silent inhale.
O-kay. . .
The ticking of a grandfather clock in the living room served as the only sound.
Finally, he released a deep sigh, as if this great amount of tension were finally leaving his shoulders. But his gaze remained unblinking—steady and unnerving.
Then, he spoke, “Your feelings for Lei are genuine. I can taste it in the air.”
Again, silence fell between us like an impenetrable wall. I could feel my heart thudding violently in my chest as I awaited his next words.
Suddenly, his stare turned cold. “But, I have another question.”
I raised my eyebrows. “Alright.”
“Do you love Duck?”
My face twisted in surprise. “Duck?”
“Yes.”
“No.” I shook my head. “I don’t love Duck.”
“There was the situation of the meatball—”
“Oh my God. I really need everyone to calm down about that—”
“He gave you our ancient texts knowing that Lei or I could harm him for it.”
I gulped and leveled my gaze at him. As overwhelming as my fear was, there was one thing stronger—my feelings for Lei. “I only see Duck as a friend, nothing more. I'm falling for Lei. Period.”
“Hmmm.” Leo’s lips curled upward into a huge smile. “Good.”
Then, to my utter shock, he put up his blade.