Page 87 of Mafia Kings & Wedding Rings
“What’s wrong with you?” Rashida ran her fingers through the back of her hair.
“You tell me, mother. Looks like you got some mail!”I marched over and tossed the letter in her face.
Grabbing the paper, she brought it closer to read slowly. Lips moving as she skimmed the words, her eyes grew with each one. When she dropped her hand in her lap and gaped guiltily at me, I had all the clarity I needed.
“This doesn’t mean anything.”
“It doesn’t mean anything? What it means is that you are a low down, lying ass bitch!” I accused, aiming my finger at her once again.
“Em.” Sapphire jumped up and placed himself as a barrier between us.
He would always be my baby brother, but he was tall and the bass in his voice reminded me that he was no longer a kid. I couldn’t shield him forever. Blaine stepped back, probably figuring it wasn’t his place to get involved any further. I had my reasons for how I treated my mother, and she earned every one of them. This bitch was pure evil and selfish as hell. When it came to respect, she couldn’t ever get that from me. I didn’t want to taint Sapphire’s views either, but there was no way I could allow her to take advantage of him.
“You need to chill,” my brother warned, hands up trying to get me to calm down.
“Ask her, Sap. Ask your mother why we didn’t get any insurance money off the policy for Daddy! She told us because he committed suicide, but there’s only a two-year suicide clause, isn’t that right, Rashida!”
“I—” she stammered, unsteadily bringing herself to her feet.
“You lied! About everything! That’s why you didn’t want me to go with you when they gave you the autopsy because you knew, you fucking knew!” I aimed an accusing finger at her.
“Ma, what she talking about?” Sapphire turned to her with his face bunched up.
I hated to be the one to hurt him like that, but he deserved to know. Our mother wasn’t shit, and the sooner he figured that out, the better.
“Tell him! Say it!” I belted, ready to draw blood if she didn’t confirm what I already knew. “Tell him that Daddy didn’t commit suicide. What was it… a suspicious death they called it, which has come under investigation.”
“What that mean?” Sapphire questioned, confusion all over his handsome baby face.
“It means he was murdered!” I screeched. “Ain’t that right, Rashida! What you really running from?”
“I don’t know what you think you’re saying, but you better check that shit before you cross a line you can’t go back from,” my mother warned. “Who the hell are you to judge me?” Something almost human flickered behind her gaze when she aimed her almond French tip at me.
“What’s the matter, Rashida? Am I hitting a little too close to home?” I sneered.
“You don’t know what the hell you’re talking about, and I don’t have to stand here listening to any of this. I came over here because I’m still your mother, and I care about what happens to you. Both of you.” She glanced at Sapphire. “But I won’t stand for the disrespect.”
“Then I suggest you leave. I ain’t got nothing else for you.” With my arms tucked across my chest, I sent daggers of hate her way.
Sighing, she shook her head and collected herself.
“I’ll give you some time to calm down. This isn’t over. If you know what’s best for one of us benefits us all. Correct me if I’m wrong, but Ivo is a married man, no?”
Keeping an ice grill on my face, I dropped my arms at my side.
“He’s also a friend. Someone I’ve known for a long time. It’s none of your business what we talked about.”
“You and Ivo Marek are far from fucking friends, Emerald. Let’s be honest about that while you in here calling me out on my shit,” Rashida sneered. “You almost risked it all for that boy until your father threatened to cut you off. I guess you didn’t trust Ivo’s feelings for you as much as you thought. Look at you.” She scoffed, shaking her head and raking those piercing, round eyes over me. “You’re not that sixteen-year-old girl anymore, Emerald, yet you still haven’t grown up. You had so much potential, and now you’re back here rotting like the rest of these mediocre bitches.”
Smack!Out of pure instinct, my hand landed against her face. It even shocked me. What she said might have struck a nerve, but it was also because Rashida wasn’t shit to me. I stand on that. There wasn’t a motherly bone in her body, and I hated her.
“Get the hell out!” I pitched my head over my shoulder to the door. “The only reason you’re coming around now is because you know he’s got potential and you want to be here to cash in. You don’t give a fuck about him or his well-being.”
Stroking her cheek, she pressed her tongue against her inner jaw and glared at me.
“This isn’t over. Sapphire, don’t get comfortable on the couch.” She yanked her purse onto her shoulder and stomped toward the door.
When she was gone, I stood there with my arms tucked across my chest and my head bowed.
