Page 122 of Sweet Dominion

I looked at him. “Then,Iwill be the dead one.”

Dima’s angry expression cracked. “I don’t like those odds. I’ve lost enough people that I love. You cannot die.”

“The odds of my dying is low but if I do, then Marcelo, Kashmere and all of the might of the Syndicate can unite and kill him.”

Dima didn’t even blink. “I do not wantyouto die.”

“But if I do die, then it is your turn to try to kill him and. . .” Sighing, I looked forward watching Moni, Rose, and her sisters heading back over to us. “And. . .then make sure my Mountain Mistress and her sisters are protected. Truly be her advisor and watch out for them.”

I thought Dima would protest.

Instead, he wore this sad expression, took out his notebook and jotted down several notes.

Chapter twenty-three

Jo’s Gift

Moni

Rose and I walked back as my sisters trailed behind.

Rose smiled. “Thanks for agreeing to lunch. I can have Dima send a helicopter to bring you.”

“That would be nice.”

“And lunch is on me.”

“Thanks so much.” I kept her pace. “And then, how about thenextlunch is on me and we can have it somewhere in the East, once I find the best spots.”

“Sounds good to me. The helicopter ride over here was quite an adventure. This area looks so exciting.”

“Definitely never a boring moment.”

“I can imagine.”

There was something genuine about Rose that made me want to get to know her better. Perhaps Dima’s awkward, but endearing, hopes for our future friendship weren’t too far off.

He’s so freaking funny.

I chuckled to myself at the thought of us planning our lives around his wild ideas, but it wasn’t entirely unappealing.

There was a warmth in Rose’s laugh, a kindness that I wanted to understand more. Lunch with her might be just the beginning of a new friendship in this crazy world I had stepped into.

Lei watched us head his way and I swore his expression appeared a bit worried, but I didn’t know why. Then, his view went to Rose and his gaze darkened like he wasn’t fond of her.

I made a note to ask about that later.

When we got to them, Rose returned to Dima who now had the little white cat in his arms. There was something about the way he gently cradled the tiny creature as she purred that made me smile.

In Leo’s historical texts, he’d painted Dima as a lethal gangster that was highly intelligent.

But I was finding that Dima had a very gentle side to him too.

And just like that, Dima caught my eye and gave me a wink as he absently stroked the cat’s fur.

I smiled back, feeling a strange sense of ease settle over me. Whatever doubts I had about stepping into this new role as Mountain Mistress, they seemed to melt away in moments like this. More and more, I was finding myself surrounded by people who would have my back, even if it were in their own unique ways.

Lei stepped forward.

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