Page 127 of Cruel Devotion

“So, you want me to call them?” She placed one hand on her hip.

Completely out of character, Chen kept shaking his head. “No. No. We don 't need to have them up here for a Council. It would be a shit show of high proportions. Lei might try to kill Leo and he isn't ready. Plus, my father is not. . .the most mentally stable person and my aunts call for crazy predictions—”

“Monique. . .” Duck kept his voice low. “To get the Elder Council involved would be like. . .tattle telling or. . .having us get a whipping.”

“Either we do this Council right here and right now.” Monique raised one finger. “Or I go get thebig switchto whip your little behinds.”

“Well. . .that is quite a point.” Chen shrugged and turned to me. “The essence of leadership is to hear out even what we may deem as ridiculous? It’s about fairness, Lei. Upholding the integrity of our own codes and—”

“You just don't want your father here for an Elder Council.”

Chen bobbed his head. “That too.”

“And Lei,” Monique frowned at me. “You're not ripping any dress off me and licking anything until you heareverythingI have to say.”

I tensed. “Is that right?”

“Yes.”

Hu added, “You always said you never wanted to be like your father. This is one way to prove it.”

His words hit me like a ton of bricks. Not wanting to be like my father had always been a guiding principle for me. Hu using my own values against me, left me cornered.

It also showed how freaked out he was about dealing with the Elder Council.

Duck scowled at me. “Hear Monique out. If her request holds no merit, we can decide as much.”

Hu tapped the side of his gun. “Things are getting out of hand. A fresh perspective may be helpful.”

Duck muttered, “That's an understatement.”

With a heavy sigh, I nodded slowly. “Fine. We'll hear your petition for Council.”

Her expression brightened, and I had to admit that reaction made me happy.

“Alright.” She returned her gaze to those damn cards, shuffled a few, and then stopped at one.

I quirked my brows.

She gave me a confident smile. “I would like to petition for the right to be aFriend of the Four Aces.”

That statement hung in the air.

None of us spoke.

Well. . .now shit is really out of hand.

I glanced at my fellow Aces, searching for any hint of objection or hesitation. Duck, Hu, and Chen exchanged glances, yet their faces were unreadable.

Still, I had no idea how long we remained speechless.

But it was Chen who finally broke the silence. “Monique, that is no small task, no mere title to be handed out without due consideration. It means. . .entrusting you with a lot of secrets and. . .power and the responsibility that comes with being part of our Inner Circle.”

“Okay.” She nodded. “So. . .tell me this.”

I studied her.

“Am I being ridiculous right now to think that I amcurrentlyin the Inner Circle?” She touched that sexy cleavage again. “Am I being egotistical or crazy to think that?”

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