Page 50 of Cruel Devotion

“I want Lei’s healer to extend the medical assessment of him, to buy us more time.”

“Alright. And what do you wantmeto do?”

“Take a very, very long shower.”

A grin hit my face. “A shower?”

“Yes. Surely, the walk down and back up has gotten dirt on your skin. We have a feast tonight. All will be watching you—”

“Hold on. I thought I wasn’t going to the feast—”

“We will have to change that.”

“To what?”

“To your going to the feast.”

“Yes, Chen, but you want me to just show up in a white gown like it’s cool?” I looked ahead, seeing Lei’s and my tent. “I don’t want to shock Lei while he is already dealing with his sister.”

“I believe that I have a solution that should keep this new situation with Rowe Street Mob on pause until my Uncle Leo is dealt with.”

A sense of urgency washed over me. “And what is it?”

Chen stopped and turned to face me. “I am glad we met you.”

The sincerity in his voice surprised me.

“O-kay. . .”

“The way everything is happening right now, I believe that you will be around us for a very long time in some capacity or another.”

“And the plan?”

“Let me handle that.” Chen gazed at my men in green and then put his view on me. “Just take your shower. I figured out what must happen.”

“You have?”

“Yes.”

“And it will be less complicated?”

“I am not a miracle worker, Monique. There will be complications but I see a temporary way for us to buy time.”

“And you’re not going to tell me anything?”

“I need you to trust me.”

I held out my hands. “But Chen—”

“Enjoy your shower.” He gave me a polite nod and then headed away.

Come on, dude. Tell me.

I watched Chen leave. His dark blue suit seamlessly blended into the twilight shadows of the mountain, making him appear more like a phantom than a man.

Let’s hope this plan is better than the earlier one.

Soon, Banks’s men gathered around me.

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