Page 236 of Sweet Dominion

“So. . .we can kind of trust him.”

I wanted to argue, to tell her that Leo couldn’t be trusted no matter what, but her words hung in the air between us, undeniable. She had seen something in him that I hadn’t, something dark and calculating, but also something that, in his twisted way, might actually be true.

“Okay. I believe you.” Tension gathered in my shoulders. “I’ll remember that while I’m with him.”

“Are Chloe, Jo, and me still staying in the East tonight?”

“Yes, but in the palace, not here.”

She widened her eyes. “Then, I want to take pictures of the map so that I can study it there.”

“Of course.” I nodded. “Tell, Lei. He’ll have people do it for you. Plus, Banks will be here tonight to make sure all your needs are met and that you feel comfortable.”

She smiled at me, that same innocent smile that always broke my heart. “Okay. We’ll be fine, Moni.”

“Will you?” My voice cracked.

She chuckled. “Yes.”

“Don’t be laughing at me.” I pulled her in for a hug. “You know I worry about you all.”

I held her tight.

TT was too young to have to understand these things, too young to have this kind of knowledge. But she had already seen so much and there was no going back.

“I love you, TT.”

“I love you too, Moni.”

“Sisters forever?”

“Forever and ever and ever.” TT giggled. “And ever.”

I let her go. “I’ll see you tomorrow. Trust me on that. Iwillsee you.”

“Don’t worry, Moni. Leo said you’re going to be stronger after being with him and I believe that.”

My smile faltered. “What?”

“I know you’re scared.” she whispered. “But you don’t have to be, Leo told me that after you leave with him, you will return and that. . .you’re going to be stronger than ever in the East. That you won’t need him anymore when this is all done. You won’t even need Lei.”

“Why. . .did he say that?”

“Because. . .he said he’s going to teach you some things tomorrow.” Her gaze was steady and serious in a way that didn’t match her young age. “I know when Leo’s lying.”

“You do?”

“I’ve been watching him all night. He has this twitch in his eye when he lies. He smiles too much, like he’s trying to convince you of something he doesn’t even believe. Like when he told Uncle Song that Chef Foo’s chicken was the best he ever had, so he should win. I knew he didn’t mean it. He preferred Banks’s food better.”

A nervous chuckle left me. “O-kay. He was trying to rep for the East.”

"Yeah. . .but. . .when he talked about you, he didn’t lie. He meant it when he said he was going to make sure you were stronger than ever before and. . .I believe him.”

My nerves frazzled.

"He also said that he won’t hurt you and I can tell that he wasn’t lying about that either because later he was telling me that I would be his grandchildren’s aunt and that I would have to watch over them. Teach them how to be smart.”

Dear God. Leo and these fucking grandchildren.

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