Page 107 of Sweet Dominion

To Marcelo’s right was Einstein, slender and wearing green-rimmed glasses. As usual he had a book in his hand, I caught a glimpse of the title—The Prophetby Kahlil Gibran.

Chen whispered, “You must do a better job of keeping calm when you’re around Banks.”

“I thought I did well.”

“Her sisters caught Duck’s sword on Banks’s throat.”

I gritted my teeth.

“They’ll be watching.”

I made sure to not look in that direction of the garden. “Fine. I’ll behave.”

Up ahead Moni chuckled, went over to Gunner and wrapped her arms around him. “Teddy Bear! It’s been forever!”

Duck snorted. “Teddy Bear?”

Gunner tried to appear ferocious like he usually did, but once in Moni’s hold he damn near appeared like some fucking cuddly teddy bear.

Seeing her touch another man didn’t calm the rage within me. In fact, I was ready to kill Gunner.

Can I?

I checked the other side of the garden.

While Chloe and TT were sitting on the ground flipping through the photo album, Jo was smoking a joint and watching me.

I returned my view to the front and stopped us five feet away from Marcelo, ensuring that I was out of range of easily slapping him.

Gunner laughed. “Hey, you can’t call me that right now, Moni. I’m on duty.”

Moni let Gunner go. “Oh, my bad. No to Teddy Bear. So do I call you Theodore—”

“No.” Gunner’s face turned red. “It’s Gunner.”

Moni blinked. “What?”

He showed her the gun tattoo. “Everyone calls me Gunner now.”

“Well. . .that’s a bit. . .violent.”

Little did she know, Gunner was the very fucking definition of violence.

Why did she have to be so close to Rowe Street Mob? Of all people that she could have grown up with in the South. Why them?

Moni moved to Einstein and gave him a big hug. “Hey, Smarty.”

“As always, nice to see you, Moni.”

“Oh.” She pointed to his book. “That looks good.”

“You would love it.” Einstein showed her the cover. “How about I get you a copy and we can read and discuss it together?”

“I’m down. You know I always love having book chats with you.”

The line of my jaw twitched again.

She reached Marcelo and everything shifted.

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