Page 113 of Sweet Dominion

Lei turned to Banks. “Does your cousin look like she was harmed?”

“It’s been days since you violated.” Banks flared his nostrils. “The moment you realized she was my cousin you were supposed to—”

“Hold on.” Dimitri widened his eyes and pointed at Lotus Blossom. “Are those mermaids?”

Everyone else checked that way, but Banks, Lei, and me.

I stepped toward Banks and kept my voice low. “Stop this.”

Banks kept his view on Lei. “Moni, this is Diamond Syndicate business. Let us do what we need to do—”

“You wanted a cookout. I obliged.” I held my hands out. “What is this?”

“I figured that since we would all be here—”

“Bullshit.” I must have said it louder than I intended because everyone directed their views to me.

And. . .because I was so fucking pissed with my cousin, I didn’t step back and go silent. I figured that I had already said this so. . .I might as well continue.

“The cookout for youfouris over.” I pointed at Banks, Marcy, Teddy, even Smarty and then gestured to the helicopters. “You know I don’t play shit like this. Being all disrespectful. As they tend to say, ‘You don’t have to go home, but you do have to get out of here.’”

Marcy spoke first, “Moni, we are trying to have your back—”

“You’re supposed to be having a beer and chilling the fuck out.” I couldn’t calm myself. I felt like this was the old days where during the summer I would have to remind these dickheads that they were not my damn daddies and could not tell me what to do.

Lei remained silent.

I had no idea what was going on in his head. He could have been happy I was ending this or feeling embarrassed that I was interrupting Syndicate business.

I didn’t care.

First, Aunt Betty had annoyed me, talking about having a wedding in my garden and bringing a bunch of church friends.

Then, my sisters came through bearing their little grievances and while I got it, I just didn’t have the energy for any more shit.

“Honestly,everyonecan go right back to the South.” I placed my hands on my hips. “Violation of Law 480? Like. . .are you all really fucking serious right now?”

Smarty stared at the edges of his book.

Suddenly, Teddy—or I guess Gunner—chose to check that ridiculous gun tattoo on his hand like the damn thing had disappeared.

Banks knew he was in trouble yet tried to stare me off. That lasted for ten seconds when he surely saw the hurt on my face and looked away.

Marcy was the one that shifted his weight and spoke, “Don’t end the cookout. Everyone’s been looking forward to it.”

“Then, be respectful and polite while you’re here.”

Marcy cracked his neck and let out a long breath. “Moni, you have to understand—”

“I love him. I really do. . .”

All went still.

I swallowed. “And if you all really loveme, then please, let’s just enjoy the cookout without any more drama. Let’s have some respect.”

This time, all four of the troublemakers shifted their weights and exchanged glances at each other. But it was Smarty who placed his book in his other hand. Back in the day, that would be a signal for them to change their plan.

Now, I wondered if things were still that way.

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