Page 97 of Mafia Kings & Wedding Rings
“Six,” she answered with narrowed eyes.
“That’s right. GirlSix… like a call girl?” Bella tried to be funny, and Six snickered right along with her.
“Baby, let’s go find our table.” Grabbing her hand, I pulled her past Bella and her husband.
Her cat eyes flickered dangerously toward Bella, so I knew it would only be so long before she went off. I didn’t want that for her or me. It was bad enough I was getting bad press. She was supposed to be helping me keep a clean image. Not showing that she could be just as hotheaded as I was.
“Don’t even trip off her,” I whispered against her ear as we stepped foot into the main hall.
Black, gold, and white décor filled the room. There was a large balloon arch arranged in one corner to take more photos. Each square table could seat four people, and there were small tealight centerpieces arranged with black and gold dinner plates and utensils. A wait staff milled around in black and gold uniform, serving champagne on ice along with oysters, mussels, and stuffed shrimp.
“Let me guess, you’re fucking her.” Six didn’t move her lips when she spoke, but her tone let me know she was upset.
“Not since we started this. That’s my word.” I kissed the spot behind her ear, which sent a wave of goosebumps over her flesh. “I’m here with you tonight, and I ain’t trying to fight. Let’s give these muhfuckas something to talk about.” The DJ spun Usher’s“Superstar” after the current song, and I grabbed her hand to pull her to the dancefloor, singing word for word.
I didn’t sound half bad, and I could tell the shit was lowkey embarrassing her, but that sparkle in her eyes had me. Rocking from side to side in a groove, the lyrics carried a nigga away because I was indeed her biggest fan.
“I’ll be your groupie baby… ’cause you are my superstar… I’m your number one fan, give me your autograph, and sign it right here on my heart,” I sang with my chest, never breaking eye contact while drawing her closer.
Holding her like this with all eyes on us and some of these people recording didn’t matter. I wanted her to enjoy her night. Hearing some of her struggles left me hella protective over Six because she seemed like a dope ass person. Swaying with her in my arms, I kept singing as more drinks flowed through the room. It was all top-shelf shit too, so I was prepared to be faded tonight. I wasn’t driving, which meant I could stumble out of this muhfucka if I wanted to. We had dinner, then dessert, and more liquor.
Every now and then, when I looked up, I would find Bella nearby, eyes green, smoke damn near coming out of her ears. Six had every ounce of my attention, and there were plenty of women in attendance trying to work for it. She said she needed to use the bathroom, so I told her I was going outside to smoke. I snuck onto the side patio for a minute while scrolling through my social media accounts. Armon had already posted the pictures of us leaving the house, and we’d received plenty of interaction in just the last two hours and over a thousand shares. Slowly, the brands that weren’t fucking with me were creeping back in, thanks to Six.
She was really becoming my better half. Exhaling a cloud of smoke, I studied the twinkling stars in the sky just as the door opened and closed behind me. Bella simpered and moved toward me, her heels clicking with each step against the concrete.
“What you doing out here?”
“Needed some air.” She shrugged. “Don’t tell me this little fake relationship is the reason you’ve been blowing me off. I thought we were better than that,” Bella tittered, pausing at my side near the concrete wall wrapped around the terrace. “I almost believe it though. I mean, she is cute… but what you gon’ do with someone like that, Brick?”
“The fuck that mean?”
“Oh, come on. She’s not your speed.” Bella laughed. “We both know you have a type. Unavailable. Because you’re afraid of commitment. Now you want the world to believe you’re in this full-blown relationship. Please.” She shot a comical glance my way.
“Why is that so hard to believe?” My serious tone left her rearing her neck and briefly speechless.
“I just don’t think?—”
“Did I ask you that? Do you think I care what the fuck you think?” I sniggered, which seemed to infuriate her as her nostrils flared. “The fuck you even come out here for, Bella? Keep it a buck. You jealous and you miss this dick! That’s all this is about.” I took another pull from my blunt, and the amusement in her eyes dissipated when she turned to me this time.
“Fuck you and your little build a bitch! I’m not the only one not buying this little charade you putting on with her.”
“You are the one that told me to bring a date though, remember?”
“A date, Brick. Don’t come in my event being disrespectful.” She pushed herself off the wall and stood tall when I faced her.
“I came here to boost your shit, remember that, Bella.” I gripped my blunt between my thumb and first finger a little tighter. “Your little ass company wasn’t shit before I started endorsing you on my shit. All these people in here been coming up to me and my girl all night, trying to put us on as ambassadors. It won’t be shit to drop you and your little bullshit product and start supporting somebody else. As for disrespect, remember who came for who. Matter of fact, you got it. Make your decision right here. You want to act dizzy over this dick, or you want to keep your fucking business?”
“Answer the fucking question, Bella.” Raphael’s voice had both of us breaking our necks to spot him in the doorway.
This bitch ass nigga had his iPhone positioned in his hand, recording us. Bella practically tripped over herself trying to get away from me. Instead of panicking, I remained cool and pinched the blunt between my fingers again and brought it to my lips. I ain’t have shit to hide in this situation. Other men’s wives got cracked all the time, and I was single when I was dicking her down.
“Raphael… I was just?—”
“Having a conversation with the nigga you been fucking behind my back?” he concluded, keeping his camera volleying from me to her.
“Baby, that’s not what this is,” Bella whimpered, suddenly feigning innocence, like she wasn’t just out here on some rah-rah shit because I wasn’t fucking her.
“What y’all think out there? This ya boy, Brick Marek, Oak Bluffs’ resident player. Nigga stay fucking somebody bitch. Just didn’t imagine mine was one of ’em.” His mouth twisted into a callous grin.
