Page 28 of Mafia Kings & Wedding Rings
“Bye, Brick!” Kiadra waved happily, and Kiara watched him exit in a daze.
I turned back to the computer and decided to print off a few more jobs, then go back to my room. I wasn’t for the social shit today. Kiara and her daughter set up at the computers to my left,and out of the corner of my eye, I caught her eyeing me. In turn, I slowly lifted my gaze in her direction.
“You’re new here, aren’t you?”
“Something like that,” I mumbled, hitting print on my recent search.
“I’m Kiara. This is my daughter, Kiadra. We’ve been here about four or five months. I’ve been through a couple of jobs since then. Rossi says I have a problem with authority; I just don’t like people talking to me crazy,” she said, turning up her nose.
I wasn’t expecting her to just start rambling, but I didn’t want to cut her off when I still had to sit here. She pulled her chair from the desk and sat down while Kiadra got comfortable at the station beside her.
“That Brick is something else, ain’t he?” she tittered, shaking her head.
“He’s damn sure something.”
“Yeah, fine and rich. Winning combination if you ask me,” Kiara gushed.
“Some men are surface level only, and Brick is one of those men. I wouldn’t expect too much of him.”
“I don’t know. He’s been nice to me and Kiadra since we’ve been here. He plays games with all the kids here. When it comes to their activities and field trips, it’s usually Brick funding and chaperoning. He goes hard for them, even showing up for the little boys who don’t have dads for events at school where one is required. They all adore him.”
“Hmm, well, he does act their age,” I noted with a touch of sarcasm.
Was I tripping? Hearing Kiara’s view on Brick somehow rattled me. Her daughter’s response to him was even more telling. Kids didn’t fuck with you unless you were legit. DecidingI was still right, I pushed that shit to the back of my mind.Fuck Brick!
“So what’s your name?” Kiara asked, booting up her computer.
“Six,” I answered, watching her brows immediately lift. “Yeah, that’s my real name.”
“Well, it’s nice to meet you, Six. What floor you on? We’re on two,” she volunteered, pointing to Kiadra.
“Same.”
“Really!” she squealed, a little too hype for me.
I was only twenty-two, but she seemed younger than me. Probably a teen mom or some shit. I really didn’t care. I wasn’t here for friendships. This was just a stop on my road to wherever the hell I could go to make money. The only skill set I really had was doing hair and nails. Darlene had to always look good to keep up with all the hoes she was in the running for chasing dick with. She didn’t have to force me into it, though; doing hair, makeup, and nails was something I had a passion for. I did that shit in my sleep.
“Sorry if I’m coming off like a goofy or something. Most of the women here aren’t my age though. I’m only twenty years old. I had Kiadra when I was sixteen, and it’s been rough since. My family basically disowned me, and her daddy was around, but then everything we had was taken by the feds when he got locked up.”
“Damn, that’s crazy.”
“Yeah, so if I’m talking your ear off, it's because I don’t have a lot of people I can talk to in here. Rossi and Sol are cool though. Brick is sweet and always making sure me and Kiadra are good too.”
“Well, I’m going to head back up to my room.” I shut the computer down and moved over to the printer to grab my sheets and head for the door.
“See you around!” Kiara waved after me.
Back in my room, I tossed my papers on the desk and decided to shut all the curtains and get back in the bed. I had no desire to leave this room the rest of the day and I hoped that nobody bothered me. I was used to being alone, even when I lived with Darlene and Skully, and I had no desire to form any kind of attachments.
Cambrie
Later that day…
“Um, I don’t care. I told you she was sleeping, so no, I’m not letting you in,” my roommate and best friend’s voice jarred me from my slumber.
Peeling one eye open, I lifted my head off the pillow I was cuddled up to and checked the time on my LED alarm clock beside my bed. It was almost two p.m.
“You think I give a fuck about that? Let me in, Plum, so I can talk to her!”
