Page 177 of Sweet Dominion

I assessed the Mahjong table. From the way Aunt Min’s fingers drummed lightly on the table every time she picked up a tile and the way her left eyebrow twitched ever so slightly, I knew she had a winning hand.

Those were her tells, subtle enough that most people wouldn’t notice, but I’d seen them enough times growing up to know exactly what they meant. I spotted the stack of money on the edge of the table and knew she would be pocketing most of it by the end of the night.

At the next table over, Banks's mother was engrossed in a game of Spades. One of the women that she’d brought with her sat right across and was dealing out the cards.

They were playing against Gunner and Marcelo.

Once Marcelo picked up all of his cards, he slid his gaze Moni’s way.

Careful, you piece of shit.

Marcelo stared at Moni longingly, not even noticing that I was watching him.

It took everything in me to remain calm, to remind myself that I’d made a decision in the library—a decision to actually listen this time, to heed Moni’s words, even if every instinct in me screamed to do the opposite.

Marcelo put his attention back on the cards and I undid the fist that I hadn’t known I’d even made.

Forget about it. I’ll get him back another way. Where’s Moni’s other two ladies-in-waiting?

I scanned the rest of the space.

The tables were filled with people laughing, talking, and playing games.

Some were sipping drinks or snacking on food, while others were focused intensely on their games.

And there even was a sort of make-shift dance floor where the orchestra had been playing before the cookout began. Now it was packed with tons of people over there dancing together and to my utter shock it was a mixed sea of green and blue.

No one was fighting or glaring at each other.

Instead, a few of the Four Aces appeared to be. . .having some sort of dance off with Rowe Street Mob members.

How many gummies did Jo give out to people?

Then, the speakers pulsed with the smooth sounds of Marvin Gaye’s “Sexual Healing,” minutes later it transitioned effortlessly into Michael Jackson’s “Rock With You” and then right into Montel Jordan’s “This is How We Do It.”

Soon the DJ went right into Hip Hop, moving toward new releases.

The beats were so well-mixed that the crowd didn’t miss a step, dancing along as if the songs had always been meant to flow together. The bass thumped through the ground beneath us, making it impossible even for me to not tap my foot or nod my head to the rhythm.

Or maybe the gummy’s effects are happening.

“DJ Hendrix in the house!”

I blinked and turned my view back to the DJ.

“Y’all know how we do!” DJ Hendrix waved his hands in the air with the beat. “We’re taking you back, way back, but with a twist. And don’t think I forgot about my people who love a little something different! We’re bringing in some flavor from the East!”

With that, he spun the track, and suddenly, Teresa Teng’sThe Moon Represents My Heartflowed through the speakers.

Moni gazed at me completely confused but rocking her head as the singer belted out Chinese lyrics.

All I could do was laugh.

Everyone on that dance floor continued to dance to the haunting melody.

Yeah. I must be high now.

I also could admit that the transition was smooth, almost seamless and the crowd reacted with surprised cheers and applause, especially from the Four Aces side.

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