Page 39 of 10,000 Hours With A Rich Menace

“Wow,” she repeated for the second time while her mind was wandering. Skyler was trying to find a way to fix this, and I didn’t need her help fixing this.

“I know that look.”

“What look?”

“The one where you want to fix everything for me… I love you, but no. I should have listened and now this is my mess to clean up.”

Skyler folded her arms. “And how do you plan on fixing this mess?”

“Menace needs something, and I need to keep my father and Priscilla alive.”

Skyler choked on her spit because she hadn’t touched anything since sitting down. “You want to keep them alive?”

“Well, Raye didn’t know the money was going into my account. He’s kind of innocent in all of this when you think about?—”

“Innocent? I understand that he’s your father, but he was stealing. Not only stealing, but he also stole from a powerful family like the Caselli’s. That’s like me walking into the Delgato’s compound and slapping Jean Delgato… dangerous and stupid, Stevie.”

I put my face in my hands. “What do you want me to do? Give the word for him to kill my father… I don’t care about him, but damn, I can’t live with knowing I didn’t do something to save him.”

She reached across the table and grabbed my hands from my face. “Would he do the same for you, Stevie?”

“I can’t think like that, Skyler.”

“You should though, Stevie.” She took a deep breath and then looked at me. “Raye aside, you want to save someone that offered your virginity up. What if it wasn’t Menace they stole from and some sick fuck that would have taken the offer.” Skyler had tears in her eyes as she looked at me. “I love you, Stevie, and I know sometimes you like to live in this world of make believe, but this could have ended bad for you. What would I have done if you were….” She couldn’t get the words out as she broke down crying.

Estella saw her mother start crying and ran across the yard to console her while I came around the table. Like we’ve done before, we all hugged each other as Skyler tried to stop crying.

“Love you, Mama,” Estella kissed her mother’s arm, as I kissed her temple.

“Love you, Skyler.”

She sniffled. “Love you three the most… it’s us against the world.”

“Always. Nothing changes with that. I promise it will not change,” I assured her, not knowing if I could keep that promise.

Estella went back over to her half-eaten nuggets while I returned back to my seat and Skyler dabbed her eyes. “Why does Menace need to marry you?”

“I don’t know… assuming it’s something business related.”

“Stevie, what the fuck,” she held her face in her hands as she peered at me through her fingers.

“This is my mess, and I will clean it up. You wanted the truth, and I gave it to you… allow me to do what needs to be done.”

“By marrying Menace Caselli?”

I leaned back in my chair. “I’ve done a lot of thinking on this, and the arrangement isn’t that bad. No more being late on rent, Ican live in this big ass house and not have to work unless I want to.”

“What about the actual marriage, Stevie?”

I paused and thought about it. “One thing at a time… did you bring my nail stuff?”

She handed me the second bag she brought, and I smiled. “I’ll take a fresh set for the emotional trauma.”

“I promise if I’m not alright I will let you know.”

“I put that on our old hoe.”

She broke out into laughter. “God forgive me.”

---