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I’m glad we booked a private room, or we’d be a sight to see. We decided to meet for dim sum with the wedding party, and by “we,” I mean my mother had this planned. I don’t know why, I see almost everyone here all the time. Anya argued that it was the proper thing to do, to thank the important people in our lives.
Anya perks up and takes off her cap when a small older Chinese woman pulls up with a cart. She, Liling, and Bash point at items like seasoned pros. Lil gets a pot of tea for the table, and Maya asks about mimosas. Donna pales. Max sits back with her arms crossed, sunglasses resting on her nose, and hasn’t said a word. I’m positive she’s not even awake.
“After brunch, they thought it’d be a good idea to rent out a karaoke room and order bottles. Then Maya suggested they go to their old stomping grounds and take shots at every bar she and Anya used to go to,” I explain to my oldest brother.
They finished three bottles of champagne at home, and Anya was suddenly chanting “to hell with the press!”
Bash chuckles. “So much for keeping a low profile.”
I had to call Enzo, Dante, and Kai in for reinforcements when it was evident the girls weren’t going to stop drinking. Wrangling in drunk women is harder than you’d think.
“Please stop saying bottles... and shots.” Donna covers her mouth and winces.
“Man, a round oftequilashots could really hit the spot right now. What do you think, Enz?” Dante taunts.
The ladies grimace in unison.
“I don’t know, man. I could really go for apickleback. Something aboutwhiskeyandpickle juicegets me going,” Enzo replies.
Max, as if awoken from her stupor, shoots up and runs off to what I assume is the restroom. Causing the room to erupt in laughter.
“You need to eat, amore,” I tell my wife as I pack her favorite food onto her plate.
The color returns to her face after tea and a couple of bites. I’d never seen Anya so obliterated. She and Maya used to go out drinking frequently, but ever since she became the head of the Triad, she doesn’t let loose as much. I don’t blame her—it’s the same reason we don’t. It’s too risky to be caught off guard and not in the right state of mind. And it’s the reason I had the guys come out with me so she could have fun. I didn’t realize how much alcohol my tiny wife could actually handle.
Max returns at the same time another waitress enters to refill our drinks. Dante signals for her attention. Max isn’t too hungover to shoot my best friend a glare. She’s hated him ever since he thought she was a man, but that’s a story for another day.
He coughs. “Wo ke yi yào san gè biao zi ma?” Dante asks slowly, enunciating each syllable in Mandarin, causing not only the server but Anya and Lili to choke on their water.
My father and Bash were the only ones of us who spoke the language fluently, being the businessmen of the family and all. Enzo and I took lessons in our formative years. I started relearning it again, as it’ll help me with the businesses but also to keep tabs on anything wife and Triad related.
Apparently, this idiot is learning, too. And from what I’ve gathered, he’s not doing a good job. The waitress stomps off in a huff.
“What the hell was that?” Enzo asks, confusion etched on his face.
I chuckle and can see my wife’s shoulders shaking out of the corner of my eye. When I turn to her, she has tears in her eyes. But she’s laughing. So are Liling and Bash.
“Dante, what is wrong with you?” Anya asks him, barely keeping it together.
Bash mutters something, shaking his head.
“What? I just wanted some pork buns,” Dante says, feigning innocent.
“You just asked her if you could have three orders ofwhoresfor the table. Not dumplings,” Liling explains kindly.
“What?” Dante asks, pulling out his phone.
“Baoziis a steamed bun. Biao ziis whore or prostitute.” My wife speaks slowly to emphasize the difference in the first syllable.
The table erupts with laughter, but it’s short lived when Anya’s phone rings.
“Shit, it’s Jimmy. He rejected the deal,” she grumbles as she answers her phone.
The table remains silent as she speaks to him.
“To how much?” She pauses. “And there’s no deadline?” I can hear only his voice but not the words. “Accept it.” After thanking him, she hangs up and looks over at me. “The price went up.”
“How much?” I ask.
