Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 90852 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 454(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90852 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 454(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
Lei leaned his head to the side. “He calls you MoMo?”
“It’s a nickname from when we were kids.”
“Hmmm.” Lei forked another piece and brought it to my lips.
This time, I didn’t take it. “Do you have a problem with him calling me MoMo?”
“I’m jealous.” Lei lowered the fork to the plate. “Is that not clear?”
I blinked again.
His words hung between us like a chandelier on a frayed rope, threatening to shatter the romantic peace of our dinner.
I took a deep breath, trying to keep my tone calm. “Lei, you have nothing to be jealous about. Marcelo is family. We’ve known each other since we were kids.”
“He still has feelings for you.”
“I wouldn’t say that.”
“I would. In fact, he basically said it on the phone.”
“He’s family. Nothing more. Nothing less.”
“Why didn’t he offer you the place in the South before your meeting me?”
“He didn’t know we were struggling in Glory.”
“Why didn’t he know that?”
“I didn’t tell anyone.”
“Why not?”
“Because I was embarrassed that I couldn’t take care of my sisters on my own, so. . .I didn’t ask for help or let Banks know. I just kept thinking that if I worked harder and took on more work everything would be okay.”
“And now you’re in the East and he’s trying to stake some kind of claim?”
I shook my head. “There is no claim he is trying to stake.”
“Let’s hope not.” The rage that Lei had been holding back earlier began to appear on his face.
His jaw clenched tightly, the muscles twitching with the effort to keep his emotions in check.
His eyes, usually so warm and tender, darkened with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine.
The corners of his mouth turned down in a grimace and a vein throbbed at his temple, pulsing in time with his quickening heartbeat.
In fact, if Marcy had been here. . .I felt like Lei might have strangled the shit out of him.
“So. . .” I sighed. “Marcy is not going to be a problem for us.”
“He’s not?”
“No. If Marcy and I were meant to be a thing, it would have already happened.”
“In the phone call, Marcy explained why he pulled back from you.”
I shrugged. “None of that matters because I’m sure you heard that I told him that I love you.”
“I heard that.”
“Good.”
“Your saying that and being adamant about living in the East with me, is why I am here at this table.” He scowled. “And not in the South right now shoving a very sharp knife down his throat.”
I widened my eyes.
“Also. . .your sisters are in the South. I cannot exactly destroy the area if they are there too.”
And then something dawned on me. I frowned. “Is that why you want my sisters to move into Lotus Blossom officially tomorrow?”
The line of his jaw twitched.
“Lei?”
“It’s not the main reason. I already told you why I wanted them here—”
“But getting my sisters out of the South so you can fuck it up is one of the reasons?”
He leaned back in his chair. “Do you understand who I am?”
“Yes.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, Lei. You’re the Mountain Master—”
“No. I’m not talking about a fucking title.” He touched his chest. “I’m saying that do you understand that I am in every way. . .my father’s son? He raised me.”
I shivered. “Meaning?”
“Meaning that Marcy calling you by an intimate name like MoMo and bringing up old memories of wanting to be with you.” Lei’s voice grew deadly. “I can’t just ignore that. Even more. . .there’s nothing within my heart or soul that would allow me to ignore that.”
Those words didn’t just reveal a simple confession of inadequacies or an explanation of who he was. They were laced with a sinister tone, hinting at Lei’s plans to inflict pain and destruction upon Marcy.
It was clear that Lei had malicious, violent intent and was more than ready to act upon it as soon as my sisters were out of the South.
Fuck. . .
Now it was my turn to lean back in my chair. So aggravated, I crossed my arms over my chest.
He set the fork down and stared at me.
“Lei. . .”
He raised his eyebrows.
“I don’t know what your plans are, but Marcy is family—”
“You’ve said that a few times—”
“And I meant it each time.”
“He’s not a true blood relative—”
“So?”
“So, it means that he’s not exactly protected from my hands.”
I widened my eyes. “Your hands?”
“My hands.” He picked up his fork, grabbed a little lobster bacon thing, and fed himself.
“Okay. First of all, no one is laying hands on anyone.”
Smiling, Lei enjoyed the morsal and grabbed another as if we were having a friendly conversation about movies.
“And, Lei, I understand how you feel, but jealousy isn’t going to solve anything. Marcy is my past and even more he’s not a threat to what we have.”
Lei swallowed and that rage didn’t leave his face. “And yet. . .I’m still jealous.”