Page 22 of Cruel Devotion

“I think it’s time you considered moving to Paradise City. We need to be closer to each other so I can truly help out.”

“Well. . .as a matter of fact, after I’m done helping Lei, I plan to move to Paradise City.”

“Okay. Hold on. What do you mean that you are helping Lei?”

“He wants me to stick around with him until he kills Leo.”

“No. I’m coming up to get you. It would be too dangerous—”

“Banks, I already agreed.”

“You can’t just fucking hang with the Four Aces. They are not the Boy Scouts. They are deadly psychopaths—”

“It’s more than that. Duck saved my life. He pulled me off a roof when I was about to. . .fall—”

“Duck?”

“Yes. I could have been dead too.”

“Duck did that?”

“Yes, Banks. Duck saved my life. And. . .well. . .Leo. . . gave me a house and enough money to set me up for life—”

“Leo!?”

“Yes. And I know it may be fucked up but I am going to take a house from a man who killed my dad, but it wasn’t like dad was a saint—”

“Hold on. Leo is giving you a house?”

“He delivered the deed.”

“Where is this house?”

“In the East—”

“You think Marcelo and I will let you all live in the East with no protection—”

“I won’t need protection. The Four Aces might be dangerous, but they’ve shown me kindness.”

Banks sighed heavily. “Monique, you can’t trust them. They might have their reasons to keep you alive for now but that doesn’t mean they won’t turn on you later. The East only cares about the East.”

I frowned. “I’m safe with them.”

“You have no idea what you are talking about—”

“I’m not stupid or naive. And I won’t turn my back on them now. . .They are my friends.”

“Oh really?”

“Yes.”

“You didn’t even know who they were—”

“Things have been moving fast, but I’m caught up—”

“You will never be caught up—”

“Banks, just please. . .” I let out a long breath. “Just understand please. I know watching the girls has probably been hard—”

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