Page 46 of Sweet Dominion

Moni spoke, “I think taking them would be fine. We all need a break and the beach sounds good.”

Chen gave her a sad smile. “Thank you, Moni.”

I turned to her. “I just want to be alone with you.”

“We will be alone.” Moni nodded. “They will give us space. I just want our people to enjoy themselves on the beach too.”

I checked her ladies-in-waiting. They did seem a bit shaken. Surely, they hadn’t expected to see a severed head on their first official day of service.

Moni glanced at Chen. “Make sure everyone has their swimsuits and all that. I really want you all to relax because we have a rough day tomorrow.”

Chen blinked. “Oh. Well. . .I’ll be wearing a suit and not swimming or—”

“Get the helicopter.” I slowly guided Moni to the helipad. “And she’s right. Make sure everyone has swimsuits, even you. Have fun at the beach house, just make sure you all leave us alone.”

Chen sighed. “Umm, Lei. I think that we should still maintain our official attire—”

“You heard the Mountain Mistress.”

Chapter nine

Butterflies and Flowers

Moni

The helicopter glided smoothly over the vast expanse of ocean, its blades slicing through the air with a gentle hum. The whir of the rotors was the only sound as we soared over Paradise City’s eastern coastline.

Behind us, three other helicopters followed, carrying his men and my ladies-in-waiting.

Lei sat next to me in quiet contemplation. Surely his thoughts and emotions swirled over and over like the waves below.

The landscape beneath us was a blur.

How can I help him?

I turned his way.

Lei’s expression appeared carved from stone. Like in the garden, his eyes remained distant and filled with sorrow.

What can I say to get all of that sadness out of his eyes?

I wanted to say something, to offer comfort, to ease his burdens but. . .I felt like my words would be useless. . .insignificant in the face of this overwhelming situation.

Damn you, Leo.

I put my attention on our approach to the East’s curved coastline.

It was no longer just ocean. Now I could see white sand.

Fuck. . .this day. . .

While I had just lost my father, Lei had to grieve Chanel, Romeo and now his sister, Yan.

In these next days, he would have to mourn their deaths while simultaneously grappling with the immense responsibility of ruling the East.

Even more. . .tomorrow, he would face the insane task of killing his own father.

The weight of it all seemed insurmountable.

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