Page 145 of Cruel Devotion

“And when you meet with Dima, let me be there for the introduction.”

“That's fair.”

“Remember, Moni. I'll always be here for you if things go bad.”

“Your support means a lot to me, cousin.”

“Alright then,” he said with a hint of resignation. “If you need anything, you know where to find me.”

“And your men around the mountain?”

“I'll pull them back. I want you to look good on your first day as aFriend.”

I smirked. “Thanks, cousin.”

“You miss a call and we storm the mountain.”

“I got it.”

“I'm not fucking around, Moni.”

“I got it, and Banks, thank you.”

“We're family, Moni. That's what we do.”

“True.” A smile tugged at my lips. “So. . .before we go. How are my sweet and innocent sisters?”

“Jo is working. She thinks she owns that comic book store. If you all go to the East. . .she may not come.”

I frowned. “Why not? I can get her a car to—”

“I already bought her a new car. It's not that.”

“Then, what?”

“Every time she goes to work, she'll have to wear blue in the East, then drive over to the South and change into green, and then when she returns, she'll have to put blue back on. That shit will annoy her. She might as well live with us for a while.”

“It would annoy her but that's my road dog. She's coming with us.”

“We’ll see. She’s also building quite a stable of women around here in the South.”

I laughed. “And how are Cloe and T.T.?”

“Chloe is a hot mess. It's been a job to keep her off the streets and away from boys.”

“Yeah?”

“I'm sending guards with her when you all go to the East.”

“And I'll gladly take them. I need all the help I can get with that girl.”

We both laughed, and it reminded me of the good old times when Banks and I would just sit in front of the TV and joke around.

I grinned. “And how is T.T.?”

“Right now, she's around the corner, spying on our call. She thinks I don't know.” Banks raised his voice. “T.T., you might as well come in here and say hi with your nosy self.”

My heart ached. “Put her on the phone.”

---