Page 117 of Cruel Devotion

Sighing, Chen opened his eyes. “I'll call you back.”

“What’s going on?”

“Well. . .” Chen ended the call and looked up at me. “We have a small problem that you should let me handle.”

Chapter nineteen

Very, Very Pale Blue

I tilted my head to the side. “What do you mean we have a problem?”

Chen took a deep breath and hesitated for a moment before speaking. “Monique has been writing things all morning—”

“Writing what?”

“I don't know—”

“But she is still there?” My nerves flared. “Right?”

“Yes. She's there, but—”

“What?”

“So. . .they think that she may be wearing white, but—”

“White?”

Chen held up one hand. “But I believe that this dress could be a very, verypale bluebecause I made sure that all the white clothes were taken out of the tent.”

I spoke through gritted teeth, “A pale blue?”

“Yes, a pale blue,” Chen replied, his tone hesitant yet firm.

What the fuck, Monique? I thought we discussed this.

I looked back out the window. “For her sake, I hope it's pale blue.”

“What does that mean, Lei?”

“It means I want her in blue and there's no compromise on that.”

Duck snorted.

I snapped my view to him. “Is something funny, cousin?”

He opened his eyes. “You can't Mountain Master a woman. They have this annoying thing called a brain which gives them the power to think for themselves.”

I bristled at his comments. “I'm aware of Monique's brain but her and I had an agreement.”

“And then you rushed off to focus on Chanel.”

I hated how Duck's words hit me square in my chest.

Chen shifted uneasily in his seat.

Hu opened his eyes and sat up.

Duck watched me. “You want me to step aside but then you keep fucking up.”

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