Page 34 of Meraux Mafia: No Ordinary Love

“I don’t know enough about her to gauge, and you don’t either. This is a mess, Gi, and you know it.”

“It’s not ideal, but what can I do?” Everybody seemed to have something to say about Hailo, but nobody offered solutions to the problem. It had been nonstop complaining, and nothing got on my nerves more than that.

“What you’re doing now,” she admitted.

“Are you going to help me or what?”

“Of course I am.”

“I appreciate it.”

“Of course.” Solana disconnected the call

I checked my phone, and Hailo finally decided on something to eat. After placing our order, I went downstairs to the gym. I always kept extra clothes to change into after I finished working out. I desperately needed to release all the shit I had pinned up.

The sound of the weights clinking calmed me. After a quick shower, the silence made me nervous. Fearing that she would run again or attempt, I jogged up the stairs two at a time. Thankfully she hadn’t. Hailo wasn’t lying when she said she was tired. A smirk formed, watching her rest comfortably in the tub, half asleep.

“Sorry to disturb your me time, but your food is going to get cold.”

“You don’t have a microwave in this fancy ass house?”

“I do, but you and your smart mouth can’t use it. Meet me downstairs,” I shut the door, allowing her time and privacy to get dressed.

A few moments later, Hailo entered the dining room and appeared more relaxed than she was earlier. Pulling out her chair, she slowly sat down, examining the plate.

“The baby is fine. Your dad had somebody come check every day,” Hailo finally shared across the dinner table.

Nothing but the best forGianni Meraux’sheir.

“And a DNA test, too,” she added, causing me to pause. “Part of me secretly hoped it wasn’t yours so I could go back to living my life and not somebody else’s.”

“I thought you weren’t fucking anybody else?”

“A girl can dream.” Her voice was laced with anger and resentment, but it wouldn’t change the situation.

“It won’t always be this way.”

“I hate your family, and I’m being forced to marry a man I don’t know. What part of that seems like fun?” I couldn’t answer that because it didn’t.

“Being an adult isn’t always fun. You should know that by now.”

“You should be careful where you stick thatthingwhen it comes with stipulations like these.”

“You damn sure weren't complaining when I put my thing inside of you. That smart-ass mouth and nasty attitude aren’t making shit better.”

“It’s not my job to make it better for you.”

“It damn sure isn’t your responsibility to make it worse either,” I fired back. Hailo dropped her fork and folded her arms as tears pooled in her eyes.

“You put up a good front, Hailo. Most people don’t see through it,” My voice was firm and final as a war of emotions raged inside me. Hailo shifted noticeably uncomfortably as my eyes devoured her, and not in a good way. “But I’m not most nigga’s. I saw you that night. The real you. Not this hardened and very fuckin’ annoying version sitting across from me. I am the nigga you thought I was, so chill on talking to me crazy. This can be as easy or difficult as you want it to be. You’re in control more than you think.” I grabbed my plate and left her at the table.

My eyes fluttered open, confused by the black and brown décor. I wasn’t in the bedroom Ross held me in or my hotel suite. Hell, I wasn’t even in my room at my apartment. Abruptly sitting up, my eyes settled on Gianni- shirtless, chocolate, and watching me intently.

He was so sexy without even trying, but the crazy ones usually were. They also came with an amazing dick attached to cloud your judgment every time you got sense enough to cut them off for good. That was him, and despite knowing it, I felt my throat drying while my pussy did the opposite.

I reminisced on Gianni undressing as he stood before my naked body, admiring the view. He looked so sexy, towering over me as I lay on the bed. I remember how my body ached while his lips worked their way along the inside of my thigh before whispering, spread them wider so you can enjoy this.

Calm down. That’s what got us into this situation.

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