Total pages in book: 118
Estimated words: 120336 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 602(@200wpm)___ 481(@250wpm)___ 401(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 120336 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 602(@200wpm)___ 481(@250wpm)___ 401(@300wpm)
“Me either,” Duck pointed in front of him. “Further down the hall and on the second floor, Dima and Rose are settled in their room, guarded by his men from the North. He asked for permission. I gave it to him.”
“That’s fine.”
“Chen is going to lose his mind when he wakes up to all of these guests.”
“And then you’ll have to tell him about that weed gummy you slipped him.”
“I would rather that be a secret between us.”
“I bet you would.”
“I talked to Jo and Chloe earlier,” Duck slowed up his pace. “They didn’t want to leave TT alone.”
“No?”
Duck shrugged. “They all decided to crash in her room. Staff brought in extra beds, blankets—everything they’d need.”
I nodded absently, struggling to stay present. Every thought circled back to Moni like a gravitational pull I couldn’t escape.
“Perfect.” I cleared my throat. “Staff made sure they had tea, snacks, and toiletries?”
“Of course. Everything, Lei.”
“Do they seem happy enough?”
“Yes. And by the way, you’re doing all you can.” Duck’s voice was gentle but his words didn’t soothe me. “They’re fine. Moni would be happy.”
I rubbed the light pounding in my temples. “It’s still not enough.”
We rounded the other corner and I spotted Aunt Min and Aunt Suzi seated on extravagant loungers just outside TT’s door.
“Oh yeah.” Duck sighed. “I forgot to tell you about this.”
“Yeah. What the fuck is this all about?”
Palace staff members bustled around our aunts, carefully arranging a dainty tea table with crisp white linens and delicate China cups.
The air was filled with the sweet fragrance of freshly cut flowers which were arranged in vases of varying heights in the hallway.
The gentle clink of teacups being set down and spoons stirring sugar cubes could be heard as the staff meticulously prepared my aunts’ area like it was afternoon tea.
Meanwhile, our aunts sat gracefully, sipping their tea and chatting amongst themselves while the staff attended to their every need.
One man was massaging Aunt Suzi’s feet while another fanned Aunt Min and fed her grapes.
It was absurdly lavish even for them.
Meanwhile, across from my aunts, Moni’s three ladies-in-waiting—Thandi, Fen, and Lan—stood in a tense huddle, whispering among themselves.
Their faces were set with stubborn determination and their weapons were out.
What the fuck?
Duck shook his head. “I tried to handle this situation but I’ve found it incredibly hard to argue with these two sets of women.”
“That still doesn’t explain what is going on.”
“Our aunts want to watch over their girls this evening.”
“Their girls?”
“Yes, apparently Chloe, Jo, and TT are all theirs now and we should mind our business when they are concerned.”
Here we fucking go. Moni will return to our sisters being kidnapped by my aunts.
I shook my head. “And Moni’s ladies-in-waiting?”
“They refuse to go to sleep. I think they’re feeling guilt for Monique being taken on their watch, so. . .”
“They’re overcompensating?”
“Exactly.”
We got to them and Aunt Suzi beckoned at one of her men to refill her teacup.
He rushed over and immediately poured.
Aunt Min scowled at me. “You should already have been asleep, Lei. What are you doing out here at this time?”
“I wanted to check on Moni’s sisters—”
“Why? We have everything under control. Our girls are protected.” Aunt Min raised her eyebrows. “Do you think we can’t protect them?”
“No one said that—”
“I think that’s exactly what you’re saying by coming over here—”
“That’s enough.” I held out my hand and turned to Moni’s ladies-in-waiting. “There’s enough activity out here. You three can go to your rooms and get some rest. A lot will be happening tomorrow.”
Thandi stepped forward. “No disrespect, Mountain Master but we want to remain here just in case—”
“That is all disrespect.”
She blinked.
“I said go. You said you will stay. It’s disrespectful and I have no patience for that this evening.”
Duck cleared his throat next to me probably signaling to not be too hard on his new love interest.
In the meantime, Aunt Suzi leaned back in her chair. “I agree, Lei. They should rest. There is nothing more they can do tonight.”
“The Mountain Mistress’s sisters are here,” Thandi insisted with a clipped tone as if she were a few seconds from cursing us out. “If the Mountain Mistress is gone, it is our duty to stay with her sisters.”
“It is not.”
“Please, Mountain Master.” Thandi fisted her hands at her side. “I should’ve done more. I let my guard down at the cookout tonight. I should’ve stopped Leo from grabbing her before it got this far. . .and now, it’s all on us.”
I scowled. “It’s not.”
Lan stepped forward and crossed her arms. “We won’t leave them unguarded.”
“That’s nonsense,” Aunt Min snapped, waving the fan man away for a moment. “You’ll be no good to Moni if you collapse from exhaustion tomorrow. Now, off to bed, all of you!”
The three ladies refused to budge, and their faces were tight with defiance.
“Can they hear us, sister?” Aunt Suzi took a sip of her tea and then set the cup down.