Page 26 of Mafia Kings & Wedding Rings
“I’m offended by that. You acting like I ain’t a good ass nigga, Sol.”
“You mean a hood ass nigga, Brick?”
He sucked his teeth, and I rounded the corner from the staircase, catching their attention from the check-in counter. Sol stood on one side, and Rossi remained in the lobby with a handsome, six-foot-something figure hovering over her. A smile lifted the corners of her mouth when she saw me, which caused him to spin and face me too. I hadn’t expected him to be that damn fine. With an even buzz cut and bushy brows above his slanted amber orbs, I watched them rake over me curiously. His invasive stare suddenly had me very self-conscious. I know I didn’t look good, but I was far from ugly. I happened to clean up quite nicely, minus the black eye. Oddly enough, when he looked at me, he didn’t seem turned off or disgusted. It was like he was looking right past that.
“Something I can help you with, Six?” Rossi queried.
“Um… coffee? I’m kind of a fiend for it.”
“Of course. There is a refreshment station set up around the corner. Sol just brewed two fresh pots.”
“Thank you.”
“Did you sleep at all?” she asked before I turned to walk away.
“Little bit. Is there a computer or something I can use? Kind of looking for work. I don’t have a lot of experience, at least nothing I can put on a résumé,” I tittered nervously.
“This is my son, Brick. Brick, show her to the computer room so she can get set up, please. I’m going to enjoy my snacks and get ready to clock out.” She motioned to the yogurt parfait in her lap with a bottle of sparkling lemonade water.
Using the control on her motorized chair, Rossi wheeled herself past her son and toward the employee entrance behind the counter.
“I ain’t no volunteer around this muhfucka, Ma,” he quipped comically.
“If I could reach the back of yo’ head, I’d slap the shit out of you.” Rossi had that serious mama tone that had me cackling under my breath.
“That shit funny to you?” Brick demanded, his thick brows knitted together seriously.
“Oh, so you want to act like you out here doing good things in the world, but only when the camera is rolling, right?” I clocked him.
He was pretty, but rugged and covered in tattoos. The familiar don’t-fuck-with-me glare behind his striking oval-shaped orbs even intrigued me. I knew better. Men were good at putting on a facade. I’d learned to spot that shit at an early age. Brick was no better than the rest of ’em. He was honestly more dangerous because he had money, status, and power. I could eyeball that off top. Men like him thought they could have what they wanted when they wanted. In a sense, he was just like Skully.
“Oop,” Sol sniggered, covering her mouth in shock behind the counter.
Brick immediately cut his eyes in her direction.
“You don’t know what the fuck you talking about. I don’t even fucking know you. So don’t come up in here ear hustling, thinking you gained some information.” He locked in on me with anger absorbing his stare, but it didn’t scare me.
“I don’t know you to gain anything. Now that I’ve met you, I hope it stays that way.”
“Who the fuck is this bitch?” he barked, pivoting to face Sol.
“Brick!” she hissed, immediately straightening up and standing tall.
“Fuck that! Fuck her too!” He swiveled back in my direction, indifference lingering in his sweeping gaze.
This was a prime example of why I didn’t fuck with these niggas out here. It was bad enough trying to survive Darlene and Skully with all the bullshit they had going on. I’d been in survival mode so long it was going to take the realest nigga in the world to put me into my soft girl era. The way these niggas were moving out here, I didn’t see that happening. This one in front of me had me all the way fucked up!
“You ain’t ever gotta worry about knowing shit about me, mama. I like to give the women in here the benefit of the doubt, but bitches like you make it hard for the next.”
“And niggas like you the reason bitches turn into lesbians,” I responded. “I think I can find the computer on my own.” Grilling him one last time, I brushed past him with little space between us as my shoulder bumped his.
“Bro, the fuck,” he growled, pinching the bridge of his nose.
I couldn’t stand a judgmental, ignorant ass nigga. I don’t know why God was always putting them in my path, knowing how I was. A bitch might have been a virgin, but my innocence had been stolen a long time ago. I stopped at the coffee station for my beverage first before locating the media room and letting myself inside. There were ten desks equipped with a computer, and each one was linked to the large printing station in the far corner of the room. First thing was first; I had to find a way to support myself. This place was cool, but I didn’t know how long it would last. If that arrogant ass nigga was going to be popping up around here, I damn sure didn’t want to be here longer than needed. Seated at a computer scrolling through Indeed, I didn’t pay attention to the door opening behind me. Then I heard his voice.Annoying ass.
“What’s good, followers? It’s ya boy! As you can see, a nigga suited up on that grown man shit today, but I’m looking for something to get into this evening. I got an announcement coming soon, and I’m sure a lot of women will be tuning in.”With his phone in front of him, he walked inside wearing a cocky grin.
Ignoring his ass, I clicked away on the keyboard and used the mouse to scroll through the Indeed site. I just wanted to find what I was looking for, print some shit off, and get the hell out of here.
