Page 169 of Sweet Dominion

I stared at Lei.

The raw intensity in his eyes and the cold determination in his voice from earlier. . .it all terrified me in a way I hadn’t expected. This wasn’t just about a grudge or wounded pride; this was about something much deeper, something that could destroy everything we had built together.

“Let it go.” I shivered.

He didn’t respond immediately, just kept his eyes on me, a storm of emotions swirling in their depths.

I could see the conflict in him, the push and pull of his loyalty to his selfish possessive ways and his feelings for me. But I knew I had to reach him, to make him see reason before it was too late.

“You’re angry, Lei and you have every right to be. Marcelo crossed a line, but violence isn’t the answer. Not this time. Not with everything we have at stake.”

He clenched his jaw, looking away from me as if he couldn’t bear to hear my words. “It’s not just about anger, Moni. It’s aboutrespect. If I let this go, if I don’t respond. . .they’ll think they can do whatever they want to you—”

"Never. You’ve proven yourself time and time again. The South knows you’re a force to be reckoned with. But this—this isn’t about proving anything to anyone. This is about us. About our future. And if you go down this path, if you let your anger control you, then. . .”

“Then what?”

I tensed. “You’ll lose me.”

His gaze snapped back to mine.

I swallowed hard, forcing myself to stay strong. “I love you, Lei, but I can’t stay with someone who would kill my family. You asked for my loyalty and I’ve given it to you. But you have to understand that my loyalty to my family runs just as deep. Marcelo may not be perfect, but he’s still my blood. If you go after him, you’re not just going after him—you’re going afterme, too.”

"Moni—”

“It’s the truth.”

He parted his lips and then closed his mouth.

“And I don’t want to talk about this anymore. This is thethirdconversation and I’m still standing in the same position of no violence. No death. What the fuck, Lei?”

I could see the internal battle he was fighting. I knew this wasn’t easy for him. He had been raised in a world where power was everything, where respect was earned through fear and violence.

Leo was his father for God’s sake, but we were trying to build something different—something stronger, based on trust, mutual respect, and love.

He sneered. “So just stand by and let Marcelo do whatever he wants?”

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. “No. I saiddeathandviolenceare off the table. You want to hurt him any other way, then. . .all is fair in love and war.”

“Any other way?”

“Be petty. Hit him with his money or something like that under Diamond Syndicate Laws and all that, but don’t kill him, Lei. Jesus Christ.”

His mouth tightened in a thin line.

I stepped closer, grabbing his hand and pulling him toward me. His body was stiff, rigid with the anger he was barely holding back.

I knew what he wanted to do—what he was capable of doing—and it terrified me.

But I couldn’t let him go down that path.

Why is he so fucking stubborn sometimes?

“Lei,” I got on my toes and kissed his cheek, hoping to soothe the fury simmering beneath the surface. “You don’t have to do this.”

He looked down at me. “Moni. . .”

"You want to kill Marcelo and it isn’t because of any love for me, it’s about power. It’s about control. It’s about showing the world that no one can touch what belongs to you without facing the consequences.”

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