Page 40 of Cruel Devotion

“I don’t think it will work.”

I stopped and looked at him. “Alright.”

Chen quirked his brows. “Alright?”

“I’m not breaking my promise but I will try to work with you.”

He leaned his head to the side. “How?”

“What can I do to make your life easier?”

“As soon as Lei sees that you are wearing white and Marcelo’s men are around you, this could negatively alter the entire evening. Let’s not forget the fact that I now have to hold a big feast for his sister.”

I widened my eyes. “You do?”

Chen nodded.

“What if I don’t go to the feast?”

“Again, I ask you to return to the evidence of the handcuffs. Lei wants you by his side. It is annoying but for now it makes my job easier.”

“I could not show up because I am sick.”

“He would want to check on you—”

“But first he would have to do the feast. Lei is about tradition. Right?”

“He is.”

“Think about this. First, I’m late. That’s why he doesn’t see me. Then, he can find out that I’m sick in the middle of the feast, and you can say that I’m sleeping and well-guarded.”

Chen went silent as if thinking it over.

“So. . .Lei is now talking to his sister and you both can focus on that.”

Chen nodded. “Then, after the feast he will want to go directly to you and make sure you are fine.”

“That’s what I’m thinking.”

“By then, Yan is either off the mountain or in her sleeping quarters staying out of trouble for the evening.”

“See, Chen. That works.”

“Next Lei will go to you and discover that you were not sick, in fact you are doing awesome, wearing white and surrounded by men in green—”

“Which I believe I can handle through a conversation.”

“Or he will just kill me and lock you away in a blue cage for the rest of your life. That doesn’t even deal with his wanting to destroy Rowe Street Mob.”

“That’s not. . .going to happen.” I started walking again. “This could work—”

“Or this could blow up in our faces.” Chen followed.

“How?”

“If Lei sees that you are not at the feast, then he is going to you. After losing Chanel, I don’t think he will wait through the feast without you.”

“Tell him I’m on my way, and then later say I’m sick—”

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