Page 23 of Savage Throne
“We watched you shoot down a bunch of them running on branches fast.”
“That was because I was hungry.”
“Well now. . .get hungry for power because with it, you have protection for not only you, but Lei, your sisters, and everyone else.”
I considered that. “Never leave a meeting without spilling blood.”
“That’s right. And I’m not just talking about violence. I’m talking about death.”
I shivered. “I-I can’t kill anyone, Leo.”
“I will teach you.”
My bottom lip shivered. “No.”
“You spill blood and the ones that are alive will witness this and their eyes and brains will see a monster.”
“I can’t kill. . .”
“If you’re a monster, then they’ll forget that you’re a woman or an outsider. They’ll forget you can’t even fight. They’ll just shiver and run.” Leo reached out to get the joint from my fingers. Yan’s finger was back on his lap. He sighed. “Monsters get what they want anytime they fucking want it. Monsters rule.”
I trembled. “That’s why you killed the cat.”
Laughing, Leo winked at me. “That’s why I killed the cat.”
I frowned.
Leo shrugged. “Did I want to kill the cat? No. It was cute and innocent but when I come, I kill. They must know it and when I walk into a space, I make a list of the things I can kill before I leave. Blood must be spilled.”
A cold chill ran through me. “You knew you were coming to the cookout tonight and you knew you would kill someone. . .regardless of anything.”
“The cat seemed like the easier target to not completely ruin the cookout too much.” Leo looked down at Yan’s finger. “I knew blood had to spill at the tea ceremony too, just to keep the reputation alive but. . .I had no one I could kill because it was you, Lei, my sisters, my nephews. . I considered killing the news people but I knew it would ruin the significance of the moment so. . .”
“You brought Yan’s head to further your reputation as a monster.”
“Were you horrified?”
“Very.”
“And everyone else was horrified too?”
“Without a doubt.”
“But here’s the other reason I killed the cat. Dima wanted unity for the Syndicate right now. Einstein pushed his own agenda at the cookout and Dima went along because it served his purpose too.” Leo scowled. “But the East is busy. My son. . .he has a lot going on so. . .someone had to give them a message to leave my son the fuck alone.”
I shivered. “So. . .regardless of what Dima did you were going to kill Barbara Whiskers?”
“He was lucky he brought her. When I heard days ago that he was bringing that reporter, I’d planned to kill her. I had a little outfit too for her dead body. I planned to set it up just right and let her body hang over the DJ booth.”
I almost pissed myself.
Leo shook his head. “Anyway, Dima brought this on himself. He should know better than to surprise my son. You do not come to the East unless we invite you.”
“But. . .I feel like Lei and I had it together like. . .Dima and him talked and were cool—”
“No, Monique. A behavioral change only happens through emotion. You must push thatemotionin them to change their behavior. And the emotion I always choose is pain and fear.” He took another hit of the joint. “I bet Dima won’t come uninvited again especially with anyone that he loves.”
Fuck.
