Page 120 of Cruel Devotion

“But it's what I heard—”

“Unhear that and then never let that leave your mouth again when I am in your space.”

Hu shrugged. “My vote is still for Aunt Suzi.”

“You know what? Now that Hu said that.” Duck held his head with both hands. “I always thought Aunt Suzi loved whipping us as kids. She always whistled when she grabbed the paddle—”

“Eh!” I waved my hands.

“Enough!” Chen smoothed down his jacket. “We have veered dangerously off the proper path.”

Bile rose in my throat. “I agree, and by the way, we are not involving our aunts in helping me romance Monique. Secret sex dungeon or not.”

“Hmmm.” Chen glanced at me. “It might be best if we find a woman outside of Four Aces but within the Diamond Syndicate. This way the person can provide guidance in matters of the heart, but she still understands our way of life.”

“Okay.” I bobbed my head. “But. . .she can't be connected to Killer Crows. It would be. . .odd.”

Duck nodded. “And no way the woman comes from Rowe Street Mob. We’ll be ending them soon.”

“That leaves the Flower Mafia.” Hu looked at Chen. “Actually, I heard that Dima's mother was a—”

“No.” I held my hand up. “I don't even want to know what you're going to say.”

“It's not that bad.”

I frowned at him. “It better not be.”

“I was simply going to say that most brag about how she was able to maintain power among men because she is a master in the art of seduction.”

Chen and I exchanged glances.

I could see the wheels turning in Chen's mind, calculating the possibilities and potential benefits of involving someone from the Flower Mafia.

Honestly, it made sense, after all.

They were known for their manipulation skills and ability to charm and seduce their way to get what they wanted. And ifthere was one thing I needed right now, it was a crash course in wooing Monique.

“Alright,” I finally said, breaking the silence. “Let's reach out to Dima's mother,but. . .I don't want Dima to know the details of what is going on so make sure she agrees to this being a private matter.”

Chen nodded. “I'll make the necessary arrangements to set up a private meeting with her.”

“Mrs. Ivanov is going to teach Lei how to be seductive?” Duck let out a chuckle. “I want to be at these classes.”

I turned back to the window and spotted the top of Mount Utopia.

Here we go.

My eyes were immediately drawn to a group of men clad in blue, their postures rigid and alert. They stood in a protective semi-circle, and at the center of this formation was a figure in a flowing white dress that caught the morning light.

And there you go.

I leaned in closer to the window and frowned. “That isnotpale blue.”

Chen cleared his throat. “I think that we have enough problems stacking against us, Lei. Perhaps, you should letmehandle Monique.”

“No onehandlesher, but me.”

Chen sighed. “Actually, it does look blue to me. Doesn't it, Hu?”

---