Page 123 of 10,000 Hours With A Rich Menace

“Appreciate it.”

I watched as he walked over to Jeffie holding Estella, and pulled Skyler with him as they took pictures with Wonder.

We took so many pictures that my damn head was spinning when we were done. All I focused on was my new bride and how she was over there serving Top Model. She tossed that thick thigh up in one picture and was living for being in front of the camera.

We took one at the very top of the steps and I dipped her as I kissed her neck, and she laughed. The picture was fucking perfect. Duke went to walk the photographer out to grab all his memory cards.

There wasn’t any pictures of Menace Caselli out there, and it damn sure wasn’t about to start. “The Caselli’s,” Rah clapped his hands. “Mens, I’m proud of you.” Rah came over and dapped me.

“Hi!” Wonder greeted.

“Wonder, this is Rahmeek Vanducci. If anything should ever happen to me, this man and those two over there would make sure that you are always straight.”

He nodded his head and hugged her. “Indeed. The families,” he held his champagne flute up, and Ghost and Karter followed.

“Nice to meet you.” Wonder held onto me, and I kissed her head, which had Rah freaked out. He was trying to figure out how to act because this was so outside of who I was.

We mingled for a bit before I was ready to get out of here. Wonder walked across the room and hugged the Indian man as he spoke to her. I could see from his expression that this was family. He was proud of her, and he loved her.

She walked over toward me while holding his hand. “Alex, this is my husband. Mena?—”

“Maverick Caselli,” I corrected her.

My baby already knew not to give out the name to anyone, but this was as close as a father that I would meet of hers. He was her family, and I was a man that showed respect, so he got the honor of knowing my name.

“Maverick, it is nice to meet you. I would have loved to meet you sooner, but someone keeps secrets.”

Wonder snickered. “It was on a need-to-know basis.”

“Stevie, your mother would be so proud of you. I felt her spirit with us today, and I know she is happy for you.” He turned his attention to me. “Take care of her. She is a light and so special to me and my family.”

Wonder rested her head on his arm. “Love you, Alex.”

“Love you so much more, Stevie. I want to see you more, too, yeah.”

She smiled. “I promise.”

He hugged her, shook my hand, and then headed back over with who I assumed was his wife. I watched as Skyler smiled at him as she made her way over toward us. She stopped mid walk, and did this little gangsta walk while smiling before Stevie joined her and they jumped up and down.

“You are married, Stevie!” She jumped up and down, then turned to look at me. “To Menace.”

“Hi, fuck you, too, Skyler.”

She laughed. “I am happy for you both and can’t wait to witness this union between you two. I’m sad you’ll be moving out the apartment… into that big fortress. Guess you gonna have to have Thanksgiving with a mini serial killer, Mens.”

My jaw clenched. “You need to get her to stop doing that shit. It’s all cool until she standing over you with a knife because you told her no more cartoons. You saw that fit she threw on the stairs.”

“Menace, my baby ain’t no damn serial killer,” Skyler snorted.

Corleon came over with Jeffie. He was holding Estella, who was resting her head on his shoulder. “Her nap time is approaching and she starting to get whiny. She wanted candy and then started crying when I opened it.”

“She wanted me, and then cried for him,” Jeffie added.

Skyler hugged her cousin. “I love you so much, Stevie. I am so happy for you and know that Menace is going to take care of you. You deserve that, you know that, right?”

Stevie nodded her head fighting the urge to not cry. “I know that… do you know that?”

“Today isn’t about me. There will come a time when it is, but not today, Stevie… it’s about you today and you deserve all the attention to be on you because you are so damn amazing.” She looked over at me with watery eyes. “Appreciate how amazing she is, and don’t try to change her. So many have tried to change her. I’m sure many have tried to change you too. You both found love within each other for a reason.” Corleon kissed her forehead and pulled her into him.

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