Page 232 of Sweet Dominion

“You do.”

“I. . .don’t want him to die.”

“I know you don’t.”

“I just don’t want to regret letting you leave with my father either.”

“You won’t regret it.”

“I hope not.”

My heart clenched painfully at the sight.

Lei—the man who never broke—was cracking open before me.

“I can’t lose you, Moni,” he whispered. “You’ve become my whole world. I’m. . .nothing without you.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat. “You’re not going to lose me. We’re in this together, always.”

"When you’re away from me. . .and with him. . .listen to whatever fucked up shit he says.”

“I will.”

“He wants you to finish his fucking teachings. His twisted trainings.”

“Okay.”

“I’m sure that. . .he has a plan for you and wants to make sure you know every step. Listen to his fucking insane ass and just don’t argue with him.”

“Okay.”

“It’s close to his death so he won’t be patient with his lessons. Do whatever he wants and—”

“You think he will want me to actually do something?”

“Yes. Something that I wouldn’t allow if I were around.”

Shit. What the fuck could it be?

He exhaled shakily. “Just do it. Whatever the fuck he wants. If you waver, he might think you don’t fit in the plan and. . .”

“He might kill me.”

“Maybe.”

I thought about the bodies on the ceiling above us and even Yan’s chopped head in that gift box. Lei was right. I should not play around with Leo at all.

Lei spoke, “I’ll take care of your sisters tonight.”

“Oh fuck. It’s their first night here. No.” I looked up at those gory bodies above us and then shook my head. “They can’t stay here with all that up there—”

“They won’t. I’ll take them to the Palace.”

I blinked. “Okay but they should have family with them for their first night. Have Banks stay too please.”

The line of his jaw twitched, but he nodded. “Alright. I’ll make Banks and whoever else he wants to remain. . .stay in the Palace with your sisters.”

“Oh thank God.” My bottom lip quivered. “If my sisters have familiar faces around them, they will be fine. Plus Jo and Chloe are cool with your aunts now. So maybe have Aunt Suzi and Aunt Min around.”