Page 90 of Mafia Kings & Wedding Rings
“Goodnight, big head. I love you.” With my pie in hand, I strolled behind the couch and down the hall to my bedroom.
I had a message from Ivo when I checked my phone, sending me the address to our new home, and I smiled while seating myself on the edge of the bed. Today wasn’t perfect, but it was somewhat looking up. There was still so much up in the air, but tonight I didn’t want to think about it. My brother and I had a new place, I had a car so that I could start looking for a better job that went beyond needing the bus line, and I knew Ivo had me one way or another. Blaine was a silver lining, and I honestly couldn’t say for sure if that was a good or bad thing. I didn’t want him being collateral damage in my mess of a life, but he said he wanted to be there for me, so who was I to turn him away?
Sixtine
The following weekend…
The tapping at my door at the Guardian Lodge pulled me from my current task, which was packing so that I could move into the Marek mansion. For the past week, Brick and I had been with each other so much it was starting to feel like a real fucking relationship. His following and mine had increased, and our interactions were all going viral on several platforms. It was normal now to pull up my Tik Tok and see someone had shared one of our videos of us out on a date or laid up in his room talking shit after we blazed a blunt. Stuffing the rest of my clothes into the luggage Sol brought over for me, I sighed.
“Come in!”
The door opened, and Kiara strolled in with a big box in her arms. She and I had also gone to brunch a couple of times and started spending spare time in the rec room together watching trash TV. She was cool enough, and I knew what it was like not to have friends. I found out that her parents were also in the dope game. Kiara was born to be some nigga’s baby mama from the way she told it.
Her daddy was a hood legend, and her mama was the bitch every other woman wanted to be. She told me how she wasgetting into fights all over town behind her man and that Kiara came the same way about her baby daddy. Technically, she was still with him now, but I knew how that went. Until that man was free from those jail walls, she was damn sure going to do her.
“You just got a package.” She carried the box over to the bed and dropped it with a heavy sigh.
“I didn’t order anything, but shit has been coming here and to Brick’s house since last week.”
I tore the tape off the box and opened it. Inside, there was another box with a black bow tied around it and the word Prada written on the top.
“Oh, what is it?” Kiara’s eyes grew the size of two saucers.
Untying it, I lifted the lid and inside was a brand-new white and navy bucket bag with matching sunglasses and a bottle of perfume.
“Girl, that is cute!” Kiara squealed.
“Yeah, it is.” I brushed my hand over the material.
“It must be nice to have designers sending you shit.” Kiara picked up the sunglasses and tried them on.
“It’s cool, keeps me from spending my money. I got enrolled in school, and I start classes in a couple of weeks. Today I’m moving out of here and in with Brick. I can’t complain.”
This man had me driving a silver Range Rover Evoque, which was basically a two-door Range with a back seat, and the top came down like a convertible. You couldn’t tell me shit, and for the first time in my life, I felt like I was right where I was supposed to be. You’d think I’d be uncomfortable, but having money came so fucking natural for me. My future was brighter than ever, and Brick had more to do with it than I would like to admit. He breathed life into me, even though he also got on my nerves with that cocky shit. I realized we had grown up completely different though, so of course his view on the world was different than mine.
“Pssh, no the hell you can’t. I ain’t mad at you taking full advantage. In a couple of more checks, I’ll be able to get out of here too. I’ve been looking for two bedrooms for me and Kiadra.” She pulled the glasses off her face and placed them back in the box. “It’s hard being a single parent though. I always thought her daddy would be around, but with him being locked up and having no support from my family or his, sometimes I just want to give up.”
“You can’t do that though. Kiadra is watching you. Like you said, you’ll be able to get your own place soon. Just stick to the program. If you need anything, you can hit me up though.”
“What are your plans for the weekend?” she asked, leaning back on her elbow and watching me pack the rest of my stuff.
The room was spotless of my existence now.
“Oh, I have this red-carpet thing with Brick for GloWorks. It’s some product he endorses, and they want him there, so he invited me.”
“So, what’s it really like being with him?” Kiara queried, a smile toying with the corners of her lips.
Pausing, I had to think before I responded because my impression of him sure had changed. He was still an arrogant, conceited asshole, but he had layers. Being around him and his family this past week was some entertaining shit. I don’t know who was funnier, the adults or Staten’s kids. I didn’t have that growing up, and it was just nice to see black families be there for each other and spend time together. Don’t get me wrong, they argued, talked shit, and Brick and his brothers fought as well as the kids, but it was still all love at the end of the day. I grew up with siblings who thought it was okay to physically and mentally abuse each other, so there was a big difference.
“At first, I was wondering what the hell I was doing with him, but… it’s like you said, Brick’s not everything people think he is.”
“And have you had a chance to sample that package yet?” Kiara insinuated, licking her full lips.
“I have not.” I closed the suitcase and zipped it shut.
“Girl, why not? Don’t tell me you’re scared.”
“I have my reasons, and I ain’t trying to get blinded by dick.”
