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)
I let out a long breath. “First of all, I was not being Michelle Obama—”
“Last time we talked, we said nothing about your being the Mountain Mistress—”
“I said nothing about being it on TV either—”
“Yet every headline in Paradise City is pondering whether you are the East’s new Mountain Mistress—”
“Hey. It’s been a busy day—”
“Moni, motherfuckers killed people over you last night. That’s right. We caught that little news cycle too in the South. We all have been sitting in front of the TV waiting for more news.”
“We? Who?”
“Every fucking body. Even T. T.”
“Oh God no. My sisters saw the news?”
“Fuck yeah. They saw it. Chloe was the one to get everybody. You and Lei popped up on her social media.”
“Oh fuck.”
“Mom made dinner, we ate in front of the television and you know how she don’t like that shit, but they were on TV breaking down the possibilities of your presence in the East on this local evening show. Talking about race and trying to figure out your background and family. Mom was waving the Bible at the TV the whole time.”
“Jesus Christ!”
“This morning, Marcelo and I was at the gate with seventy people, trying to get you out of there, but it was still locked to outsiders and no matter how many times we shot at the lock—”
“Hold up. Would you both just—”
“What? Calm down? The Moni I know would not be so chill about people dying over her—”
“I’m not being chill. I’ve just had some time to process it—”
“Where are you now?”
“Okay. Hold on.” I placed the phone on the windowsill. “First of all, Banks, I’m sorry. I promised to call every day, but then I got to the East and everything here is so big and crazy—”
“I told you the East is insane.”
“Yeah. . .well now I truly know it. Also, I talked to Leo today.”
“Leo? The mad man that killed those people last night.”
I shivered. “Yes.”
“You’re just hanging out with all the killers now?”
“Would you be quiet so I can catch you up.”
“Oh, please catch me up because I didn’t even get any damn sleep last night.”
“I’m fine.”
“Are you?”
“Yes.”
“I think you’re in danger.”
“I’m safe.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because I’m right here. . .at my house. . .I have three Black ladies-in-waiting that can kick people’s ass.”
“Did you say ladies-in-waiting?”
“Yes.”
“So it’s official. You’re the Mountain Mistress?”
“Well. . .” My nerves frazzled. “I decided that today.”
“Moni!”
“This is my life and I chose this place to live in—”
“You didn’t even know that place existed until barely a few weeks ago when Lei kidnapped you—”
“He didn’t kidnap me—”
“He did.”
I considered the past weeks and shrugged. “Okay. Fine. He did, but you don’t know what I learned from Leo—”
“The psychopath?”
“Yes. I mean no. Well. . .yes. He is a psychopath, but. . .a nice one.”
“Oh. A nice psychopath. Well then everything is just fine. No worries.”
I shook my head. “Anyway, I talked to Leo today and he knew Mom.”
To my shock, Banks remained silent.
I would have bet a hundred dollars that his eyes were popped opened and his mouth parted in utter confusion.
I cleared my throat. “In fact, Mom was besties with Jing—Lei’s mother. And Mom went to the East a few times. I have a picture of her in the garden at Lotus Blossom. . .my new home. . .that I’m standing in right now.”
Bank’s voice sounded odd like he’d just been hit by a hammer and had struggled to get control of his mouth. “Moni?”
“Yes.”
“What the fuck are you talking about?”
“I have a big photo album with all these pictures of Mom and Jing, there’s all this stuff that happened after they both died that deals with my father and the casino and Leo along with Lei’s aunts plotting and Leo’s all prepared to die so that I can basically have his grandson and name him Leo Jr.”
“Moni. . .what?”
“Yeah. I know. This is going to fuck up your mind.”
“Listen. I don’t know what you’re saying.”
I sighed. “I have to explain it all from the beginning.”
“Tell me everything.”
And that was what I did.
It must have taken a good twenty minutes. Banks didn’t interrupt, but I bet those eyes kept popping open with the tale. Once I was done, the silence on the other end of the line was so profound that for a moment I wondered if I had somehow lost the connection.
“Banks? Are you there?”
When he finally spoke, all he could do was mutter, “Damn, Moni.”
“I know right.”
There was another long pause.
When he finally spoke again, his tone was softer than before. “So. . .”
I quirked my brows.
“What’s your plan now?”
I gazed out the window.
Night had finally come and the garden appeared even more magical. All the lanterns in the trees glowed. I spotted staff members heading out with platters and other items, although I couldn’t see the spot that they had decorated for us.