Page 143 of Sweet Dominion

On the other side of the table, the scene was mirrored.

Ignoring me, Marcelo stood patiently as Dima’s men conducted their check. They methodically patted him down, checking his green suit and the inner lining of his pockets.

Marcelo’s face betrayed little emotion, his hands clasped loosely in front of him as the guards moved over his clothing.

Banks and Gunner stood behind him.

Other Rowe Street Members remained several feet away.

I scanned the space.

Where is Einstein?

Frowning, I returned back to my man.

Once he was satisfied that I had no hidden knives or blades under my shirt, he ran his hands along the waistband of my pants, checking for any concealed items there.

His colleague—a shorter man with a more cautious demeanor—watched closely, ensuring the procedure was thorough.

Dima’s men had placed the table and chairs on the other side of the garden, ensuring we had tons of privacy from the cookout guests who were all the way behind Lotus Blossom and out of our sight.

Already, the mouth-watering smell of grilled meats wafted through the air, mingling with the sweet fragrance of fresh flowers.

Music boomed as the DJ seamlessly mixed modern Hip-Hop tracks with oldies R&B. With that came, the chatter of guests and the occasional burst of laughter.

We’re supposed to be having fun, but instead I have to deal with this Law 480 bullshit.

Wanting to protect me from this bullshit, she had tried to stay and be a part of the meeting, but Dima wouldn’t allow it.

So, Moni took my aunts, Rose, and her sisters on a house tour.

I smiled at her commitment to me.

It felt good to be loved.

Don’t worry, Moni. They’re the only ones that should be nervous about being harmed during this meeting.

Meanwhile, in the midst of us separating my aunts had practically stormed the helipad as soon as my men let them through. And with Aunt Min and Aunt Suzi came several of their servants carrying tons and tons of bags filled with new clothes.

Jo eyed them suspiciously.

Chloe screamed and hugged them like she’d known my aunts all her life.

And TT. . .she barely noticed any of it as she continued to work on the Bandit’s puzzle. In fact, when it was time for them to go to the house, Moni had to pretty much drag TT away.

I glanced at the helipad and in the direction of the daggers.

Four of my men stood at each corner of the unsolved dagger puzzle.

When TT solved it and I had no doubt that she would, I wondered what that would mean for the Diamond Syndicate. The treasure resided in the West and the majority of the Killer Crows’ ancestors had died and/or fled during theWeek of Blood.

If TT needed more daggers to solve the puzzle, then I would need to get permission from the West to go around Dream Lake and search for them.

Kashmere still didn’t know that my father had been the one to kill Romeo and Chanel, her older brother and sister. I had no idea how the West would take that news. I just hoped that bringing his sliced off head to her would be enough.

Then, there was the thing about my taking Chanel’s body. Due to that, the West had buried an empty casket.

While they would be happy that I brought her body back, they would not be pleased with me.

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