Page 143 of Cruel Devotion

He sighed but kept quiet.

“Third, I have access to various resources—safe houses, intelligence networks, and financial assets.”

“Lei is going to try and veto some of this.”

“He might but the final privilege is not only that I hold an advisory role, but I get to choose an advisor for myself.”

“Okay. That will be me.”

“Banks, you're going to advise me regardless, whether I ask you or not. I chose someone else.”

“Who?”

“Dimitri Ivanov.”

“Dima?” Banks began to laugh.

I frowned. “You don't like that?”

“Dima?”

“Yes, Banks.”

“Did you take a picture of their faces when you told them you chose Dima?”

“No.”

“Damn. I wish I had been there.”

“You disagree with choosing Dima?”

“Hell no. That's actually a pretty damn good decision. Maybe youdoknow a lot more than I thought.”

I relaxed. “Good.”

“I mean. . .Dima is weird as fuck, but he's smart and fair.”

“Okay.”

“And he's close to Lei even though neither of them would admit it.”

“Perfect.”

“Even more, Dima likes to make money and he has this fierce logic. Right? Like. . .the shit that makes other motherfuckers emotional doesn't affect him. He makes most decisions based off straight logic.”

“Oh. I like the sound of that.”

“The only thing is that I did just see Dima wild out on the Mayor days ago.”

“Paradise City Mayor?”

“Yeah. The Mayor was hollering at Dima's new lady and Dima did some big dick shit and shut it down.” Banks chuckled. “But that's just men being men. I feel like any other time, he would keep his cool.”

“Alright then. Yay for me. Right?”

Banks sighed. “Yes.”

“Do you feel better about this situation?”

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