Page 114 of Savage Throne
“No.” Song shook his head. “They can’t.”
I frowned at him. “Why not?”
“If Leo heard that, they could die, and if Lei heard it, he might take it as disrespect toward you and kill them too.”
I blinked. “But—”
“They all saw what you did last night, Mountain Mistress. The East. They saw you pour out the heads onto the ground. They saw you kill even more men.” Those words landed like a blow. “All of the East saw the footage this morning. Everyone in Paradise City too.”
My stomach dropped.
The blood drained from my face. “No. I didn’t want anyone to see that.”
“All the news outlets have been playing it throughout the day over and over. You’re trending on social media.”
The women flinched and bowed their heads even lower.
“Lei. . .saw?”
“He did.”
I hugged myself. “And my sisters?”
“I talked to Min and Suzi. Chloe and TT didn’t see it, but Jo did.”
“No. Oh God. My cousins saw it too—”
“Of course. Rowe Street Mob needed to understand—”
“I didn’t want anyone to see—”
“What would be the point of killing so many men if it is a secret? Besides, that was your initiation.” Song rose from his chair. “You are nowofficiallythe Mountain Mistress. There will be no debate or discussion.”
My bottom lip quivered.
“When you step into a room, they will bow. When you rise from the table, they will rise too. Regardless of if Lei is with you or not.”
“T-the East didn’t have to see that.”
“They did.”
“No.”
“They needed to see that Lei didn’tgiveyou the title because he loved you. The East had to know that youearnedit.” Song sneered with pride. “That youtookit with blood and violence.”
My throat went dry.
“And understand this,” Song handed his cup to one of the women and she put it up. Then, he straightened his blue shirt as if preparing to head off. “This feast tonight will not only be a battle that will rock history, but. . .”
“But what?”
Song’s gaze didn’t waver. “It will be your debut as the first Black Mountain Mistress of the East. The most important Black woman in Paradise City, possibly more important than even Kashmere Jones ruling the Killer Crows.”
I widened my eyes.
“Because you have the Mountain Master’s heart and the East in a chokehold.” A dark, deadly smile spread across Song’s face. “You will also be the second woman to ever hold this title. And yet, you will be the first woman to take that title withdeadlyforce.”
The air froze around me.
