27
Impossibilities
Dimitri
A
lthough gray storm clouds hovered above, the rain had ended. The chill in the breeze lightened too. And those two crows flew away.
At the end of the funeral, the caskets were lowered into the ground. Everyone began to leave. Yet, many remained and conversed.
Marcelo, Rose, and I stayed. Our men kept their stance behind us.
I hoped to get an opportunity to talk to any of the top Killer Crows under Kashmere. I needed to find an in with them. However, they’d all left when Kashmere did.
I checked the right. The Senator and Governor rushed off to their limos as if fearing to get criminal dirt on their polished shoes. Meanwhile, Mayor Parks faced my way and glared. His guards surrounded him.
Anytime. Any place. With or without your men too.
I gave him a beautiful smile.
Rose shifted against me. “Johnathan is probably pissed.”
“Does it matter?”
“It does. I stormed off on our date, left with another man, and haven’t texted or dialed since. The ladylike thing to do would be to apologize.”
“Meaning?”
“I’ll need to have a conversation with Johnathan.”
I frowned at her. “That won’t be necessary.”
“I’ve known Johnathan since college, Dima. He’s always at my family’s house for holiday functions. I should say something to him right now.” She left my hold and looked at me. “Is that okay with you? Or do you want to leave right now?”
I didn’t like Parks having the pleasure of her company, even if it was at a cemetery in front of me.
But I was learning that Rose thought that she was independent. I needed to maintain the mirage as much as possible.
“Of course. It’s fine.” I kissed her cheek, gave her the umbrella, and gestured at my men to go with her. “I’ll be right here.”
“Alright. Then, I’ll be right back.” She headed over there.
Ten of my men followed.
Parks raised his brows and folded his arms across his shoulders.
You better be on your best behavior.
Marcelo watched her go. “This is going to be interesting.”
“Their conversation?”
“No.” He shifted his view to me. “Your jealousy.”
“If I were you, I would focus on the crumbling of Syndicate’s peace.” I gazed back at the oak tree further away. Lei still stood there with Duck and Chen. While his two men nervously scanned the area with their weapons out, Lei’s attention focused on the gravediggers. There were two men for each grave, gathering up soil with their shovels and pouring it into the holes.
Why look at the holes if you still have one of the bodies? What’s going on with you, Lei?
I sighed. “Damn it.”
“What?”
“We should talk to him.” I walked off.
The rest of my men went with me.
Marcelo hurried to my side. “I don’t even know why we’re wasting our time with Lei. He’s clearly not in his right mind.”
“When has he ever been in his right mind?”
Marcelo must have been thinking about the answer because he never responded.
Thunder grumbled above us. The already gray sky darkened more. Walking forward wasn’t that easy either, small puddles littered the cemetery. Mud gathered around my shoes.
When we approached Lei, I wasn’t shocked that his gaze remained locked on the grave diggers.
I went to Lei’s left and watched the diggers too.
How will this begin? We’ll need a proper approach.
Marcelo got to Lei’s right and looked at him. “Why did you take her body?”
I let out an exasperated breath. “Where’s the social foreplay, Marcelo? You’re the one that’s good at these things.”
A skeptical expression covered Marcelo’s face. “Now you’re apparently the king of social rules?”
Lei ignored us.
Marcelo wasn’t giving up. “Lei, why did you do it and then all in green? That caused a beef between the Killer Crows and—”
“Do you have a problem with it?” Lei kept his gaze ahead.
“It’s been a long week, buddy.” Marcelo scowled. “Watch how you respond to me. Be mindful that I’ll put a fucking bullet in your—”
“Everyone relax.” I stepped forward and watched both of them, ready to get between the two men if necessary. “Lei, we need an explanation about Chanel’s missing body?”
Lei turned to me. “Did the Diamond Syndicate pay for the funeral?”
“We did. It was difficult. Kashmere didn’t want to take our money.”
“I know.” Lei frowned. “She wouldn’t take mine.”
“I had to bypass the Killer Crows and send the money directly to the funeral home, limo service, Pastor, and everyone else.” I pointed at Lei. “Now, answer me. I need you to return Chanel’s body.”
Lei went back to watching the diggers shoveling dirt into the almost full holes. “That’s my business.”
“It’s Diamond Syndicate business,” Marcelo corrected.
Lei had no reply.
Marcel shook his head. “And what about Leo?”
“I’m handling it.”
Marcelo stepped in front of him. “Then, Leo is still alive?”
Duck pointed his sword at Marcelo. “Get back.”
Lei glared at Marcelo. “While it may have been easy for you to kill your piece of shit father. Mine is harder.”