Page 127 of Sweet Dominion

He kept the keys in the air. “But now this is yours.”

Jo shook her head. “I don’t know about that.”

Lei lowered his hand holding the keys. “Why not?”

“There’s something weird about this.” Jo stepped back, creating distance between her and the keys as if they might bite her.

“Okay. Do me a favor and think about it.” Lei didn’t push the topic further. He simply pocketed the keys. “The comic store in the East will be waiting for you when you’re ready.”

I see what you’re doing.

Lei was trying to get my sisters to stay in the East as much as possible, to keep them close. There was something unsettling about it and I couldn’t shake the feeling that he was trying to tie them to this place, to his world, in a way that might not be entirely fair to them.

You do know that they can come and go out of the East whenever they want. . .and me too.

Annoyance poured over me.

Jo murmured a quiet “thank you” for the car before walking off, her shoulders tense, but I could see the hint of a smile tugging at her lips. The car had made her day, even if she wasn’t ready to accept the comic store just yet.

However, as Jo walked away, I leaned closer to Lei and lowered my voice so only he could hear. “Nice try.”

He glanced at me. “Meaning?”

“You don’t ever want her to go to the South.”

His tone was casual, but I caught the dangerous edge in his words. “It would be nice if her trips to the South could be avoided in thenearfuture.”

“Why, Lei?”

“It might end up being dangerous in the South—”

“Because you’re going to fuck with the South?”

He remained quiet as the accusation hung in the air between us.

I should have known he would not have taken nicely to Banks’s and Marcy’s bullshit. I thought I did a damn good job of dealing with them, but my stubborn ass Mountain Master would want to have his say too. And while Lei had warmed to Dima’s appearance, I could tell he would make Rowe Street Mob pay for that surprise too.

The only questions were how much violence would come and if I could stop it.

Chills ran down my spine. “You’re right.”

“I’m right?”

“You are your father’s son.”

Lei’s gaze went cold. “We should talk about this later.”

“We sure will.” I gritted my teeth.

He softened his expression, took my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “For now. . .let’s have a nice cookout and finish the gifts.”

I knew this would end up being a long, heated discussion, but I pushed it aside for now, knowing we’d have to address it later.

Yet, on my side, I caught Dima scribbling in his notebook.

What a crazy day.

Lei let go of my hand and turned to Chloe. “And now for your gift.”

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