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)
“I hope so because. . .I’m not going back.”
“Interesting.”
We arrived at the library and I guided him in.
A dark chuckle left him. “Good choice, Moni.”
“I figured you would like this room.”
“I more than like this room. Now I’m moving in.” A wicked smile spread across his face. “Who will give Lei the bad news?”
I laughed.
“Oh my.” Einstein scanned the walls lined with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves filled with special edition blue leather covers, each one more luxurious than the next. The spines gleamed with gold embossing.
A massive, dark wood desk stood in the center of the room, accompanied by two pale blue leather armchairs that looked as though they had been designed for hours of comfortable reading.
Einstein bobbed his head and lightly touched a few of the books. “This is. . . extraordinary.”
I watched as he walked further into the room, his hand grazing the edge of the desk as he moved. His usual composed expression was replaced by something I rarely saw on him—absolute wonder.
“This place is like something out of a dream,” Genuine awe laced his voice. “I’ve seen luxurious libraries before, but this. . .the attention to detail, the care that’s gone into every aspect of it. . .it’s breathtaking.”
On the ceiling, a blue dragon wore glasses and read a book.
Einstein chuckled at the dragon and then picked up a novel. “Little Women, but in blue leather and a gold emboss saying that it belongs to Lotus Blossom. Perfection.”
“Oh really?”
“Each edition was clearly made for only this library.” Einstein slipped his fingers along the gold tipped pages. “Marvelous. I’m now inspired to redo my own home library.”
He put the book back, moved to the end of a bookshelf and gently pulled out a turquoise leather-bound book, inspecting the cover. “Slaughterhouse Five. Mind-blowing”
“Feel free to borrow a few books.”
“I just might.”
“Good. Just bring them back when you’re done.”
“Of course.” Einstein placed the book back on the shelf and then looked at me. “However. . .I know you didn’t just ask me to come on this house tour to see these books.”
I smiled. “You never disappoint when it comes to outthinking someone.”
“What do you want to talk about, Moni?”
I walked over to him. “Marcelo hates to read and only memorizes old sports’ stats. While he has a mind for expansion and executing power moves, he wouldn’t think them up. He leaves that part to you.”
“Marcelo has changed since you’ve known him.”
“But I’m not wrong?”
“Not yet.”
“Banks could care less about laws and regulations. I bet he didn’t even know what Law 480 was until you told him this week.”
Smiling, Einstein grabbed another book, opened it, and gazed at the pages. “Banks and Marcelo think you’re out of your element in the East, but I think they’re wrong and you just proved that right now.”
I placed my hands on my hips. “Why did you tell Marcelo and Banks to get Dima involved and bring up Law 480 today? Because I know no one else would have done that but you.”
Einstein kept his gaze on the book. “I wanted to see what would happen.”
“I need a better answer.”
“I would like to take this book.” He held it up. “Fahrenheit 451. I read it as a kid, but I bet it will make more sense now that I’m an adult.”
“Take it.” I tilted my head to the side. “Do you have any particular expectations for this whole Law 480 meeting?”
“And that’s the other reason why you wanted me to go on this tour. You knew that without me sitting next to Marcelo, Rowe Street Mob would have less capability to argue Lei violating the law.”
“I was surprised you came.”
“Our bringing up the law was a chess move for insight, not a path to destroy the East. Therefore, I didn’t care what the outcome was. I just wanted Lei to understand that the South will answer, if you ever call to have our support.”
I thought back to Lei taking Chanel’s body and wearing green while he did it. “And you wanted Lei to stop fucking with the South.”
“That too. He sees us as babies in the Syndicates.”
“What could happen to Lei if Dima finds him in violation.”
“The highest penalty is death, but Lei has done nothing to demand an execution.”
I shivered.
“Other penalties will deal with loss of territory, money, etc.” Einstein held on to the one book and began checking out the shelf again like he was in the library. “But the true test was wondering if Dima would really deal with Lei.”
“Why?”
“As I said before, Rowe Street Mob’s position in the Diamond Syndicate is very new and at times shaky.”
I considered that. “You don’t trust the Syndicate?”
“I’m just weighing our options.”
“I need you to not make any power plays when Lei and I are concerned.”
He pulled off a book and checked out the title. “And who is asking?”