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)
My heart swelled and for the first time in hours, I felt like I could breathe again. “Where are you? Are you hurt?”
“I’m fine.” She assured me. “I can’t talk long but I’ll see you tomorrow. Just. . .trust me, okay?”
Tears burned at the corners of my eyes, I clenched my jaw to keep them from falling. “Where are you?”
“I love you.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“You know I can’t answer that.”
Soon Chloe was off her bed too and heading my way.
“Lei?” Moni whispered and I could hear the weight behind that single word—soft but strained, as if it took everything she had to say my name.
It wasn’t the Moni I knew.
Something is wrong.
My heart tightened in my chest like a clenched fist. This wasn’t the woman who greeted me with stubborn grins or the one who fought me tooth and nail over the smallest things.
This was someone else entirely—a ghost version of her speaking from somewhere far away, somewhere dark.
“I’m here, Moni.” I kept my voice steady. “I love you so much. Stay on the phone as much as you can.”
There was silence for a moment, the kind that crawled under your skin and stayed there. I could hear the sound of her breath hitching and my grip on the phone tightened.
She was holding back, I knew it.
I could feel it in every hesitation, every tremor in her voice.
What did you do to her, Father? I’m going to fucking kill you.
“Moni, talk to me,” I urged, a little sharper than I intended. “Tell me what’s going on.”
She sniffed softly and I knew—dammit, I just knew—that she was close to breaking, but wouldn’t let herself do it.
“I. . .I can’t.” Her voice cracked like fragile glass. “H-how is everyone?”
My jaw clenched so tight it hurt.
I wanted to reach through the phone, hold her, tell her everything would be okay. But all I had were words and they felt useless against whatever nightmare she was living through.
“I did everything you wanted me to, Moni. Your sisters are in the Palace along with Banks, Marcelo, Gunner, and Einstein. They’re all safe and comfortable.”
“Seriously?” A little joy hit her voice. “You let all of Rowe Street Mob stay.”
“I did.”
“Oh my God.”
“I knew you would want that. Banks is in the room right next to your sisters’ room. They all decided to stay in one room by the way.”
“Chloe and Jo are super protective of TT.”
“They are.”
“Thank you, Lei.”
“Any fucking thing you want I will do. Now tell me where you are, Moni. If he is close by, then just give me hints.”
Then I heard it—that deep voice, low and commanding, laced with the sort of threatening control that made my skin crawl my entire childhood.
“No, son,” My father said. “We are on speaker. There will be no hints or clues.”
That fucking bastard!
Every muscle in my body tensed.
Fury rose hot and fast in my chest.
I knew better than to explode—not yet—but the rage simmered just beneath the surface, threatening to boil over.
Of course, my father was there looming over her like the damn wraith that he was, keeping her under his psychopathic thumb.
I inhaled sharply through my nose, forcing my voice into something calm even though it was anything but. “Moni, listen to me.”
I steadied myself as much as I could. “Your sisters are safe and they will remain that way. In fact, I’m here with them now.”
There was a beat of silence.
Then her voice came through, softer, sweeter, like sunlight cracking through a storm. “They’re there with you now? All of them?”
“Yes. Do you want to talk to them?”
A small sound escaped her breath of relief. “Please.”
“Everyone, Moni is on the phone.” I hit the speaker button. Immediately, the room filled with the sound of life.
“Moni!” TT’s voice was the first, bright and relieved. “I love you! We’re fine! You’ve got this!”
Moni broke down on the other side. It was the sound of laughter and sobbing all mixed together.
Oh, baby. What did he do? What did that fucking sick bastard do?
“Moni!” Chloe joined in, practically vibrating with excitement. “We’re in the Palace! Queen energy! Are you okay? I miss you so much.”
“I’m fine.” Moni sniffled. “I love you too. Enjoy the Palace!”
Jo stood there for a second, frozen, her face crumpling as tears filled her eyes. She wiped them away fast, as if embarrassed by the display but the emotion lingered in her expression.
Moni spoke, “Is Jo there? Can she hear me? Jo?”
I brought the phone closer to her.
Jo’s voice was thick with emotion. “When are you getting back? Your man is losing it.
A sad chuckle left Moni. “I’ll be back soon, sis. Take care of him for me. Please.”
“I got you.”
“Thank you.”
“We love you, Moni.” Jo hugged herself. “Are you okay? Please, tell me he didn’t hurt you.”
“I’m fine.”
“You don’t sound fine. You sound broken.”