Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 124836 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 624(@200wpm)___ 499(@250wpm)___ 416(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 124836 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 624(@200wpm)___ 499(@250wpm)___ 416(@300wpm)
“Okay. Okay. We’re not going to fight. Please put the tiara back on, Aunt Suzi.” I scowled at Lei. “And you need to say sorry.”
He touched his chest. “Me?”
“Yes. You hurt their feelings—”
“They’re hurting my eyes with all this crazy stuff here—”
“Say sorry, Lei. It’s a mermaid cookout, so just get over it.”
“Thank you, Moni.” Aunt Suzi fixed the tiara on her head. “I’m glad you understand.”
“Well. . .” I faced her. “You did go too far.”
Aunt Suzi frowned.
“But I do appreciate it. Just understand that. . .when some of my family sees this, well. . .a few might laugh.”
“That’s fine.” Aunt Suzi shrugged. “Laughter is the tonic of any excellent party.”
Meanwhile, Lei remained stubborn. “I am not apologizing or they will keep doing this.”
I sucked my teeth. “Lei.”
Aunt Suzi spread her hands out. “After all that we have done today—”
“That is the problem.” Lei’s scowl deepened. “You got an invitation to a cookout, not an order to party plan.”
“Do not worry, sister.” Aunt Min waved him away. “We do not need an apology. Oh no. We perform our beautiful works in the name of a power that is greater than even the Mountain Master.”
Aunt Min frowned at him. “But one day he will say sorry. It is when we are long gone, buried in the ground six feet deep.”
Lei groaned in annoyance.
“That is when he will say sorry and thank you.” Aunt Min bobbed her head. “That is the moment he will have gratitude for what we have brought to his life and it will be too late.”
Aunt Suzi jabbed at the air. “Absolutely too late.”
The conversation was cut short by the unmistakable sound of helicopters approaching.
Everyone looked up and two dark blue helicopters came into view, carrying a massive blue box suspended by cables. And this box could have held at least three elephants.
“Ha!” Aunt Min pointed to it and narrowed her eyes. “The nerve of you, Lei, to say that we are going too far when you are planning something outrageous too.”
I eyed the giant box. “What's that, Lei?”
He nervously shrugged. “Small surprises for your sisters.”
I raised my eyebrows. “That doesn't look small at all.”
Aunt Suzi snickered. “Small, he says. I can’t wait to see how big it is.”
Super nosy, I headed back to the helipad to see if I could figure it out.
What the hell did Lei do while I was sleeping?
Aunt Min and Aunt Suzi came along, sashaying with those ball gowns.
Lei got to my side and kept my pace. “What are you doing?”
“What did you get my sisters?”
“You’ll see when I give them their presents.”
“Lei, they don’t need presents.”
“What?” Aunt Suzi chuckled. “They have to get presents. We’ve been shopping all day.”
“They do not need to get presents.” I quickened my steps. “The mermaids and all of this is enough. Plus the house is gift enough too—”
“Leo gave you the house. We never got a chance to give you and them anything.” Aunt Min increased her pace too. “And anyway, Moni, you should never block our presents. It is the gift giver that has the most fun. Do not take that away from us.”
Jesus Christ. I can see right now. Everyone is going to spoil the shit out of my sisters.
I wasn’t sure if that was good thing or not. Granted, my sisters and I had experienced some tough years.
Presents, doting aunts, and mermaids would be a nice change.
The helicopters carefully lowered the massive, heavy box to the ground.
We stopped a good twenty feet from where it had been placed and as the dust settled, I could see that the box had several enormous bows on the top.
The sheer size of it was almost comical.
My curiosity grew by the second. “Well? What’s inside?”
Lei smirked. “Patience, Moni.”
A set of workers approached the box from behind and began to work on the latches holding the container closed.
Once done, the helicopters landed, Chen, Duck, and Hu left one helicopter while my ladies-in-waiting left the other.
I could tell by their faces as they headed our way and passed the box that they knew exactly what was inside.
Somebody is going to tell me what’s in there?
Right as I was about to ask Thandi, Chen checked his watch. “I was told that Monique’s sisters will be here in less than two minutes.”
Oh shit.
Excitement burst through me and I forgot about the gift. “Really?”
“Yes.” Chen looked at Lei. “All three helicopters are heading this way. However. . .”
Lei eyed him. “Yes?”
“Banks called and explained that they will be bringing in Rowe Street Mob helicopters too and him as well as Marcelo will be a few minutes late.”
Alright now, Banks. Don’t start shit today.
Annoyed, I stepped to him. “Did Banks say why Marcelo and he would be late?”
Chen continued to look at Lei. “Apparently, Banks wanted to pick up two surprise guests.”
I could tell Lei was pissed with that news. He remained quiet, but his jaw clenched tight and his eyebrows furrowed.