Page 205 of Sweet Dominion

Dima waved at us to be quiet.

Many of us did calm it down but remained standing.

Dima raised his voice over the noise. “While we loved Chef Foo’s dishes—let’s be clear, they were fantastic!”

Someone hooted. “Chef Foo!”

Dima bobbed his head. “Yes. That’s right, but I wanted to add that Banks’s dishes were an unapologetic, heartwarming celebration of African American culture. Big Mama would’ve been proud today.”

One of my men gave Banks the huge trophy.

Another gave Chef Foo the smaller one.

Marcelo who was also standing up and clapping, yelled, “Speech! Speech!”

Jo shook her head. “Well, I don’t know if we need that. Banks might start dancing again.”

Moni nudged her. “Leave him alone. He should enjoy this.”

I looked up at the stage.

One of his assistants—perhaps it was Salty or Savory—brought him over a microphone.

Clearly on cloud nine, Banks grabbed the microphone and leaned into it. And all of that confident swagger returned. “I just want to say—thank you to everybody, especially the Four Aces.”

My men hooted and a few drunkenly pumped their fists in the air.

I had the odd feeling that someone was watching me and gazed in that direction.

There, Dima stared at me.

I quirked my brows.

He gestured to everyone laughing—people in green, blue, yellow—and I already knew where he was going with that.

Yes. Yes. Dima. It’s fun when we all get along.

I put my view back on Banks.

He wiped sweat off his forehead. “I feel like I just won a Grammy or something.”

The crowd laughed.

“I kind of did. I know the moves helped with the judges.” And with that, Banks did a little spin.

Jo shook her head and sat back down. “Lord.”

Banks wiped his forehead again. “Seriously, though, I want to thank Big Mama, who’s up there looking down on me, probably chuckling at all this.”

Chloe held up her hands and slurred. “To Biiiggg Mama!”

That grabbed Moni’s attention. “Is she drunk?”

I cleared my throat. “Perhaps, a little tipsy.”

“What the fuck?”

“Aunt Suzi may have given her a glass of wine, but don’t worry I’ve kept my eye on them.”

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